Q: Photo Booth looks worse than the FaceTime
-
May 18, 2014 9:21 AMby EZ Jim,Elimo wrote:... Why does Photo Booth photos look worse than the FaceTime image? ...
The images look different because of the different ways each application orients and crops the image from your camera. Whether the image looks "worse" is a personal opinion to which each viewer is certainly entitled.
Elimo wrote:... It seems like Photo Booth uses a wide anlge setting....
Actually, both FaceTime and lPhoto Booth are using the same fixed-focal length camera that cannot change its viewing angle.
FaceTime haunches with its image digitally zoomed and cropped to a portrait orientation whereas Photo Booth offers a cropped landscape orientation.
Once a FaceTime video connection is established, you can use the FaceTime > Video > Use Landscpe menu command to change the orientation. In Lanscape orientation, although the size of the preview window is smaller, the FaceTime viewing angle will look the same as PhotoBooth's default view.
Elimo wrote:...Are there any settings somehere?
The only settings I know that are related to your question are in FaceTime > Video.
-
May 18, 2014 1:13 PMby Elimo,Thanks EZ Jim!
I also did some quick measurments, and as you say FaceTime is a bit zoomed in. That might be what makes it look better.
And if iSight has a fixed lens, that would mean that it's not actually zoomed, but instead scaled (interpolated).
Any more insight on this would be great.
-
May 19, 2014 9:06 AMby EZ Jim,You're welcome.
Elimo wrote: ... if iSight has a fixed lens... Any more insight on this would be great.
(1) There is no question that your Mac's iSight, whether built-in or one of the long-discontinued firewire-connected external iSights, has a fixed focal length lens. However, you write about a "fixed lens." A fixed lens is not the same thing as a "fixed focal length lens."
When I write "fixed lens," I mean one that cannot be interchanged, moved in its mount, or adjusted for optical parameters such as focal length, lens aperture, or focal distance. In that sense, built-in iSight is both a fixed lens and fixed focal length camera. However, the long-discontinued external iSight has auto-focus and can be moved separately from the compute. Therefore, its lens is not technically a "fixed lens" even though it has a fixed focal length.
My original response to you relates to fixed focal length lenses like those in every iSight. Lenses with variable focal length lenses can optically zoom their view. Fixed focal length lenses cannot. Neither built-in iSight or old external ones can change focal lengths. Therefore, both have fixed focal length lenses that cannot optically zoom. Although you cannot optically change your iSight, there is a digital alternative.
(2) If you need to change your built-in iSight's field of view and cannot simply move your Mac to accommodate the needed change, you can consider iGlasses for Mac add-on software. Be aware that there is some image degradation that comes with digital pan and zoom. However, especially at small levels of digital adjustment or with small output image size, the image quality loss may be unnoticeable.
(3) If maximum image quality is paramount for you, a better alternative to digital pan and zoom is to find an external camera that meets your needs. If you already have access to a tape-based, firewire-connected, Mac-compatible camcorders, give it a try. Because I already have them, my first choice is my old Sony DCR-TRV17 or DCR-TRV70 miniDV camcorders or my newer Canon VIXIA HV40 Hi-Def camcorder. All work great and give better resolution than my old external Firewire iSights. All offer manual optical focus, pan, and zoom when needed.
(4) If you want to consider a new external webcam, some of the many alternatives are discussed in Mac Compatible Webcams. All Mac compatible models should work at standard definition resolution in normal operating modes. However, how well their extended features like pan, zoom, autofocus, hi-def, etc., work may vary with your Mac. You will be wise to take your MacBookPro along when you shop and ask for a try-before-you-buy demonstration.
Message was edited by: EZ Jim
