Using External Webcam

Hello,

I'm using the iChat software but I can not get my webcam to work properly. The webcam model is Logitech C920 and was bought 2 months ago. I do not understand why you can not see the image. I have configured the application as you say in this post and continue with the same problem.

Can help me?

Regards

(1) Don't install any software that may have come with the external cam. Provided that your Mac is running Mac OS X 10.4.9 or later, your Mac already contains all driver software necessary for any Mac compatibile camera.

(2) To use the external camera, simply connect it to your Mac.

If it has an on/off switch, switch to the on position.

How you select between connected cameras depends on the app you are using.

With more than one working camera recognized by your system, most camera-capable applications have settings that allow you to choose which camera to use. However, they do not all work the same way. Here follow some examples:

• iMovie 9 ('11) uses a choices bar in the "Import from Camera" window:

More info: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=iMovie/9.0/en/mov39f84285.html

• For iChat, you can choose which iSight you use in the "Camera:" choices bar in iChat > Preferences... > Audio/Video that appears when more than one compatible camera is connected. Although your camera choices will be different, the choices bar will look something similar to the Preferences settings shown here:

• Photo Booth uses the Photo Booth > Camera menu command to select which camera to use. Remember, camera choice for any app will be available only if more than one working camera is recognized by your system. With only one camera, the choices will not be visible.

• For FaceTime,if your Mac recognizes more than one connected compatible camera, a "Camera" section listing the cameras from which you can choose will appear there. Clicking on the desired camera name will let you select the one you want as shown in this image from my Mac Pro and LED Cinema Display:

If your Mac recognizes only one compatible camera, the "Camera" section will not appear in the Video menu, but FaceTime will automatically use the connected camera that is recognized by OS X.

• QuickTimeX uses Preferences to select between connected cameras.
 
QTX video Preference settings are visible only when you have a new video recording window open. The image below shows how to access QTX video Preferences from an open video recording window:

Note that only one webcam (iSight) is shown in this image because I had only one camera connected to my Mac at the time. When more than one compatible camera is connected, you will see the additional camera name and can select it in this menu.

• For cameras connected via Flash browser plugins, control-click on an open video window and adjust the camera settings to select between a connected USB and Firewire video camera:

http://www.macromedia.com/support/documentation/en/flashplayer/help/help04.html

• For other apps, launch an app and check the app's menu items or Help to find out how to select between connected cameras.

Message was edited by: EZ Jim

Mac OSX 10.7.4

Correct current link for iMovie 9 ('11) More info: http://support.apple.com/kb/PH2155

Message was edited by: EZ Jim

Mac OSX 10.7.4

This is an excellent response. Thanks.

I'm trying to connect my VIXIA HF S20 to my Mac to use it as an external camera for a Google+ Hangout On Air. I can get my Mac to recornize the camera to IMPORT video (as I always do). But I can't get the Mac to recognize the camera as a camera. Am I learning that this particular camera isn't "Mac compatable" as far as this feature goes? Is there a list of cameras that are 100% Mac compatable? (Or at least compatable enough to work as an external camera for things like a Google+ Hangout On Air?)

Thank you for this comprehensive reply.

I was happily using a Maplin USB Digital Microscope until I made the leap from OS 10.7.- to 10.10.-. Some where along the line something changed and meant that the scope didn't work. (Not on Windows 8 or Chrome OS either, so software generally needs updating.)

The only problem I have is that Photobooth has this 3-second countdown that cannot be turned off permanently, only per operation, by holding Option key down when taking the photo (I have one hand balancing the scope in exactly the right place- it's a complex set-up for what I need!).

Aside from that, all is well.