iSight and night viewing

If you mean, can you use iSight as an infra red camera, the answer is no. infra red cameras (still or video) are different to cameras that record light within the visible spectrum. also, infra red cameras detect heat as opposed to visible light. this is as far as i know anyway, so if someone can correct me, please do.

the iSight was designed as a webcam. because of this, it will not make a very good surveillance camera. if you want a surveillance camera, buy a product that was designed from the beginning to be a surveillance camera.

Hello Caoim,

You might also look at iGlasses, by Ecamm, which can be found here:
http://www.ecamm.com/mac/iglasses/
and has a free trial download.

Respectfully,
Bill Gallagher

Hello Bill,

I can confirm that iGlasses work brilliantly with an iSight and night vision.
I have discovered a massive variety of wildlife in my Garden at nights using the above. All sorts of things... Hippo's included!!!

Regards

Ian

hi,

iglasses does work great with isight.

but i have encountered the following, that when it's pitch black, really total darkness, the night vision doesn't help.

I don't know how that works with the night vision, i kind of think it's a "rest light booster/amplifier". so i think it only works if there is some light already there, total darkness doesn't work for me.

alex

Hello Again alex,
You are correct in that iSight cannot operate w/out some residual light (moon, stars, something), but it does, as Ian(have a few+'s) points out, operate quite well at night with that minimal type of light source.
But for what it does at an $8.00 priced shareware product, who can complain?
Respectfully,
Bill Gallagher

Hi Bill,

not complaining... that's also why i bought it the day i bought the isight... it's a very handy little programm.

but to see in total darkness it would need an infrared or a night vision camera or whatever... but it think it's already great how they included the night vision thingy in the iglasses programm.
I have a similar thing in my nokia 6600 mobile phone. it doesn't work in total darkness, but just a small light source will give you a great picture.

regards
alex

This thread, iSight & infrared, will be archived soon.

If you find anything there of interest, I suggest you save a copy or download it soon.

EZ Jim

Very useful link thanks! iGlasses works great - just what I needed - a good result from just one search on discussions! Have some '+' on me...

Just tested the camera with the only IR source I have, a tv remote. The transmitter is invisible to the eye but the camera saw it just as most other CCD's and CMOS chips can. You will need a near infrared source for addtional lighting. For detecting body heat you'll need a substantially better camera. But I think this is what you were asking for.

You'll need the iGlasses program as well since Apple didn't care to include exposure controlls or advanced auto exposure. However it would be nice if iGlasses would dynamically change it's settings to maintain an exposure level. You'll get very blown out images when the regular lighting comes on unless you are there to readjust the iGlasses preferences.