lsimpson

Q: Can the lighting on the mac book air for photobooth be fixed

Does any one know why the pictures on the mac book air are so poorly,

MacBook Air, iOS 5.0.1

Posted on Jan 22, 2012 10:01 AM

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Q: Can the lighting on the mac book air for photobooth be fixed

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  • by shldr2thewheel,

    shldr2thewheel shldr2thewheel Jan 22, 2012 4:38 PM in response to lsimpson
    Level 7 (25,881 points)
    Jan 22, 2012 4:38 PM in response to lsimpson

    because the iSight camera is crappy.

  • by SP Forsythe,

    SP Forsythe SP Forsythe Jan 22, 2012 6:32 PM in response to lsimpson
    Level 5 (5,399 points)
    Jan 22, 2012 6:32 PM in response to lsimpson

    The iSight cameras used in the MacBook Pros are too dimensionally large to fit in the thickness of the display portion of the MacBook Air's. There is actually less room than in the iPhone.

     

    Apple calls the lower resolution cameras in the Airs, a "Facetime Camera", as the intended resolution and light capture quality is only really suitable for Facetime use. The camera just isn't capable of doing the same type of photographic tasks as the iSight.

  • by EZ Jim,

    EZ Jim EZ Jim Jan 23, 2012 7:43 AM in response to lsimpson
    Level 7 (22,547 points)
    Jan 23, 2012 7:43 AM in response to lsimpson

    First ensure that you don't have some kind of dirt smudge on your cams' lens cover.

     

    Poor images are usually caused by insufficient light.

     

    (1) Per http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3097, use good (meaning very bright, single-source) light.

     

    (2) Restart Mac and record a Photo Booth image or video clip in full sunlight. View it inside (not in sunlight) to see the best quality your MBA can give.

     

    (3) If your quality problem persists, you can try these suggestions for troubleshooting built-in iSight: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2090

     

    (4) As noted in SP Forsythe's earlier post, Apple now calls cameras built into current Macs and Apple LED displays "FaceTime HD" camera.  However  Apple FaceTime cameras are iSight type cameras.

     

    To remove this potential for confusion, several of us who post here have sent Apple Feedback that asks Apple to update related knowledge-base articles to include the FaceTime camera name or provide separate articles titled for FaceTime cameras.  In the meantime, users of any Mac or Apple LED inbuilt cameras can continue to use Apple's recommendations for built-in iSight in all related knowledge-base articles.

     

    (5) If you need a webcam with more quality than your MBA's inbuilt cam can deliver, and if you do not want to trade Macs to get a better inbuilt cam, you might want to consider adding a compatible external camera.  Several examples and some more information are available here:

     

      http://www.mac-compatible-web-cam.com/

     

    It is easy to take your wonderfully portable MBA to a store and compare the images of any compatible cam of interest to see if any of them can give the quality you want. 

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Message was edited by: EZ Jim

  • by SP Forsythe,

    SP Forsythe SP Forsythe Jan 23, 2012 2:26 PM in response to EZ Jim
    Level 5 (5,399 points)
    Jan 23, 2012 2:26 PM in response to EZ Jim

    EZ Jim wrote:

     

       Apple FaceTime cameras are iSight type cameras.

     

    From Where do you obtain this information? The Camera in the 2010 and 2011 MBA's have never been called "iSight" cameras by Apple. The name "iSight" is reserved for a number of cameras as used on the MacBook Pros, but Apple does not use them to refer to the cameras in the MBA in any documents or online advertising.

     

    Can you cite where Apple refers to the MBA Camera as an "iSight"??? Even in documents you use as iSight help examples, the MBA is not a listed as equipped device. Not that I want to downplay their helpfulness for any camera advice.

     

    It is confusing to people when they are referred to as iSight, because they think it should be then similar in image quality.

