Mac Webcams That *JUST WORK!*

Connect & Video Chat With Family & Friends

Buy a driverless, fully Macintosh friendly UVC compatible web cam! Have USB 2.0 Ports? Many cameras made for Windows PC's simply DO NOT WORK & Apple Macintosh - Mac cam drivers may not exist. Models listed here are simply Plug & Play on modern Macs running OSX 10.4.11 & Leopard 10.5.x. Save yourself wasted money & frustration. Make certain you have USB 2.0 ports on your Mac - then confidently choose one of the known-working driverless UVC webcam models listed below.


HASSLE-FREE: UVC - UNIVERSAL USB 2.0 VIDEO CLASS CAMS

UVC is a new compatibility standard in USB2 video-chat cameras. The iSight webcam built into recent iMac & MacBook models is compliant. Apple's UVC Kernel Extensions in OSX Tiger & Leopard means ANY UVC based USB cam will Just Work when plugged in. No webcam drivers required. Windows Vista and Linux also natively supports UVC class video cameras; these listed are good Cross-Platform PC and Linux webcams as well.

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PLUG-N-PLAY OS X WEBCAM PICKS

Known UVC Compliant Cams - Last Updated: 6/21/2009

#1 QUALITY IMAGE: Logitech QuickCam Vision Pro for Mac OSX tiger leopard webcam
The new Mac Vision webcam is now more affordable than ever atAmazon with recent below-list competitive pricing from 3rd-party sellers.
Like: Hardware-based Autofocus and RightLight2. No software needed. Quality Carl Zeiss glass lens, built-in microphone, desktop or laptop mount
Dislike: Nuttin! It's the best USB webcam for Mac made to date!
FYI: While the Vision Pro appears to be a cosmetically redesigned 9000 Pro with gray and silver case, it is VERY DIFFERENT ON THE INSIDE. The Quickcam Vision Pro's Auto Focus and Rightlight technology is all done within the camera hardware, and hence has improved frame-rates and superior low-light sensitivity. That's worth the price premium and buying up for. You will LOVE the clarity and response of this camera! For those who prefer 1-Click shopping, the Apple Store also lists the Vision Pro, as does NewEgg and Buy.com USA


Luxury Logitech QuickCam Ultra - Fixed Focus
Like: Quality Glass Lens. Hassle-Free SHARP Fixed Focus.
Dislike: A Bit Bulky Compared To Other 1.3MP Web Cameras
Logitech Webcam For Mac

Creative Labs Optima Model w/Noise-Canceling Mic Mac Compatible Creative Webcam
Like: Hi-Resolution, Built In Mic, Wide-Angle Fixed-Focus
Dislike: Large Base - But Versatile For Laptop/Desktop


Blue Microphones EYEBALL - USB Cam + Microphoneblue microphone webcam
Like: Top Quality Condenser Mic, Pop-Out 1.3mp Webcam
Dislike: Best For Microphone Deprived Pro Towers or Mac Mini


2 Megapixel Dualpix High-End Web Cam $50 UVC Webcamera for Mac
Like: 2MP Resolution, Mic, Wide-Angle Fixed-Focus
Dislike: Touted Features Like Digital Zoom Not Mac Supported


* NEW * Creative's IM Ultra WebcamVF0415
Like: 1.3MP Resolution, Noise-Cancelling Microphone
Dislike: Fugly Lookin' - In an 'Egg-y' Sorta Way


Dual Pix Value Web Camera Dualpix UVC Apple Webcam
Like: Higher-Quality Glass Lens. Clear-Sounding Microphone
Dislike: Fixed Focus, Color Balance Off In Low-Light


Microsoft Live! Web Cam - Value Priced xBox 360 webcam
Like: Suprising Image Quality, Adjustable Focus Ring, Low-Cost
Dislike: Stand Designed For Desktop Not Laptop. No Microphone


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 these webcams are best for Cross-Platform PC/Mac users running VMware Fusion, Parallels or Leopard's BootCamp:
Logitech Pro For Notebooks small portable UVC webcamera
Like: Quality Ziess Lens, Good Light Response and Color Balance
Dislike: Designed Small 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 Balance
Sharp 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 the Right Light 2 function may cause low frame rates in low-light conditions.
Note: Only a VERY FEW ofLogitech's many webcam models are UVC compliant or work 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 IDEAL MAC WEB CAMERA CHOICES

MAC COMPATIBLE - BUT NOT VERY GOOD UVC MODELS
The DualPix Value Cam Above Is A MUCH 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 - But Lower Priced Now At $49
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.
DUBIOUS MENTION: Kinamax UVC Crap-Cam <$20
Like: Penny-Pincher Cheap UVC cam. Good Image Quality. Clip Mount
Dislike: Microphone Never Worked, Cameras Often CROAK Within Days! Read Amazon reviews: Many Unhappy Buyers, But It's Dirt-Cheap.


CAPTURE YOUTUBE CLIPS - ON THE GO!

