All Mac notebooks, iMacs and Apple displays have a built-in iSight, FaceTime or FaceTime HD camera. Positioned directly above the screen, it's great for keeping in touch using apps such as iChat and FaceTime.
But what if your monitor doesn't have an internal camera, or you want to show a wider view of yourself? Apple no longer produces the external iSight, but there are third-party webcams that work brilliantly with Macs. Here we look at five webcams for your Mac.
Also, to get more from your webcam, you can buy the iGlasses app. It gives extra controls for brightness, contrast, colour balance, orientation and more. It's due an update, but we're promised iGlasses 3 is on the way.
So what's the best Mac webcam? Let's find out.
01. Liquid Digital Solutions aGent V5 HD - £56
agent.liquiddigital.com.au
This full HD, 2MP webcam resembles the old Apple iSight. It comes bundled with clips and stands, and as its screw-in mounting is the same size as a standard camera's, you can also use a regular tripod.
A bundled CD is full of optional apps such as Webcam Monitor, CamGrabber and Gawker. The webcam's design is minimal - it even lacks an LED to tell you when it's activated.
The five-layer German lens does a great job with stills and video, recording sharp, detailed images, even in poor light. Unfortunately, sound quality is poor, and we had to turn the input volume right up to use it, and then it suffered from hiss.
Verdict: 4/5
Good looks and excellent image quality, but if you want sound too, you'd better use a separate mic.
02. Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910 - £60
www.logitech.com/en-gb
This one puts in a stellar performance. Colours are more natural than the aGent V5 HD, and it handles motion well. It adjusts for sub-optimal lighting conditions, though it can look a little yellow when natural and artificial light is mixed.
Its sound is as good as its video, with built-in stereo mics. Given the specifications, it's no wonder its performance is so impressive.
The C910 has a Carl Zeiss lens, and takes 10MP stills. It's full HD, and you can make video calls in 720p. One-click upload to Facebook, YouTube and Twitter is also catered for. Unfortunately, its non-removable stand isn't very versatile, and it doesn't look Mac-like.
Verdict: 4.5/5
Excellent performance, with great video and sound. We wish it had a screw-mounting, though.
03. Blue Microphones Eyeball 2.0 - £35
www.bluemic.com/eyeball
You can tell at a glance where the Eyeball 2.0's priorities lie. Most webcams add a microphone as an afterthought, but the Eyeball 2.0 is built around its mic, with the camera positioned on a retractable arm that pops out of its spherical body.
As a result, audio quality is good, capturing voices clearly without picking up background noise. Yet for all its acoustic strengths, the Eyeball 2.0's video was the worst of all the cameras on test.
Despite a 1600x1200 resolution, it lacked sharpness and clarity, and video was marred by motion blur. It copes with low light well, but its overall performance is poor.
Verdict: 2.5/5
Good audio, but this can't make up for the Eyeball 2.0's awful video quality. Horrible motion blur.
04. Macally IceCam2 - £17
www.macally.com
If you're looking for a less expensive choice that does a decent job with the minimum of fuss, then this is your cam. It's plug-and-play, with no bundled software or drivers, and its 640x480 VGA resolution is more than enough for video chat.
Its monitor/desktop stand and swivel head are functional, as is its long USB cable. Naturally, the video quality can't match the HD heavyweights. It's not as crisp, it needs to be manually focussed and there's significant motion blur when the light's poor.
The sound echoes a little, and audio and video are sometimes slightly out of sync. It's not for connoisseurs, but if all you want is basic video chat, the IceCam2 puts in a robust, if workmanlike, performance.
Verdict: 3/5
Surprisingly capable considering the price, and certainly good enough for basic video chat.
05. Ecamm BT-1 - £110
www.ecamm.com
The Ecamm BT-1's selling point is Bluetooth. With no USB cable, you can place the BT-1 anywhere within 30 feet of your computer, even in another room. Its supplied telescopic tripod uses a standard camera mounting screw, and its rechargeable battery lasts around four hours. There's nothing to mount it on a monitor, but that's not its intended use.
The BT-1 offers a maximum 640x480 resolution. Its colours are muted and it lacks sharpness and clarity, though there's very little motion blur. The mic does a decent job, capturing sound without picking up background noise.
It struggles to focus close in, but manages much better at longer distances. It's not yet compatible with FaceTime but we've been assured that an update is coming soon.
Verdict: 3.5/5
Not ideal for putting on your monitor, but great for when cables won't reach.
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First published in MacFormat Issue 234
Liked this? Then check out our Hands on: Mac OS X Lion review
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