Apple iSight Web Cam

This is the now discontinued Apple iSight Personal Web Camera, or Webcam.

There wasn't and still isn't anything that remotely compares to it. It is truly in a class all by itself.

In a world where practically every Webcam is a cheap piece of plastic junk (regardless of price) the iSight shone as a magnificent example of what can be done when cost is no object. At the original retail price of $149 it was one of if not the most expensive Webcam available but made a good argument for being an excellent value.

To start, here's some of the specifications: This Webcam uses a camera-grade 1/4" CCD sensor with glass lens and built-in AutoFocus and Image Processing. The Sensor is "only" 1.3 megapixels, but it is an ACTUAL 1.3mp, NOT "Interpolated" or "Effective". The Microphone is of a dual-element noise-suppressing design.

Contrast this with the specs of practically any other "high-end" Webcam with cheap and inferior CMOS sensors rated in "Effective" mp, plastic lenses, software dependent AutoFocus and Image Processing....
mostly they appear to be designed for shelf appeal, high profit margins and "looking good on paper".

The iSight is a joy to use with its metal body, combined "Off" switch with highly visible white privacy shutter and smooth acting mechanical tilt and swivel mount. Oddly, the camera remains warm even when turned "OFF" and the green indicator is out.

The picture is decidedly barrel-shaped to focus attention on the subject (user) using the Webcam. The picture is smooth and fluid with good resolution and even manages to correct quite a bit for bad lighting. Sound is reportedly good on the other end.

The FireWire400 interface is unusual but hold some benefits over USB2.0 mainly less overhead for the CPU and more stable, higher sustained speed. As every modern Mac has at least one FW400 port, this shouldn't be an issue.

Apple stopped making these excellent Webcams in December 2006 reportedly due to either low sales or inability to make them "environmentally friendly" enough for sale in Europe. Since then they continue to hold value well in the eBay market, often surpassing the original list price.

Rumors abound of Apple developing an iSight HD to re-enter the external Webcam market, so keep this in mind when considering purchasing one of these jewels.

Have Fun,
Keri

Both performance and style are tops. Connected to my Mac in matter of seconds and works with iChat, Skype, etc
Great product. Too bad Apple discontinued.

Out of all web cams I have purchased, this is simply the best! As always Apple does a great job with packaging, setup, and ease of operation. You will not find a easier product to use. I could not be happier with the product features, including the picture, auto-focus, mic, and flexibility of the cam (being able to set it in many, many different positions). I feel I have purchased a product that FAR exceeds in value the price I paid!

Love the iSight Web Cam. It is really too bad Apple took it off the market. If you can find one, you should by it. We use it to scan items into our Delicious Library, to take pictures of things we don't want to be in the picture. Portable is better than the fixed cam in the new computers, in my personal opinion.

Very slick little device, and it works like a dream with good framerate and focus. REMEMBER though, you must have at least Quicktime Pro to do any video capture, or iChat AV, which is available on os 10.3 thru current OS 10.5 (also available for 10.2.8 but I was never able to locate a download or a copy of the CD. Apple only released it for a short time.) Either way, it was a nice addition to my classic iMac 15" 800MHz G4.

The camera is still (though "old") perfectly working and with an integrated microphone. Be sure to update the firmware revision to 1.0.3 otherwise you may have problems with the newest operating revisions and hardwares (Information on how to: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1629444&tstart=0).

It ships with many stands/ways to attach it to different computers/displays. Be sure you get the ones you need if buying a second hand one.

Works with "oldish" otherwise very usable hardware too, and does not require/impose CPU stress on the computer.

Truly plug-n-play.
No software to load.
Worked instantly with iChat and there was no problem working with Skype.
Video quality was very good, not as good as the built-in camera available on the
new Macintosh computers but much better than the Logitech device we had been using.

The Apple iSight is a great addition to any Mac that doesn't have an built in Web cam, such as the current Mac Pro or Mac Mini. It has a built in Mic and and 50mm autofocus lens. One of the parts usually not noted on descriptions is that it has a privacy "off" setting, so you can always tell when it's on or off. Internal shades cover the lens. The video quality is not as good as the current webcams built-in with the mac laptops, but it is very close. The audio is decent. And because it's made by Apple, it works seamlessly with all your apps that can use a camera.
I decided to buy this because I converted my MacBook Pro into my desktop machine by adding an external cinema display, and I missed have the web cam for Skype and iChat. It works great now, it's almost like a docking station now.
I would recommend one if you're in this situation and you can get your hands on one. They are becoming rare.

I have done extensive search to what would be the BEST MOST SUITABLE web cam for my Mac G4 Desk Top Computer using OS 10.4.11. I almost bought Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000 (Black) comparing it to Logitech QuickCam Vision Pro for Mac (Black) which both seemed to be the top choice for PC / Mac users. The price is OK, but noticed that they are not fully 100% compatible and for the money you would spend for your Mac. I then realized APPLE BRAND is the ONLY way to go... makes a logical sense. So, here I am will huge happy smile fully pleased with my decision. Only one thing.... I am wondering what are the differences between models: M8817LL/A, M8817LL/B, and M8817LL/C ??? ANYONE ??

