Customer Reviews

Macally ICECAM2 USB 2.0 Video Web Camera with Built-in Microphone (White)

5 star:		(53)
4 star:		(51)
3 star:		(24)
2 star:		(23)
1 star:		(22)

 

 

Length:: 2:57 Mins

An Icecam review recorded ON a Macally Icecam. Discusses out of the box problems and resolutions, plus gives a good idea of quality and calarity.

This inexpensive webcam works with older Macs lacking webcams, without the need to install drivers. Just plug it in, set your preferences, and you immediately get an image. The camera lens needs to be focused manually, which is a little tricky but does allow the use of a less wide angle lens. The quality of the image is ok - not as crisp as that of the built-in powerbook cameras. The color accuracy varied considerably between the two computers I tried with it. Coupled with iGlasses software, I was able to get a fairly acceptable palate on both machines. The built-in microphone seemed to work well. Overall, it is an acceptable camera at about $30, and fills a void for Mac users, who need a camera a low cost.

I recently purchased this item, the IceCam2, and have been using it extensively. Firstly, be aware this is both a microphone and a webcamera - some webcams you purchase do not have a microphone included. By and large this is an excellent webcam/microphone for someone looking to do casual internet chatting. I currently use AIM's video mode and chat with friends. The quality of the sound is adequate for such purposes. The video is good as well; adequate lighting seems necessary; this is in contrast to say the MacBook Pro's built in iSight which I've been able to capture good quality videos even in the dark. Using the IceCam2 I generally need quite good illumination; even then the color representation is a little suspect as well, but let's face it: for the price the image quality is really just fine. I say color representation is off - maybe your skin has a paler complexion than usual, maybe it's a little reddish. Nothing extremely off. All in all, this product succeeds in conveying the gist of the video, but don't expect the finer points to be transmitted. For business minded individuals, I would hesitate to use it for say video conferencing. Trying to convey detailed text, graphs, or images in general is iffy at best and will require you to hold the image close to the camera. In summary, for the purpose of talking with friends this is a wonderful product.

What can be said about a webcam and mic that works so smoothly? Step 1, open the box. Step 2, plug it into a USB 2.0 port on my MacMini. Step 3, begin using it in PhotoBooth (Mac OS X 10.5) or iChat, or any of the built-in iApps like Address Book. No delay in transmission across the country when connecting to Dallas. No jerkiness. (I've used the Microsoft LifeCam on Windows, and it is painfully jerky). The only possible drawback is that the spring that holds the camera to the monitor should be a bit stronger. If I start moving the monitor around, the camera can be turned by the wire - which is only an inconvenience. I did not try to install any software (I can't even remember if a CD was included). Other webcams for Mac OS X require special software to work with USB port. A great buy, and fills a hole for Mac users with no built-in camera. Five Stars

With a new grandaughter in the picture and her being 2000 miles away, we found Skype found we needed a camera for the Imac G5. We checked into the local spots, Best Buy etc got an education that confounded us so we decided to check online. Looked at Amazon checked out the reviews and decided that for the price and the great reviews we bought the Macally ICECAM2. Great buy, plug and play on the Mac works just fine for our purposes. The kids say we look and sound fine on it on their end. Couldn't beat the price. Quality exceeds the price!

Pros:
- easy to use - plug in and play
- cost efficient - (most other mac webcams out there at least $50+)
- fun for chatting - my friends said the resolution is pretty decent and the sound quality is clear
- easy transition - you don't have to install any drivers to use it with any other chat applications
- it clips on easily to your monitor

Cons:
- wish the USB cord was a bit longer
- not good for work-related video conferencing

Overall review:

Awesome product for the price. The only reason why I didn't put 5 stars is because the quality obviously is not going to be as good as the higher end webcams. Overall I'm very satisfied with it. No take that back, I'm very excited about it!

The price on this webcam sold me, but in this case you get what you pay for. Installation was as easy as plugging it in and loading the Skype software on my laptop. This is as far as the good news goes. The bad news began as soon as I saw my image on the screen.

The camera doesn't have an automatic focus, and you have to actually manually turn the lens to focus on an image. You can imagine the difficulties this can pose if you hold your laptop at varying distances from your face or if you're using the webcam with friends standing behind you.

I read on other reviews that the webcam doesn't function well in low-light conditions, but I took that to mean if your room is truly dark. However, I soon discovered that lighting conditions should be quite bright for the webcam to function properly. I tried using the webcam while sitting next to a lamp, and only one side of my face showed up on the screen. I have another laptop with a webcam built in, and it functions beautifully under the same lighting conditions that render this webcam useless.

Ten minutes after receiving this webcam, I was so disappointed with the product that I submitted an online request for a return through Amazon. In less than 2 minutes I had a pre-printed form to tape to the box the camera came in, and it's in the mail (just one more reason why I am a loyal Amazon customer...unparalleled customer service and responsiveness!). I rarely return products, but there's no way I can use this camera under normal conditions.

Bottom line: spend $10-20 more and get something you will actually enjoy using!

On the most part, ICECAM2 is better than ICECAM.

ICECAM2 does not have the long flexible neck that ICECAM had, so the wiring is not affected by adjusting the direction of the camera. My ICECAM broke because the wiring inside broke after turning and adjusting the camera as I used it to follow my infant (now toddler), so grandma and grandpa could watch her via webcam. The scope of the picture via ICECAM2 is not quite as easy to hold still and manipulate w/o the flexible neck, but the lifespan of the wiring should be much longer because of the new design.

The picture is much clearer on the ICECAM2, and it is much easier to use (at least w/ Skype). ICECAM2 can be used immediately upon plug-in when already logged into Skype, whereas w/ ICECAM, if you were logged into Skype w/o your camera plugged in, you had to logout to use the camera.

I have not found the mic on ICECAM2 to be of much use. The sound via the mic on my laptop seems clearer. Although the picture is much clearer than ICECAM, ICECAM2 does not work well in low-light, whereas ICECAM showed a pretty good picture in low-light. If the lighting is low, the picture via ICECAM2 just shows black moving blobs.

Overall, ICECAM2 is a pretty good webcam (especially for the price), but it is not great.

"Adequate" light is an understatement. I couldn't get an image more than a dark silhouette even when I surrounded myself with lamps. Don't bother.

Being Mac compatible, cheap, and driverless under OSX 10.4 and 10.5 isn't good enough. The blue-ISH-green color cast mentioned in another review doesn't make video chat warm and inviting at all - and nothing I did could eliminate it in camera adjustment settings. It's low light sensitivity in the evening at my desk is abysmal. The built in microphone is ok, but sounds a bit harsh compared to my MacBook's built in mic. There's ALOT better webcams for Mac out there than this - it's worth paying a bit more for ALOT better webcam. I regret buying this IceCam2. It's just another cheaply made product - that I'd return but it isn't worth bothering over given the return shipping costs! <- and that pretty much says it all.