Mac Webcams That Just Work
Connect And Chat With Family And Friends
Looking to buy a driver-free, fully Macintosh compatible UVC - USB Video Class compatible webcam? Have USB 2.0 Ports? Some cameras made for Windows PC's may not work on Apple Macintosh computers - or Mac webcam drivers may not exist. Models listed here are simply Plug and Play on modern Macs running OSX Leopard and Lion. Save yourself wasted money and frustration. Make certain you have USB 2.0 speed ports - and a Mac faster than 1Ghz - then confidently choose one of these known-working driverless UVC webcam models listed below.Plug-N-Play OSX Compaitible Webcam Picks
Known UVC Compliant Web Cameras For Macintosh
Logitech HD Pro Webcam 720p-1080p Video
#1 CHOICE : Mac Compatible Logitech HD webcam
Incredible detail and clarity, Hardware Autofocus, Software Support For Mac:
Like: State Of The Art HD Webcam. Zeiss Glass Lens. Stereo Microphone
Performs spectacularly at 320x240 and 640x480 chat resolutions. However...
Dislike: Most OSX Apps don't yet support 720 HD or Higher Resolutions
Logitech's still image and video capture Mac webcam software for OSX 10.5 unleashes additional functionality for HD modes.
C615 AutoFocus HD Logitech Cam
Portable Fold-Up Design
Like: Lower-Priced HD Webcam. Glass Lens. Standard Camera Tripod Mount
Dislike: Considered A 'Portable' Cam, Has A Short 3' Cable + Extension
Logitech QuickCam Vision Pro for Mac
The Mac Vision Pro webcam was a top-seller at Amazon.com - but now buyers are redirected to the C910 model. It may be still available at NewEgg & MacMall
Like: Hardware-based Autofocus and RightLight2. Quality Carl Zeiss glass lens, built-in microphone, desktop or laptop mount
Dislike: Nuttin! It's a very high-quality USB webcam for Mac
Creative Labs HD Webcam
Like: Fixed Focus, Good Frame Rates At ALL Resolution Settings
Dislike: Not Quite As Sharp As High-End Glass Lens Logitech Cams
Luxury Logitech QuickCam Ultra - Fixed Focus
Like: Quality Glass Lens. Hassle-Free SHARP Fixed Focus.
Dislike: Discontinued - But Available. It's A High-Quality 1.3MP Web Camera
Blue Microphones EYEBALL - USB Cam + Microphone
Like: Top Quality Condenser Mic, Pop-Out 2MP Webcam
Dislike: Bulky Mounting Base : For Microphone Deprived Pro Towers or Mac Mini
Hewlett-Packard UVC Webcam
Like: 1.3MP Resolution. VERY Good Light Sensitivity
Dislike: None. Great Price. Excellent Mac Web Cam
Agent V5 HD Webcam
Like: Quality Glass Lens, Variety of Stands & Mounting Clips
Dislike: Somewhat Overpriced For Stylish Apple iSight Looks
Microsoft Live! Web Cam - Value Priced
Like: Suprising Image Quality, Adjustable Focus Ring, Low-Cost
Dislike: Stand Designed For Desktop Not Laptop. No Microphone
Driver-Free : UVC - Universal USB 2.0 Video Class Webcams
UVC is a new compatibility standard in USB2 video-chat cameras. The iSight webcam built into recent iMac and MacBook models is compliant. Apple's UVC Kernel Extensions built into OSX Lion, Leopard means any UVC based USB cam should just work when plugged into a USB2 speed port. No webcam drivers required. Windows 7, Vista and Linux also natively supports UVC class video cameras. These listed are ideal as an external webcam for an Apple Mac mini or Pro tower - and also are good Cross-Platform PC and Linux webcams as well for those who use VMWare Fusion or Parallels.THESE BELOW ARE GOOD UVC CAMS OVERALL - BUT...
Since they don't have Mac or Linux specific software utilities, don't perform as optimally as they could: Perhaps best for Cross-Platform PC/Mac users running VMware Fusion, Parallels or Leopard's BootCamp:Microsoft LifeCam HD-720P
Like: Sharp Image, Good Color and Light Balance
Dislike: Most OSX Apps don't support 720 HD Resolutions. Auto-Focus Somewhat Slow To Adapt. Frame Rate Sluggish In Low Light.