I have a Mac G5 Quad running MacOSX 10.5.6 and my LCD does not have a camera installed. I tried two older FW cameras, three new UVC compliant USB cameras. They all worked but I was dissatisfied with the framerate (fps) and other performance items.

The Apple iSight Firewire is no longer produced and still sells for a fairly high price, but, they can still be found new if you look hard enough.
I finally broke down and bought a used iSight and am very happy with the performance. Lighting and focus are better than any of my previous cameras. The framerates are almost double that of the USB cameras, from 15fps max for the USB's to 30fps max now, a very big improvement. I no longer get picture freeze or artifacting during a video conference. I have used it with Skype and iChat with no issues.

I also like the fact that the iSight can be shut off and the lens can be closed when not in use. It is possible for some Hacker to actually use a FW camera if your computer is running and the camera is not shut off.

The Apple Leopard operating system has a few programs that take advantage of the built-in cameras in their latest computers, the USB cameras cannot use most of these programs. The Firewire iSight is seen by the MacOS as a built-in camera and as such is allowed to use PhotoBooth and other Apple camera related programs. For me this was a very big benefit as I do a lot of video and photo projects, the iSight fits neatly into it all.
Plus, because it's Firewire, it is compatible with the older Apple operating systems.

The iSight is small, good looking and comes with various mounts for use on laptop, desktop and LCD or CRT.
You'll notice that there are three different model numbers, 'A', 'B' and 'C'. The main difference is in the types of camera mounts that come with the camera.
'A' model iSight mounts:
Desktop Mount (for CRT monitors/flat surface)
Laptop Mount (for Macbook/Powerbook/iBook/iMac G4)
Flat-panel display and flat-panel iMac Mount
'B' model iSight mounts:
This one came with every mount Apple made. No decision to be made with the 'B' model.
'C' model iSight mounts:
Desktop Mount (for CRT monitors/flat surface)
Laptop Mount (for Macbook/Powerbook/iBook/iMac G4)
Magnetic Mount (for Aluminum Cinema Display or iMac G5)

So, if you are shopping for an iSight camera ask what Model it is or questions about the types of mounts the camera has in the box. Get the iSight model that suits your purpose.

GREAT QUALITY WEB CAM! I wish Apple continued the production. For the mini mac users, this camera is a plus! or if you want to use it with your labtop, desktop!

I've read a few reviews where the iSight didn't perform well. I suspect they used it in their "man cave"(women cave?) The brighter the light the better the image. If your iSight isn't performing as well as you'd hoped, try turning up the light. The iSight is a superb camera. Its a shame they have been fazed out and a double shame firewire has been dropped from most Mac's.

The isight is great and works perfectly so far and it's in great condition! I got it for a pretty reasonable price too!

this is wonderful........................................................................................................ i loved how cleaar it waas when i used my friends

This product was just as the other reviews I read said, extremely easy to set up & use, even though there was no instruction manual that came with it. And this was my first experience with any kind of web cam. Picture very clear.

This item came quickly and connected so easily it was a dream. I bought it for my daughter and she started using it immediately.

NEVER USE THIS EBAYER I HAVE AN OPEN PAYPAL DISPUTE WITH HIM BECAUSE HE IS A SCAM ARTIST. FIRST HE SENT ME A BROKEN ISIGHT CAMERA THEN I HAD TO PAY TO SHIP IT BACK TO HIM BECAUSE HE DIDN'T CHECK TO SEE IF IT WORKED BEFORE HE SOLD IT WICH HE TOLD ME IN AN EMAIL. THEN HE TELLS ME THAT HE DIDN'T RECEIVE IT FOR TWO WEEKS THEN WHEN HE RECEIVED IT HE TRIES TO TELL ME THAT I SWAPPED THE CAMERA AND IT'S A DIFFERENT CAMERA HE IS THE MOST DISHONEST EBAYER I HAVE EVER DEALT WITH IN MY LIFE. NEVER EVER USE OR BUY ANYTHING FROM HIM AN ABSOLUTE SCAM ARTIST

It's a great product and still in demand for folks like me that have the Mac Mini.
I just plugged it in and started using it. It was that easy.

Easy to use, easy to install. This item is user friendly. We have a mac mini and need a camera. This was the way to go.

good webcam for those of you who need a webcam for an older version or apple laptops or desktops. very nice look of the camera and very good quality when using video chat. also very easy to use.

Product received fast and as described. Look forward to doing business again! It is great to be able to find good products that have been discontinued by their manufacturers but still have no market replacement.

I have three cameras that act as "iSight" cameras on my Macintosh. One is the built-in laptop iSight. Another is a Logitech camera that works well using the same interface. The third is the new external iSight camera. The iSight is the best of the three, the Logitech being quite slow in updates and the internal iSight a bit oversensitive. All of these cameras are 640 x 480 but the external iSight is the nicest by far. It is also better than my wireless 802.11g Cisco WVT54GCA cameras in speed and picture quality... which I wrote custom s/w so they will work w/ my Macintosh. The extneral iSight is Firewire and obviously works w/ the mac right out of the box.

Fast fps, works automatic with no hassles setting up software, no the cheapest but the best for the money.