Display is using my Mac's camera... not its own!

Hello ziggyonice

You have not marked your topic "Answered", so you may be hoping for other suggestions.

See if http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=9950209#9950209 helps you.

EZ Jim



G5 DP 1.8GHz w/Mac OS X (10.5.8) PowerBook 1.67GHz (10.4.11)   iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9)  External iSight

depending on the application you are using with your camera, there should be a spot in the preferences to change your default camera. For example, in iChat under your preferences in the Audio/Video tab you can do this.

I had this same problem. The only way I was able to use the built in camera on the display was to use it with my MacBook's lid closed. Here's how to do that if you don't know how:

Setting Up Your Computer with the Lid Closed
You can close the lid of your computer and use just your Apple LED Cinema Display.
Follow the setup instructions on the previous page and make sure the MagSafe
connector from the display is plugged into the MagSafe power port on your computer.
To use your Apple LED Cinema Display with your computer’s display closed:
1
Connect an external USB keyboard and mouse to the USB port on your display or use
the Bluetooth® Setup Assistant to set up a wireless keyboard and mouse.
2
Make sure your computer is turned on.
3
Close the display on your computer to put it to sleep.
4
Wait a few seconds, and then press any key on the external keyboard or move the
mouse to wake your computer.

I don't see a way to select the camera in Photo Booth with 10.5.7. In iMovie and iChat there is a way to select the Display iSight, but in Photo Booth it always uses the built-in iSight and I don't have a way to change it.

Following up on this. Looks like it's some weirdness after 10.5.7. Sometimes the camera button appears and other times it doesn't. It's because the system can't detect the iSight camera in the display. For example I have the lid shut on my Macbook. If I open Photo Booth it says no camera present. (Camera with a slash through it.)

I also have this issue. No manner of closing the macbook pro or switching the apps on an off will make any difference - the display isight is simply not listed.

The only solution (for me) is to switch off the mac and restart with the display plugged in. Then any apps (skype, ichat, etc) have the two options of built-in isight and display isight.

Not exactly the most ideal solution but at least there is one. If I know I will be doing a lot of Skyping I will restart the mac.

On a side note, the display isight is not recognised in the system info (until I restart of course).

Cheers.

Message was edited by: PaulTomes

In ichat go into preferences, then go to camera. You will be able to change which camera you want to view (either display or macbook pro). For photo both just click the camera in the menu bar. You will have the same choices as ichat. If neither of these show up restart your computer while being plugged into the your screen.

Tylko wrote:
In ichat go into preferences, then go to camera. You will be able to change which camera you want to view (either display or macbook pro). For photo both just click the camera in the menu bar. You will have the same choices as ichat. If neither of these show up restart your computer while being plugged into the your screen.

Hello, Tylko

For clarity to OP and other readers, I offer the following regarding this part of your suggestion:

For photo both ... You will have the same choices as ichat.

That is not true on my Mac. 

My Photo Booth ONLY uses the first connected camera it recognizes that is not already in use. Clicking the camera in the my Photo Booth menu bar when multiple cameras are connected results in NO DIFFERENCE from the same action when only one camera is detected.

Even when multiple cameras that work properly with other apps are connected, Photo Booth does not allow a camera choice on my PowerMac G5 no matter where I click.

While it is true that iChat offers a choice of cameras, if what you post is true, there is a major difference between your Photo Booth for iNtel Mac and the Photo Booth that runs on my PowerPC Mac.

EZ Jim


G5 DP 1.8GHz w/Mac OS X (10.5.8) PowerBook 1.67GHz (10.4.11)   iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9)  External iSight

In Photobooth's top toolbar there is a Camera option, click that you have a choice of Display iSight or Built In iSight, choose whichever you want to use and problem is sorted