MAC COMPATIBLE WEBCAMS THAT *JUST WORK!*
CONNECT & SHARE - WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Buy a fully Macintosh friendly UVC compatible web cam! Have USB 2.0 Ports? Hundreds of different video conferencing cameras made for the Windows PC market simply DO NOT WORK & Apple Macintosh and Mac cam drivers may not exist. Models listed here are simply Plug & Play on modern Macs running OSX 10.4.x & 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 standard in USB 2.0 video-chat cameras. The iSight now built into recent iMac & MacBook models is compliant. Apple's Kernel Extensions in Mac OSX Tiger & Leopard means ANY UVC based USB cam will Just Work when plugged in. No webcam drivers required. Windows Vista also natively supports UVC class video cameras; these listed are good PC - and even Linux choices as well.

Can You Digg it? StumbleUpon This Page For Easy Reference!


THE SMART CHOICE: PLUG-N-PLAY OS X WEBCAM PICKS
Known UVC Compliant Cams - Last Updated: August 25th, 2008
#1 SMART CHOICE: Logitech QuickCam Vision Pro for Mac
The new Mac Vision webcam is now shipping at Amazon. While it appears to be a cosmetically redesigned Pro 9000 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. That's why it's worth the price premium and worth buying up for. YOU'RE GONNA LOVE the quality and response of this camera! Altho the Apple Store lists the Vision Pro, it's not in-stock yet, 2-3 week ship time listed.
#2 PICK: HP's Top-Of-The-Line 3MP High-Def Cam
Like: Very Hi-Res HD 3 Megapixel, UVC, Top Notch Light Sensitivity and Auto-Color/White-Balance, Hardware Auto Focus, Stereo Mic
Dislike: Not Widely Available, Worth Hunting One Down.
Luxury Logitech QuickCam Ultra-SE Fixed Focus
Like: Quality Glass Lens. Hassle-Free Fixed Focus.
Dislike: A Bit Bulky Compared To Other Web Cameras.
Microsoft Live! Web Cam - Value Priced:
Like: Suprising Image Quality, Focus Ring, Bargain Price
Dislike: Light Construction Designed For Desktop No Mic.
Creative Live Cam Fixed-Focus + Mic
Sharp 1.3MP 1280x960 Resolution. Noise Cancelling Mic
Absolutely Hassle-Free, Futz-Free, Wide-Angle Fixed Focus
Creative Labs IM Pro Model w/Mic
Like: Low Cost, Built In Mic, Versatile Notebook/Desktop Mount
Dislike: Kinda Ugly in a Cute Egg-y Sort of Way, VGA Med-Res
Verify You Get The Newer VF0410 Model IM Pro That's UVC!
*NEW!* Hue HD Blue PC / Mac Webcam from Clique
Like: Flexible Goose Neck, Mic, Detachable Base, 5 Color Choices
Dislike: Pricey Due To Style And Because It's CUTE & COLORFUL!

THESE BELOW ARE GOOD UVC CAMS OVERALL - BUT...
Since They Don't Have Mac or Linux Specific Software, Don't Perform As Optimally As They Could: Perhaps Best For Cross-Platform PC/Mac Users
Creative Optia Live Auto-Focus + Mic
Like: Very High 2MP Resolution, Swivels & Pivots, Mic
Dislike: Creative Doesn't Support AutoFocus Functions On Mac
Logitech Pro For Notebooks
Like: Quality Ziess Lens, Good Light Response and Color Balance
Dislike: Designed Small For Laptop-Travel But Comes With Separate 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: Only a VERY FEW Logitech models are UVC compliant or work on a Mac! The above two Pro models absolutely UVC compatible; Most other Mid-To-Low-End Logitech cameras are NOT Mac compatible - depends on model #, ever-changing and confusing product names, different internal sensor & part numbers! Choose carefully. Also, Logitech's Autofocus functions are not supported on the Mac - it will act like a fixed-focus cam, and their RightLight2 function may cause low frame-rates in low-lighting conditions.

LESS THAN IDEAL MAC WEB CAMERA CHOICES...
MAC COMPATIBLE - BUT NOT TRULY 'GREAT' UVC MODELS
Pico iMage USB 2.0 Webcam:
Like: Click Tilt Adjustment. Good Light Response & Color Balance
Dislike: Fixed Focus. Rather GRAINY Image. Overpriced
 SO-SO BUDGET ADDITION: MacAlly VGA IceCam 2
Like: Built In Mic, Adjustable Focus Ring, On Indicator LED
Dislike: Needs Bright Lighting Levels, Color Out Of Whack, Cheap Rebranded Import Cam.
DUBIOUS ADDITION: 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.

DV QUALITY APPLE iSIGHT & FIREWIRE OPTIONS

You CAN still find decent, used Apple iSight cams at Amazon without having to slug it out on eBay. Why Apple stopped manufacturing their very high-quality 1394 FireWire web camera is beyond logic. 1394b is better than USB for video conferencing & chat in many technical aspects: Less CPU overhead 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 tho it lacks the iSight's built-in microphone and really high resolution. Old iBot & ADS Pyro 1394 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-MSN Messenger, Skype, ISPQ Video Chat or for uploading clips to YouTube.


OLD MAC? OLD USB 1.1 PORTS?
RUNNING OSX 10.2 or OSX 10.3 PANTHER? GOOD LUCK...

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 works on 10.4 and lower. You'll likey need eCamm's $10 iUSBcam software to try to get it to work with iChat. Otherwise 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 is great 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. Chat and Video-conferencing can be difficult in all but the quietest of controlled environments. Two very popular picks featured at sister-site 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. For the desktop - And often available for $35 Or Less - The A/C powered Logitech AudioHub is an absolute bargain combo device with high-fidelity 2.1 stereo speakers, a powered 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 for Linux is provided by the Linux UVC driver
MAC OS X Mac 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 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. Windows Vista ships with FULL native UVC class driver support included.