iSight Resolution...a final reply

The problem is software:

Wikipedia explains why:

With the LED-Backlit MacBook Pros, Apple has moved to using a sensor capable of 1280x1024 pixels, but when accessed using provided APIs, the image is re-sampled to 640x480 pixels. However, Quartz Composer allows access to the 1280x1024 pixel video stream. The built-in iSight can also be used in the Photo Booth application.

I'm not going to speculate, but I will say, if you are trying to transmit video over videochat, there are few broadband providers that offer enough bandwidth for 1280 x 1024 video.

cpptnow wrote:
I have a macbook unibody end 2008 and I want to know what's the resolution of the built-in iSight? because I read different parts that apple had increased the resolution of 1280x1024 but my webcam isght records at 640x480 ... Why?

Because applications control the resolution and other operating functions of your iSight.

Some, like iChat, are limited to a maximum of 640 x 480.

Others, like QuickTimeX can record at higher resolutions depending on what settings you select:

 




Mac Pro Quad Core (Early 2009) 2.93Ghz w/Mac OS X (10.6.3)  MacBook Pro (13 inch, Mid 2009) 2.26GHz (10.6.3)
LED Cinema Display  G4 PowerBook 1.67GHz (10.4.11)  iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9)  External iSight

cpptnow wrote:
if i record with Quick time x at the maximum quality , the video is still recorded at a resolution of 640x480 ... why?

Because applications control the resolution and other operating functions of your iSight.

Apparently QTX is checking system parameters. The original built-in iSights were 640x480. Some may still be. Are you certain that your iSight's native resolution is 1280x1024 rather than 640x480?

Although I do not know, processor power also may be a determinant. On my MacBook Pro, when saving a movie recorded with my iSight, the QTX File > Save As... menu command options are limited to HD 480p (640x480) maximum. This seems consistent with what you report. However, on my Mac Pro, the same save menu in the same (QTX) app allows HD 720p and HD 1080p in addition to HD 480p.

If you know that your iSight is capable of1280x1024, you could check some of the other apps that can record movie clips with your iSight to see if any of them can give you more resolution than QTX or iMovie. If you do not already have other candidates, you can start with apps from the Movie Capture section of this list:

  http://www.ralphjohns.co.uk/EZJim/EZJimpage7.html

However, *be sure to test recording quality before doing anything important* to determine whether the higher resolutions overpowers your system's processor or disk storage capability and results in poor quality of recorded videos.

Finally, if you need more resolution and find no better solution, the best and least cost solution may be a compatible digital camcorder or still camera that offers HD movie modes.

you able to register in 1280?

Yes. My Mac Pro can record 1280 using the iSight built-into the Apple LED display that I use with it.

EZ Jim



Mac Pro Quad Core (Early 2009) 2.93Ghz w/Mac OS X (10.6.3)  MacBook Pro (13 inch, Mid 2009) 2.26GHz (10.6.3)
LED Cinema Display  G4 PowerBook 1.67GHz (10.4.11)  iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9)  External iSight

cpptnow wrote:
i'm not sure because i don't know how i can check if my isight record at 1280... but i know that apple change the isight after 2007 and my macbook Alu is late 2008..

Depending on how curious you are, the test described here might help you:

  http://macdaddyworld.com/?p=19

I could not make the test app linked there run correctly on my MBP, but it may work for you. If all else fails, your Apple Authorized Service Provider should be able to check your iSight and identify its maximum hardware resolution.

I am uncertain whether the following will help you, but I have one more bit of info to offer. After my previous post, I connected my 24" LED display to my 13" MBP and recorded test movies at maximum quality settings using each iSight driven by QTX from my MBP. The same app (QTX) driven by the same processor in the same MBP yielded 640x480 recordings when using the MBP's internal iSight, but it gave 1280x1024 when recording from the iSight in the 24" LED display. Based on that info, it is possible that my 13" MPB has a 640x480 iSight versus the 1240x1024 pixel model built into my 24" LED Display.

EZ Jim



MacPro QuadCore(Early 2009) 2.93Ghz w/MacOSX (10.6.3) 
MacBookPro(13inch,Mid2009) 2.26GHz(10.6.3)
LED Cinema Display  G4PowerBook 1.67GHz(10.4.11) 
iBookSE366MHz(10.3.9)  External iSight

cpptnow wrote:
So, at the end of this story do you think that all macbook have a 640x480 isight ?

No, I do not.
 
However, I have no way of testing that for all MacBooks, and I have never found any Apple-published info that answers that question.
 
If you are still curious about your iSight, your Apple Authorized Service Provider should be able to check your iSight and identify its maximum hardware resolution. The AASP may also be about to tell you about others' MacBooks, too, if that is important to you.

and the iMac ... have a 1280 ?

No. Not all.

I have friends who have owned iMacs with both 640x480 and 1280 iSights.

... and Cinema Display have a 1280 ?

I know mine is 1280, but I do not know about any others. Neither have I been able to find Apple-published info that answers that question.

This is the only reasonable solution... don't you think?

The only "reasonable solution" that I know will answer your Topic's original question is that your Apple Authorized Service Provider should be able to check your iSight and identify its maximum hardware resolution.

Thanks for all

You're most welcome. Thanks for letting us know you got what you needed.

EZ Jim



MacPro QuadCore(Early 2009) 2.93Ghz w/MacOSX (10.6.3) 
MacBookPro(13inch,Mid2009) 2.26GHz(10.6.3)
LED Cinema Display  G4PowerBook 1.67GHz(10.4.11) 
iBookSE366MHz(10.3.9)  External iSight