Using the iSight Camera on my Cinema Display

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Using the iSight Camera on my Cinema Display

I have a 24" LED Cinema Display attached to my MacBook Pro. I can use the iSight camera on my MBP with iChat, but not the camera on the display. I've looked through just about every option and preference in iChat, but can't find a way to use the camera on the display.

I can do this on Skype, and I can see both cameras in System Profiler.

Shouldn't this basic thing be available on iChat? Or am I doing something wrong?

MacBook Pro i7, 17". iPhone 4 (32GB). Magic Trackpad., Mac OS X (10.6.5), No Windows here

Posted on Nov 13, 2010 10:07 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

EZ Jim

Level 7

22,590 points

Nov 14, 2010 6:19 AM in response to OrangeMarlin

OrangeMarlin wrote:
I have a 24" LED Cinema Display attached to my MacBook Pro. I can use the iSight camera on my MBP with iChat, but not the camera on the display. I've looked through just about every option and preference in iChat, but can't find a way to use the camera on the display.

I can do this on Skype, and I can see both cameras in System Profiler.

Shouldn't this basic thing be available on iChat? Or am I doing something wrong?

When you have more than one compatible camera connected, a "Camera" choices bar appears in
iChat > Preferences... > Audio/Video. You can select your Display iSight there.

Message was edited by: EZ Jim

Mac Pro Quad Core (Early 2009) 2.93Ghz Mac OS X (10.6.5); MacBook Pro (13 inch, Mid 2009) 2.26GHz (10.6.5)
LED Cinema Display; G4 PowerBook 1.67GHz (10.4.11); iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9); External iSight; iPod touch 4.1

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Answer 2

OrangeMarlin Author

Level 5

5,210 points

Nov 18, 2010 3:12 PM in response to EZ Jim

EZ Jim wrote:

OrangeMarlin wrote:
I have a 24" LED Cinema Display attached to my MacBook Pro. I can use the iSight camera on my MBP with iChat, but not the camera on the display. I've looked through just about every option and preference in iChat, but can't find a way to use the camera on the display.

I can do this on Skype, and I can see both cameras in System Profiler.

Shouldn't this basic thing be available on iChat? Or am I doing something wrong?

When you have more than one compatible camera connected, a "Camera" choices bar appears in
iChat > Preferences... > Audio/Video. You can select your Display iSight there.

Well, that's not quite true. That works when you don't have an iChat session going. However, when you're in session, it appears that I cannot switch cameras. I vote that as a kind of silly, but maybe it's just too difficult to make an on-the-fly change.

On to the Feedback page.

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Answer 3

EZ Jim

Level 7

22,590 points

Nov 18, 2010 4:00 PM in response to OrangeMarlin

OrangeMarlin wrote:
... That works when you don't have an iChat session going. However, when you're in session, it appears that I cannot switch cameras...

For other readers info: I can select between cameras during an active video chat. It has worked for me as far back as iChat AV 2.1 in Panther (10.3.x), and it still works as always when I tested in again now.

@OrangeMarlin: Thanks for the helpful star. If you haven't restarted Mac, do so and try again. Changing preferences during an active video chat should work for you.

Message was edited by: EZ Jim

Mac Pro Quad Core (Early 2009) 2.93Ghz Mac OS X (10.6.5); MacBook Pro (13 inch, Mid 2009) 2.26GHz (10.6.5)
LED Cinema Display; G4 PowerBook 1.67GHz (10.4.11); iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9); External iSight; iPod touch 4.1

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Answer 4

OrangeMarlin Author

Level 5

5,210 points

Nov 19, 2010 5:46 AM in response to EZ Jim

Well Jim, It doesn't work for me.

<Edited by Host>

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Answer 5

EZ Jim

Level 7

22,590 points

Nov 19, 2010 7:46 AM in response to OrangeMarlin

OrangeMarlin wrote:
Well Jim, It doesn't work for me.

<Edited by Host>

Does reinstalling Snow Leopard and then applying the 10.6.5 Combo Update fix it?

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1324

Mac Pro Quad Core (Early 2009) 2.93Ghz Mac OS X (10.6.5); MacBook Pro (13 inch, Mid 2009) 2.26GHz (10.6.5)
LED Cinema Display; G4 PowerBook 1.67GHz (10.4.11); iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9); External iSight; iPod touch 4.1

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