Apple compatible document camera maker IPEVO recently updated it's line of MacOS friendly doc cams to the V-Series. Their leadership in the educational and business webcam presentation market continues with additional refinements and improvements to an already solid line-up of cams for educators and presenters.

Dual-Mode iPevo 8MP Mac Document Cam

USB Macintosh or HDMI Display Connection Option

Over time, they've steadily increased the webcam's sensor resolutions to deliver even sharper detail. They've even added a Ultra-HD model with an 8 megapixel camera that offers astonishing high definition resolutions up to 3264 x 2448 pixels. By adding a direct HDMI video connection in other models, connectivity options become more flexible. They can be hooked up directly to a display or projector. Using USB, they function as a fully Mac compatible web camera.

Mac Compatible Wireless Document Cam

Battery Powered Portable WiFi Doc Camera

Models with WiFi support allow greater flexibility in doc cam placement. That can be useful when, say, a teacher wants to roam from desk to desk or worktable with the doc cam to highlight student work in progress.

iPevo V4K Ultra HD USB Document Cam

Mac Compatible With Integrated Webcam Stand

IPEVO's document cameras have historically been good about conforming to the UVC webcam specification to assure easy Mac OSX level compatibility -- without requiring any additional web camera software to be installed.

Curious about external webcams running on MacOS Mojave? Thanks to the UVC - USB Video Class webcam standard, you'll likely find your existing Mac compatible web camera hardware should run AOK under the most recent version of Apple's OSX. It's the software you might use that may be problematic as Apple switches to full 64-Bit app support to insure adequate security at the OS level. As such, older Mac webcam settings and effects apps are likely to need an update from 32-Bit to 64-Bit support in Mojave OS.

With 3rd-party web camera apps, you might need to reinstall the latest version of the webcam software after the Mojave MacOS upgrade. With a program like iGlasses, if you don't have your installer, use the form at eCamm's site, and they'll re-email your registration info. As for other Mac webcam apps, I'll note any issues as Mojave rolls out to the Mac masses and any issues are discovered.

eCamm notes: With MacOS 10.14 Mojave, iGlasses will not show up in certain pre-installed Apple applications like Photo Booth and FaceTime. In Mojave, Apple has introduced the notion of a Hardened Runtime and Library Validation process. Sadly, this prevents hardened apps, such as FaceTime, from loading any 3rd-party add-ons such as iGlasses.

As we've seen in the digital camera market, image and sensor resolutions have steadily increased, delivering ever-more detailed pictures at lower costs. In the Apple compatible webcam space we're starting to web cameras moving beyond 720p and 1080p HD into Full and 'Ultra High Definition' - UHD resolutions.

We first saw high-end 4K UHD webcams hit the market with the Logitech Brio personal webcam and Meet-Up group conferencing cam with 4096 x 2160 max resolution. Somewhere in-between, we're seeing some cheap 2K webcams that work on Mac OSX with somewhat less demanding system requirements filling the technology gap. In some ways, the 2K video specification was/is just a stopgap tradeoff from 1080p to the clearly established 4K and 5K future.

Low-Cost 2K HD Webcam For MacOS

2048 x 1536p Resolution with H.264 Video Compression

Web cameras - when capturing or streaming in Super Full and UHD modes puts more stress on your Apple laptop or desktop CPU, eat more disk space, and require a very fast, high-bandwidth internet connection for streaming. True 4K requires a USB 3.0/3.1 speed port to even function in 4K mode - but the cameras featured here can run okay on a USB 2.0 speed port like most 720p and 1080p webcams can.

Full HD 2K Webcam For Mac

Up to 2048 x 1536 Resolution Modes

Onboard H.264 video compression in HD web cameras helps reduce the data bandwidth while preserving optimal image quality. Once only featured in select, premium Mac compatible HD webcams, in the UHD era, H.264 compression is showing up on even lower-cost 2nd-tier cameras from China as shown above.

As I research the various specialized and general purpose Mac compatible webcam market, I'm appalled by the flood of low-end, sub-par quality web cameras being shipped by the boatloads from China. Look, I understand the desire to save money and lean towards cheap if your video chat and conferencing needs are modest. But an incompatible $7.99 junk Webcam-In-A-Bag like pictured here isn't the right buying decision.

Trust me, I've bought a lot of no-name cheap webcams from China to see what 10 bucks or so gets you in a UVC - USB Video Class compliant webcam that will 'just work' on MacOS. Occasionally, there have been some pleasant surprises with sharp image quality, good light sensitivity and color response, and an 'okay' sounding internal microphone. Most however have fallen far short of that.