     

    Here are contextual references:

     

     

    Click to enlarge (below)Screen Shot 2012-01-23 at 2.11.41 PM.png

    Screen Shot 2012-01-23 at 2.12.35 PM.png

  • by EZ Jim,

    EZ Jim EZ Jim Jan 24, 2012 3:04 PM in response to SP Forsythe
    Level 7 (22,547 points)
    Jan 24, 2012 3:04 PM in response to SP Forsythe

    Inbuilt iSight and the later cameras that Apple calls "FaceTime HD" cameras both:

     

      • use the same software for the same imaging purposes

      • connect to Mac's USB bus in the same way

      • respond to the same fixes in Apple Troubleshooting and Help articles

     

    For purposes of operation and troubleshooting, they are different cameras of the same type.

     

     

     

     

     

    Message was edited by: EZ Jim

  • by SP Forsythe,

    SP Forsythe SP Forsythe Jan 24, 2012 4:09 PM in response to EZ Jim
    Level 5 (5,399 points)
    Jan 24, 2012 4:09 PM in response to EZ Jim

    EZ Jim, It is your characterization as "iSight type", not Apple's.

     

    The problem, as is evident on this thread is that they are NOT the same type. That's the whole point.

     

    Apple DOES NOT refer to the MBA camera as an iSight, not a Facetime HD, but a "Facetime Camera" for one particular reason...to differentiate it from higher resolution cameras in their other lines. They don't even list the MBA on support documents that pertain to the iSight trademark type of applications. The very documents you posted links links for, don't list the MBA as an applicable product for the advice on troubleshooting an iSight.

     

    Once people realize that the cameras ARE NOT the same, they begin to undestand differences in quality in the different applications.

     

    Just for grins.... Show me one APPLE document for the 2010-2011 MBA FaceTime Camera that describes it as being iSight or an iSight "type".  There are not any, despite your "personal" characterization.

     

    Please don't confuse people by calling the MBA Facetime Camera an "iSight", or they will confuse it with the iSight and think they were shortchanged.

     

    Maybe this document will help. It lists the three distinct types of cameras used on the current Macs.

    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.7/en/mchlp2980.html

  • by EZ Jim,

    EZ Jim EZ Jim Jan 26, 2012 7:32 AM in response to SP Forsythe
    Level 7 (22,547 points)
    Jan 26, 2012 7:32 AM in response to SP Forsythe

    SP, In an attempt to reduce the confusion that afflicts you, some of us users who post here already have sent Apple Feedback.

     

    We have suggested that Apple update related knowledge-base articles to include the FaceTime camera names or, alternatively, to provide separate articles titled for FaceTime cameras.  Until Apple responds, users of any Mac or Apple LED inbuilt cameras can continue to use Apple's recommendations for built-in iSight in all related knowledge-base articles.

     

    You may decide to submit your own feedback in order that Apple can have your point of view in addition to that which I have submitted.

     

     

     

    Message was edited by: EZ Jim

  • by SP Forsythe,

    SP Forsythe SP Forsythe Jan 26, 2012 8:49 AM in response to EZ Jim
    Level 5 (5,399 points)
    Jan 26, 2012 8:49 AM in response to EZ Jim

    Jim,

     

    It's not confusing at all. Apple's names for their cameras are principally to differentiate them and categorize them according to their resolution/image quality (as explained in their public introduction of the 2010 MacBook Air redesign). The lowest resolution cameras are called the "FaceTime Camera", and are used primarily for video over IP, hence the name.  Examples are the camera on the MBA, and the forward facing camera on the iPhone. The next up from that is the FaceTime HD, which is a higher resolution unit on a few other Mac models. The highest resolution is the iSight, also used on some Macs, and formerly used as the name for their line of external accessory cameras.

     

    Where any confusion might set in is the use of the iSight name to describe what used to be a much smaller array of offerings when Apple introduced their external iSight. However, it is just a trademark, and Apple obviously wanted to keep using it, thus re-purposing it to describe their premium offerings as the variety grew.

     

    If they called every Camera they had an iSight, and also used alternative names for the lower resolution units, but not differentiating the higher end one, .....that would be really confusing. After all, they don't call the premium camera an iSight HD or a "Super iSight"....it's just an iSight...period.