Tho not a 'webcam', the latest iteration of Flip Video's MinoHD CamcorderHD pocket cam corder is a great addition to your video capture toolkit. This improved Flip mino HD model records in H.264 MPEG-4 format thats more Mac friendly and easier to work with DIRECTLY on your Mac if you need to EDIT in iMovie before uploading. (Earlier, lesser models of the Flip are bulkier, require extra conversion steps). Built-In software can automate uploads to You Tube and other major video sites. All this in a new ultra-slim form-factor barely the size of an iPod nano!! A mobile, micro, on-the-go "virtual webcam".


DV QUALITY APPLE iSIGHT & FIREWIRE OPTIONS

You CAN still find decent, used Apple iSight cams aftermarket isight cam at Amazon without having to slug it out for an iSight on eBay. Why Apple stopped manufacturing their very high-quality 1394 FireWire auto-focus web camera is beyond logic. 1394 is better than USB for video conferencing & chat in many technical aspects: Less CPU overhead, higher frame-rates and avoids USB devices slugging it out on a hub. The Apple iSight's closest available competitor is now from UniBrain: The 640x480 Fire-i Video Webcam isight alternative webcamhas a clip mount tho it lacks the iSight's built-in microphone, sharp optics and close range autofocus. Old iBot & ADS Pyro 1394b cams exist; neither as highly rated as the Fire-i. Many DV camcorders like the Canon ZR-Series MiniDV Camera can be a versatile choice for webcam use: Record to tape or use as a FireWire web cam with high resolution auto-focus. So USB cameras aren't the only options to provide Macintosh users with high quality choices to chat & video-conference using popular Mac applications like iChat, Yahoo Messenger, MSN Messenger, Skype, ISPQ VideoChat or for uploading clips to YouTube.


WEBCAMS FOR OLD MAC? USB 1.1 PORTS?
OSX 10.2 or OSX 10.3 PANTHER?

Most High-Resolution USB 2.0 cams SIMPLY WILL NOT WORK on old 800mhz or less Macs, who's slow USB 1.x speed ports are over FOURTY times slower. Those that claim to like Creative's line may have UTTERLY ABYSMAL frame-rates on USB 1.x - or show no image at all even tho System Profiler may recognize the cam on the USB 1.1 bus. The Original Macally IceCam is one of the few widely available Non-UVC USB 1.1 cams suitable for Macs in the 800mhz or less range. It's Sonix sensor driver DOES NOT WORK ON OSX 10.5, but works OK for 10.4 or lower. Also the Genius Look 313 5-in-1 USB 1.1 Speed Web Camera (with USB Speaker, USB 2 port hub, Headset and Microphone jack) uses a Sonix sensor and only works on 10.4.11 and lower. The high-quality option is the adjustable-focus HUE HD PC-Mac Flex Webcam from Clique it too uses a Sonix SN9C1xx sensor. Tho NOT UVC compliant and requires drivers - it is a smartly designed workable solution for either USB 1.1 or 2.0 ports, and available in 6 fashion color choices. With the two above, you'll likey need eCamm's $10 iUSBcam software to try to get them to work with iChat. Hue flexible 1.3mp webcamOtherwise, you're left dinking around with any of hundreds of old cheap cams made for Windows and fiddling with Macam or IOXperts drivers hoping for a combination that will work.


SOUND DECISIONS: USB CHAT MICROPHONE PICKS

Some Mac's & webcams lack a built-in microphone. Head-sets or earbuds aren't glamourous for adult video conferencing in particular. The Logitech USB Desktop Microphone is a fine choice with great sound quality & easy to tap mute switch. But feedback, hard drive & fan noise 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 choice head and shoulders above all others in it's price range: the Logitech ClearChat Pro Headset USB Logitech earphones w/mic gets rave reviews for not only video conferencing - but top notch iTunes audio and Podcast Recording as well.


AUDIO ACCESSORIES: USB SPEAKER SYSTEMS

Many Laptops have pretty lousy built-in speakers - Making chat and video-conferencing difficult in all but the quietest of controlled environments. Two very popular picks featured at www.usb-computer-speakers.com for exceptional external audio are the suprisingly good sounding 1-Piece Tritton Sound Bite Portable USB Digital Speaker gets both power and 2.1 stereo audio over a single USB cable in a compact unit great for travel. USB soundbite stereo For the desktop - And often available for $35 Or Less - The A/C powered Logitech AudioHub usb speakers + hub picis an absolute bargain combo device with high-fidelity 2.1 stereo speakers, a powered 3-port USB 2.0 speed USB hub, smart cable wrap-management at the back, and an optional clip-on riser bracket to hold a webcam. It's a GREAT PRODUCT to consolidate some of your gizmos into a single sleek box and minimize a rats-nest of wires. Highly recommended!


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. OS X 10.5 Leopard provides full webcam support.
PLAYSTATION 3 The 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 devices since Service Pack 2/3. Windows Vista ships with FULL native UVC class driver support included.