• Low Resolution - Not Actual HD Sensors
• Grainy Or Blurry Images
• Poor Mounting Clips
• Defective Lenses
• Hollow Sounding Microphones
• Dead On Arrival
• High Failure Rates Soon After Purchase
• Not Compatible With Mac OSX
• Lack Of Autofocus

Crappy Dirt Cheap Mac Compatible Webcam

Low 640x480p VGA Resolution with Mic

Several of the cheap-o Mac compatible web cameras I've purchased were so disappointing -- I threw them in the garbage. When you only pay $8-$ 12 for a cam, if it's junk, it isn't worth bothering with the time and expense of returning. So my advice, if you have twenty or so bucks to spend get a brand-name webcam for your Mac like the Logitech C270 or a Creative Live Cam Chat. If you go up a notch, the Logitech C310 720p HD webcam offers better light-management and delivers a surprisingly clear, sharp image with a decent sounding mic to go along with it.

4K Ultra HD UHD Webcam With RightLight3 And HDR

Here's a comprehensive list of the MacOS compatible Brio webcam's technical specifications. A few things to note, especially for Apple users: Yosemite, El Capitan, or MacOS Sierra or Mojave is needed. 4K Ultra HD mode absolutely requires a USB 3.0 speed port - so be wary of connecting it to a slow hub port or pre-2012 Mac to capture in UHD resolutions. A USB 2.0 port is fine for more conventional 1080p and 720p HD resolutions..

State-Of-The-Art Ultra-HD 4k Web Camera

Software Field Of View Switchable 68 - 72 - 90 Degrees

CPU Horsepower & Disk Space

A 2.4Ghz Intel CPU is recommended. Many lower-end Macs like the Mac mini, or MacBook Air fall way below this recommended horsepower threshold, Temper your expectations about frame-rates when capturing video in high-resolution modes. 4096x2160 Ultra-HD capture will eat up disk space on your MacBook or Macintosh desktop system faster than you can imagine. You'll want plenty of available storage on your Mac's boot drive - something that those with SSD-based Apple computers might struggle with.

Pricing & Product Codes

Brio Webcam MSRP $199.00
Current Street Price Around $159.00
Part Number: PN 960-001105
Model Number: V-U0040

Brio Webcam System Requirements:

USB 2.0 port Minimum : USB 3.0 required for 4K
2.4 GHz Intel® Core 2 Duo processor
2 GB RAM or more
Adequate HDD or SSD drive space for recorded videos

Operating Systems Supported:

MacOS™ 10.10 or higher (Yosemite minimum)
Windows® 7 (1080p only), Windows 8.1, or Windows 10
Google™ Chromebook™ Version 29.x, Platform 4319.x

Logitech's Brio Webcam Settings App for Mac:

Many of the Brio's functions and features rely on software control. Fortunately, Logitech's webcam app support for OSX is pretty decent and includes FOV settings, Up to 5xDigital Zoom, and Background Replacement options. Some features like the front IR infrared sensor are only supported for Microsoft Hello facial recognition under Windows OS.
http://support.logitech.com/en_us/product/brio#download

Brio 4K Webcam Technical Specifications:

4K Ultra HD video calling (up to 4096 x 2160 pixels @ 30 fps)
1080p Full HD video calling (up to 1920 x 1080 pixels @ 30 or 60 fps)
720p HD video calling (up to 1280 x 720 pixels @ 30, 60, or 90 fps)
Plug-and-play USB connectivity
H.264 video compression for reduced file sizes and CPU overhead
90 degree field of view (FOV) with 65 degree and 78 degree optional via software
5x digital zoom in Full HD
Smooth Autofocus
RightLight3 with High Dynamic Range (HDR) for clear imaging in low or direct sunlight
Built-in stereo dual mics with noise cancellation
IR Infrared sensor technology
Background replacement option in settings app
External privacy lens shutter
Multiple mounting options: Included clip or 1/4"-20 tripod mount
Supports multiple connections: USB 3.0 Type A or C, or USB 2.0 Type A

Brio Camera Dimensions & Weight:

Web Camera
Height x Width x Depth:
1in (27mm) x 4in (102mm) x 1in (27mm)

Webcam ClipHeight x Width x Depth:
3.9in (99mm) x 1.4in (36mm) x .22in (6mm)

Webcam Cable Length
4.9ft (1.5m)

Total Camera Weight (with mounting clip)
85g - 3 ounces

Brio 4K Ultra Webcam Package Contents:

Brio Webcam
Removable mounting clip
USB 3.0 cable with Type-A connector
(Type-C to Type-C USBC cable sold separately)
Camera carrying case

Brio Peripheral Warranty Information:

Logitech 3-year limited hardware warranty