Customer Reviews

Apple iSight Video Conferencing Webcam with Autofocus -M8817LL/B

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The "B" model is the current model and its main benefit over the last one is that they fixed the major heat problem of the first version of this webcam. Great webcam with a great image reproduction. Can also be used as a still cam albeit attached to computer. Looks very good with any Mac and also now has the iMac G5 attachment which is a magnet to attract to the metal plate built in to the top center of the iMac G5's case. The stand itself is white plastic same as the iMac's. Also has a PowerBook, eMac, flat panel display and iMac G4 attachments.

Looking for a good webcam for your Mac? Look no further than iSight. The Rev. B model, which I have, was a snap to hook up. I used one of the included stands to mount the camera next to my Mac. Initially, I had reservations about using the stand, based on reports I've read on the web. The stands come with a self-adhesive mount, and I wasn't about to 'stick' my camera to a surface. But my worries were easily dismissed, because the stand itself does a fantastic job of supporting the iSight. So, no messy adhesive backing had to be used.

The iChat program (bundled with OS X Panther) works really well with the camera. I've used it to chat with my sister who lives a few states away. With appropriate third party software, you can also use the iChat as a UPC barcode reader to scan in your books, CDs, and DVDs. The quality of the image generated by the camera is more than acceptable. Colors are rich and not washed out. On a broadband connection, frame rates were impressively high. Audio only chats will work as well, as the iSight also houses a built-in microphone. Audio quality is clear, too, as my sister has confirmed. I have yet to chat with another iSight'er to fully perform a two-way video chat, but from what I've seen so far, the iSight works very well. Highly recommended.

I bought one of these for my dad for xmas and another one for myself (adhering to the one for you one for me policy). We both live on different continents and I figure it would help to cut down on phone bills. Tried it out for the first time this weekend and I'm impressed. The resolution is quite good; not crystal clear of course but not too bad (we both have cable modems). It was easy to set up, just involved getting a subscription to the .mac website (free trial 60 days, no need to put a credit card down either!), plugging it in, and typing my dad's email address as a buddy...that's it...next thing I knew he was on the screen talking with me. Pretty sweet.

As webcams go, the iSight provides the best image quality. Its design and build quality are top notch, too. The iSight uses a Firewire connection, not USB, for improved performance.

The camera comes with four different mounting devices (stands and clips) to use it on a desktop, atop your monitor, or attached to your notebook computer's LCD screen. Another thoughtful touch is a little cylinder to store/protect the iSight when you take it on the road.

The iSight has two internal noise-cancelling microphones that provide crisp, clear audio. The folks with whom I videoconference have remarked that I sound like I'm in the same room as they.

One area where the iSight could be improved is control over manual adjustments. The camera normally works in auto mode. The aperature, focus, color temperature, video gain, et cetera, are adjusted automatically based on the room's lighting conditions. But I've found that there are times when the picture is a bit too dark or too bright, or the hue is a tad too red or blue. Fortunately, there's a cool $8 shareware utility called iGlasses (do a Google search to find it) that gives you full manual control over the camera. iGlasses appears as a floating pallete within iChat AV. With it, you can tweak the iSight's settings to your personal preference.

The iSight and iChat AV go hand in hand. I can't imagine using one without the other.

I bought one of these so my 92 year old mother could chat with her grandkids from the wilds of Nebraska. I was amazed at the setup. Plug in, click on ichat, click the camera icon to test, and then click on the buddy list for an invite. But this is why we use Apple computers, isn't it.

The picture is the best I have seen with a good frontal light source. I had to upgrade from 256 to 500 on my internet speed to eliminate the slight but acceptable pixelation.

I have owned this webcam for a few months now and love it. I have kids in college and we video conference frequently. The sound and picture are worth the money. Apple makes this easy to install; plug it in. AIM is our software along with the Ichat-AV version. The pictures are clear and have no time delay. This is my third webcam purchase and by far my favorite. I even bought another one for the office. This is the Porsche of webcams. Can't someone help the poor Wintel folks have a real webcam. Is this Mac only or will it become like the Ipod, for all platforms?

Apple may have stopped making the iSight as a standalone webcam a few years ago, but I still use mine with my Mac Pro and 30" Cinema Display and it works wonderfully. The video and sound it sends to my Skype connections is superb. Apple has recently incorporated tiny built-in iSight cameras into their modern laptops, iMacs and now their newest Cinema Displays, so the standalone iSight isn't required--but if you're old-school and can't abide by the ultra glossy glass screens of the new monitors, opt for the good old iSight if you can find a used, refurbished or new version of it, and use one of the older matte screen monitors.

I find the iSight superior to just about any of the USB cams on the market, and like all things Apple, it just works, without having to install drivers or mess with settings. It comes with a standard Firewire 400 cable, so if your Mac only has Firewire 800 you'll need a 400-800 adapter or a cable with 400 on one end and 800 on the other.

Armed with the iSight and Skype or iChat, and you're ready to video chat with the world.

So i am not sure if they stopped making i-sights because new MacBooks have it built in or because it was some kind of health hazard, either way i needed it and so do thousands of apple owners. Thanks for the fast transaction.

Wow. Everyone needs to have this as their computer cam. Just plug it in and you are off and running. Has great audio too.

The Apple iSight Video Conferencing Webcam with Autofocus - is a great product and I would recommend it to anyone that has a macintosh computer. it has amazing picture and video quality and it has a built in microphone.
and the travel case makes it easy to take it any where with you, I own 2 of these and just love them.