Hello Welles Goodrich
I offer some input rather than direct answers to your very good and specific questions.
(1) If the only reason you are considering a different camera is because you need a different mount, this
Mounts For Your iSight page may be of interest. (Note that Apple no longer offers the "iSight Accessory Kit, Part Number: M9314G/B" that is mentioned there.)
If you or your Apple-Authorized Service Provider needs parts from the discontinued Kit or some part listed in Apple's
iSight Service: Frequently Asked Questions page and cannot locate them in your area, check with
http://www.synaptech.com. They have told me that they will help users obtain any needed external iSight parts that are still available.
(2) I do not have a Logitech camera, and I have never knowingly tested iChat video images with anyone using the specific Logitech cam you mention. Therefore, I have no facts on the quality of the image it provides. However, the tests I have made with users of different Logitech webcam models showed good video quality on systems that were working properly.
If you decide to buy a QuickCam Orbit or other Logitech webcam, be advised that some models have both UVC and non-UVC versions. Only the UVC versions do not require additional software and drivers for use on your 10.5.1 Mac.
This Logitech page shows which part numbers are the UVC versions.
(3) If you find that iGlasses does not give sufficient image quality, you can try adding location light. When my room at home is too dark, rather than use iGlasses, I light my face with a small
clamp-on lamp like this one. I tried several different bulbs and settled on a small (9 watt) "warm" toned fluorescent bulb that gave the best color balance without being too bright or too hot.
(4) How the image from any given camera looks is an individual judgement. Before you buy a new Logitech, you might want to consider getting a demo on one at a local store to be sure that YOU like the way its image looks. If you do not have access to a portable Mac to use, they should be able to let you use a store computer to capture a snapshot and a video that you can copy to disk or email to yourself so you can compare it with similar files captured from your iSight.
EZ
Jim
PowerBook 1.67 GHz w/Mac OS X (10.4.11) G5 DP 1.8 w/Mac OS X (10.5.1) External iSight
