Old iSight Camera Catalina Compatibility

Hey Rob,

I'm using a MacBook Pro (Retina, 13 inch, mid 2014) with Catalina 10.15.4

At first, the only way I could get my Firewire iSight to work in FaceTime is to first launch the app using the built in camera in my MacBook screen (annoying as I mainly use my machine in clamshell with an external monitor). Once open and running on the built in camera, I could then select iSight under the Video menu.

After some trials, I realised I could start a FaceTime call with the iSight on 'blank screen' and once the connection is made, the video starts. Give it a try and see if it works for you.

Others are saying the iSight has audio issues in Catalina but mine works fine - the firmware is 1.0.3. (The last time the 'iSight Updater' app worked was in Leopard 10.5) Check About This Mac > System Information > FireWire to see details.

Yes, it is a Catalina bug, and hopefully someone will figure out a way to fix it, if possible. Maybe copying kext?

Only firmware 1.0.3 will work, and video only, no audio.

Apple just released Mac OS update 10.15.5, and still, this bug, and the MagicMouse bug are not fixed.

I guess it's not a priority for them.

I can use my old firewire iSight for FaceTime by switching between my iMac's FaceTime camera and the iSight in the Video menu. May take a couple swaps. It's a bug for sure, and doubtful it would be resolved, imho. I can use it for any other app that has access to the Mac's camera, too.

The video works, it's the audio they killed. No Mic. I am betting since you are on an iMac, maybe you're able to get it to work, because you're using the iMac mic?

Check your settings and verify if you are able to get the actual iSight mic to work as your input source. (option-click the speaker icon in your menu bar)

For now, I just got a cheap $18 USB2 cam from China, and yes, I know, it's far superior to the ancient iSight, but I would really still love to get my Apple iSight working. It matches the Mac, and has auto focus, which the new ones do not, unless you get an expensive one.

I am hoping in time, Apple will fix it, or maybe someone will figure out how to enable it again.

If the mic driver is 32bit, then we are probably at Apple's mercy. I have a feeling that's the issue.

The iSight works great in Mojave.

I just connected my old iSight firewire webcam to my 2014 mac mini. I used a DisplayPort-FW800 and a FW800-FW400 adapter. Picture works ok (a bit laggy though) but no sound. I run Catalina 10.15.6. How your video @RobD38? Is it laggy or smooth?

your macbook pro has a built in mic. which explains why your audio works.

I have a cheap chinese webcam, and similar to yours, I can launch facetime with both cameras to choose from, but isight audio is not recognized. so I am stuck with keeping the cheap camera for picking up audio.

wish there was a fix so i can throw away this garbage and use the isight.

I'm just posting this for visibility. I'm running an iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2010) running MacOS High Sierra 10.13.6

First thing: make sure that your isight camera iris is FULLY OPEN! (and also powered, obviously)

Then, open the Photo Booth App.

Then select "Camera" in the toolbar

Then select "iSight" camera

Then BINGO!

It should automatically transfer capability to the Facetime app, both video and audio.

This was the only successful workaround for me. I just used it in a Facetime call with my mom 09/28/2020

I'm just posting this for visibility. I'm running an iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2010) running MacOS High Sierra 10.13.6

First thing: make sure that your isight camera iris is FULLY OPEN! (and also powered, obviously)

Then, open the Photo Booth App.

Then select "Camera" in the toolbar

Then select "iSight" camera

Then BINGO!

It should automatically transfer capability to the Facetime app, both video and audio.

This was the only successful workaround for me. I just used it in a Facetime call with my mom 09/28/2020

I am using a MacMini 2018 and an external microphone. Since this morning the camera is no longer recognized. Same symptoms, when I boot my Mac the camera briefly comes on (focus noise and green light). Afterwards no app recognizes the camera.

Not sure if this is of interest but my ancient iSight also works. It has firmware 1.0.3 and it was nice to resurrect it for a test. It hasn't been used since my eMac was retired well over a decade ago. I have the iSight working with my iMac (late 2015 21.5 inch) and running Mojave 10.14.6

I plugged it in with the various adapters and got it to work with several video chat softwares, although without any sound. All the chat software continued to use my iMac's inbuilt mic. Also, my System Preferences did not recognise the iSight as an audio input.

I started with FaceTime which launched happily and allowed me to choose iSight as a camera. Skype and Zoom also saw the camera and I switched over to it. Same with Cisco Webex Meetings. Even Photo Booth could use the iSight.

In each of these it was fuzzy and strobing and, sadly, not even close to the quality of my inbuilt FaceTime HD camera.

I can't help thinking too that it won't work with Big Sur and a 64 bit-only system.

Option (or alt) click your speaker icon in your menu-bar next to the clock, and you can select your input and output audio devices.

Catalina can't see the FireWire mic.