Logitech Pro For Notebooks
Like: Quality Ziess Lens, Good Light Sensitivity & Color Balance
Dislike: Designed For Laptop-Travel - But Comes With Desktop Stand, Mounting Clip Not Well-Designed, AF Functions Not Mac Supported
Popular QuickCam Logitech Pro 9000
Like: Optical Quality Carl Zeiss Lens, Sharp, Good Color BalanceSharp Hi-Res 2mp Sensor, Desktop/Laptop Mount, Built-In Microphone
Dislike: Logitech's Autofocus functions are not supported on the Mac
With these 2 models; they will perform like a very high quality FIXED FOCUS cam. Many Mac buyers love their 9000 or NoteBook Pro cams, but be aware Logitech's RightLight 2 function may cause lower frame rates in low-light conditions.
Note: An increasing number of Logitech's many webcam models are UVC compliant. But only several are officially supported on a Mac! The above two Pro models are absolutely UVC-Mac compatible; Many Mid-To-Low-End Logitech cameras are NOT UVC compliant: Depends on model #, different internal sensors, & part numbers! Choose carefully.
LESS THAN GREAT MAC WEB CAMERA CHOICES
MAC COMPATIBLE - BUT NOT VERY GOODThe HP Deluxe Value Cam Above Is A Better $30 Choice Than These:
Pico iMage USB 2.0 Webcam:
Like: Click Tilt Adjustment. Good Light Response & Color Balance.
Standard Tripod Camera Mount Hole
Dislike: Rather GRAINY Image - No Built-in Microphone
LOUSY BUDGET CAM: MacAlly VGA IceCam 2
Like: Sturdy Clip, Adjustable Focus Ring, On Indicator LED
Dislike: Needs VERY Bright Light Levels. Off-Color Problems. Cheap Import Cam Rebranded with MacAlly Logo. Harsh, Hollow Sounding Microphone.
Looks-Like-A-Logitech Driverless Cam
Like: Penny-Pincher Cheap UVC cam. Good Image Sharpness
Dislike: Ripoff Design. Low Quality Microphone
DV QUALITY APPLE iSIGHT & FIREWIRE OPTIONS
You CAN still find decent, used Apple iSight cams
CHEAP DRIVERLESS UVC MAC WEBCAMS
"You get what you pay for" applies to these dirt-cheapest import USB video class web cameras. Feeling lucky? Don't care about warranty or returning it? Then explore these maybe, ought-to, should, might probably work on an Apple driverless web camera options:WEBCAMS FOR OBSOLETE MACS? USB 1.1 PORTS?
OSX 10.2 or OSX 10.3 PANTHER?
Think FireWire instead. High-Resolution UVC cams SIMPLY WILL NOT WORK on old 800mhz or less Macs, who's slow USB 1.x speed ports are over FOURTY times slower that USB 2. Those that claim to be USB 1.1 OR USB 2.0 may have UTTERLY ABYSMAL frame-rates on USB 1.x - or show NO image at all even tho System Profiler may recognize the cam exists on the USB 1.1 bus. Otherwise, you're left dinking around with any of hundreds of old cheap, discontinued webcams made for Windows and fiddling with Macam or IOXperts drivers hoping for a combination that will work.
SOUND DECISIONS : USB WEBCAM CHAT MICROPHONES
Most - but not all Macs or webcams have a built-in microphone. Headsets or earbuds can help you have a better videoconferencing or Skype experience, though they aren't glamourous for personal adult video conferencing in particular. The Logitech USB Desktop Microphone
is a fine choice with great sound quality and easy to tap mute switch. But feedback, hard drive and fan noise from your computer can be problematic. USB headsets may have more advantages than 1/8" mini-jack types that often compete with your speaker system. A high-quality Mac headset choice head and shoulders above all others in it's price range: the Logitech ClearChat Pro Headset gets rave reviews for not only Mac VOIP calls and video conferencing - but top notch iTunes audio listening and Podcast recording as well.
OPERATING SYSTEM SUPPORT FOR UVC DRIVERLESS WEBCAMS
LINUX
USB Video Class support is provided by the Linux UVC driver
MAC OS X
OSX ships with a UVC driver included since version 10.4.3 Tiger, updated in 10.4.9+ to work with iChat. OSX Lion and Leopard provide full HD webcam support.
PLAYSTATION 3
The Sony Play Station 3 added support for UVC web cams in firmware version 1.54.
SUN SOLARIS
Includes support for UVC webcams in the form of the usb vc driver for OpenSolaris. The driver ships with Solaris Express Build 56 and later.
WINDOWS
Windows XP has basic support for USB video class webcams since Service Pack 2/3. Windows 7 and Vista ships with FULL native UVC class driver support included.
Last Updated: April 29th, 2012