     

    Yes, there may be a lack of written support documentation on the newer trademark application of FaceTime, albiet in the sales literature it is crystal clear. (which is where it may be confusing to some). And yes, some of their iSight documents are as applicable to FaceTime as any camera, not even Apple's. But that is the extent of it. But as I indicated here in this document, it spells it out.... There are three distict classes/types/names of cameras. No Apple document shows the 2010-2012 MBA's as having anything but a FaceTime Camera.

  • by EZ Jim,

    EZ Jim EZ Jim Jan 27, 2012 6:37 AM in response to SP Forsythe
    Level 7 (22,547 points)
    Jan 27, 2012 6:37 AM in response to SP Forsythe

    Neither resolution nor the variety of camera names is relevant to our efforts to help users troubleshoot and correct problems with their Apple webcams

     

    Until Apple modifies existing articles or provides separate articles titled for its various camera names, users of any Mac or Apple LED inbuilt cameras can continue to use Apple's recommendations for built-in iSight in all related knowledge-base articles.

     

     

     

    Message was edited by: EZ Jim

  • by SP Forsythe,

    SP Forsythe SP Forsythe Jan 27, 2012 8:03 AM in response to EZ Jim
    Level 5 (5,399 points)
    Jan 27, 2012 8:03 AM in response to EZ Jim

    Yes, Jim, when the trouble is that the camera ia not performing to within it's own specifications.

     

    In the case of the OP, the specificity of the type/name of camera is highly relevant if he does not know why what he thinks is an iSight camera is not performing like an iSight camera. It's simple. It's not an iSight camera.

  • by EZ Jim,

    EZ Jim EZ Jim Jan 27, 2012 2:28 PM in response to SP Forsythe
    Level 7 (22,547 points)
    Jan 27, 2012 2:28 PM in response to SP Forsythe

    Thanks.

     

    Specific suggestions addressing OP's original question have been offered earlier.  OP has not responded since.  Camera type/name is not relevant to our efforts to help this OP.

     

    Until Apple modifies existing articles or provides separate articles titled for its various camera names, users of any Mac or Apple LED inbuilt cameras can continue to use Apple's recommendations for built-in iSight in all related knowledge-base articles.

     

     

     

     

    Message was edited by: EZ Jim

  • by SP Forsythe,

    SP Forsythe SP Forsythe Jan 27, 2012 2:48 PM in response to EZ Jim
    Level 5 (5,399 points)
    Jan 27, 2012 2:48 PM in response to EZ Jim

    EZ Jim wrote:

     

    Camera type/name is not relevant to our efforts to help this OP.

    We don't know that to be the case at all. It could indeed be helpful if he has already tried the iSight solutions without resolving his concern. Unknowingly he might then presume his camera to be defective. It is indeed helpful to know the limitations of the different camera types used on different products, especially if he is comparing it to a notebook that actually uses an iSight camera.

  • by EZ Jim,

    EZ Jim EZ Jim Jan 28, 2012 6:29 AM in response to SP Forsythe
    Level 7 (22,547 points)
    Jan 28, 2012 6:29 AM in response to SP Forsythe

    SP Forsythe wrote:  We don't know that to be the case at all...

    I do.  I am not confused.

     

    To remove this potential for confusion, several of us who post here have sent Apple Feedback that asks Apple to update related knowledge-base articles to include the FaceTime camera name or provide separate articles titled for FaceTime cameras.  In the meantime, users of any Mac or Apple LED inbuilt cameras can continue to use Apple's recommendations for built-in iSight in all related knowledge-base articles.

     

     

    Message was edited by: EZ Jim

  • by SP Forsythe,

    SP Forsythe SP Forsythe Jan 28, 2012 5:16 PM in response to EZ Jim
    Level 5 (5,399 points)
    Jan 28, 2012 5:16 PM in response to EZ Jim

    Your last reply is unrelated to my point, and addresses another issue for which we are in previous agreement. As such, I'll take it you have no pertinent retort. Enough has been said.

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