DavidSteward
Level 1 (4 points)
Desktops

Q: Full screen external iSight feed

I would like to get a full screen feed from an external iSight camera to my 2013 MacBook Pro. Can anybody suggest software that will work?

I am trying to use it as a video camera to project the image from the Mac onto a projector.

 

The external iSight is connected via firewire 400/800 converter and then a Firewire to thunderbolt cable. Using OS X 10.10 and a 2013 retina MacBook Pro.

 

With iMovie I can get a feed but not full screen.

 

When I try to make a recording with Quicktime it fails after a very short time.

 

Thanks

David

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Yosemite (10.10)

Posted on Nov 13, 2014 8:35 AM

Close
DavidSteward

Q: Full screen external iSight feed

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by EZ Jim,Helpful

    EZ Jim EZ Jim Nov 14, 2014 9:13 AM in response to DavidSteward
    Level 7 (22,547 points)
    Nov 14, 2014 9:13 AM in response to DavidSteward

    Hello David,

     

    I'm not sure that I understand exactly what you're trying to do.  Hopefully, this will give you some ideas. 

     

    If you simply want to use your Mac with your projector, you may see better results with your internal camera rather than an external iSight. The old external iSight was intended only as a webcam, and it offers only 640x480 resolution.  Therefore, it has a 4x3 aspect ratio, which cannot give you full-screen courage on your MacBook Pro unless you crop the top and / or bottom of the image.  Moreover, even at its maximum 640x480 webcam native resolution, you may not see acceptable image quality when enlarged to your MBPs screen, much less when projected even larger.

     

    QuickTime X is probably your best bet for what I think you are trying to do. However, I don't understand why you would want to record it in order to send it to your projector. If your projector will show what's on the screen, launch QuickTime, select "New Movie Recording", enlarge the image to the maximum usable extent, and show the view that your old iSight is feeding without actually clicking record.

     

      Adjust QTX view

     

    If you must record QT, several things can effect recording speed and reliability.  Be sure you have no apps running other than the recording app, that you are connected to wall power for best CPU performance, and that you have plenty of free disk space.

     

     

     

     

    Message was edited by: EZ Jim

     

     

    Mac OSX 10.10

  • by DavidSteward,

    DavidSteward DavidSteward Nov 15, 2014 4:41 AM in response to EZ Jim
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Nov 15, 2014 4:41 AM in response to EZ Jim

    Thanks for taking the trouble to reply.

     

    I need to use the external iSight camera as I need to the portability. I want to use it to show an antiques valuation session to a large group, hence the need for the projector. I am constrained by the setup of the meeting and the connections to the projector. It would be cumbersome to use the built in iSight on the rMBP. I may have to use the iPad camera if I can find the correct leads.

     

    Thanks

    David

  • by EZ Jim,

    EZ Jim EZ Jim Nov 15, 2014 9:11 AM in response to DavidSteward
    Level 7 (22,547 points)
    Nov 15, 2014 9:11 AM in response to DavidSteward

    YW.

     

    EZ Jim