drice
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Late 2013 Mac Pro & iSight?

I have a standalone iSight that I used with my earlier Mac Pro tower because I have the 30" Cinema Display which has no camera. Worked great.

 

Now I have upgraded to the new black round Mac Pro which has no Firewire inputs. So I purchased a Firewire to Thunderbolt adapter.

 

Now the camera comes on when I open Messages, Skype or Photo Booth and the light comes on but I get about 2 frames per minute and the audio is just as useless.

 

Called Apple but I couldn't find anyone that knew anything about it or even knew what an iSight looked like.

 

Has anyone been able to get this to work? How about Firewire to USB?  Any help would be appreciated. Hate to waste the camera, it has great output. Thanks. -Derryl

Mac Pro (Late 2013), OS X Mavericks (10.9.4)

Posted on Sep 5, 2014 5:23 PM

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drice

Q: Late 2013 Mac Pro & iSight?

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  • by EZ Jim,

    EZ Jim EZ Jim Sep 6, 2014 8:21 AM in response to drice
    Level 7 (22,547 points)
    Sep 6, 2014 8:21 AM in response to drice

    drice wrote: ... Has anyone been able to get this to work? ...

     

    Not I, but I don't have a new MacPro.  I'm still using my Early 2009 MacPro.

     

    If you are certain that your old iSight still works, take it (with your cables and adapters) to an Apple Retailer and see if they can get it to work on their new MacPro.

     

    If your iSight is not working, you may be able to restore functionality by having it serviced.  However, a USB cam like one of those discussed in http://www.mac-compatible-web-cam.com may be less costly.

     

    drice wrote: ... How about Firewire to USB? ...

     

    No such thing.  The technologies are entirely different.

     

    drice wrote: ... Hate to waste the camera, it has great output...

     

    If you are using Apple Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter, the Firewire connector on the TB->FW adapter is for 9 pin (FW 800.)   Your old iSight only has a 6 pin (FW 400) connector.  Try at least two different FW400-FW800 cables or adapters to be sure your problem is not simply in the connection.  Be sure to have NOTHING else connected to Firewire while you are trying to make this work.  External iSight can be fussy about sharing Firewire connections.

     

    If all else fails, get a USB cam like one of those discussed in http://www.mac-compatible-web-cam.com.  USB cams are, in general, much less persnickety than their Firewire cousins.

     

     

    Message was edited by: EZ Jim

     

    Mac Pro Quad Core (Early09) 2.93Ghz OSX 10.9   24" LED Cinema Display     External iSights

  • by bansell1,

    bansell1 bansell1 Oct 7, 2014 11:17 PM in response to drice
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 7, 2014 11:17 PM in response to drice

    Yes, I have a very similar problem.

     

    Not quite just 2 frames per second, but full rate video for about 2 seconds, then it stalls, then 2 seconds of video, then stalls..

    This is with an iSight and Mac pro 2013, with the Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter and a Firewire 400 to 800 adapter.

     

    We have tried multiple working iSight cameras, cables and adapters. Looks like there is a problem with Isochronous mode firewire on these new Mac Pros?

  • by EZ Jim,

    EZ Jim EZ Jim Oct 8, 2014 9:33 AM in response to bansell1
    Level 7 (22,547 points)
    Oct 8, 2014 9:33 AM in response to bansell1

    bansell1 wrote: ... problem with Isochronous mode firewire on these new Mac Pros?

     

    You have certainly tested thoroughly.  Well done!

     

    Be sure to have NOTHING else connected to Firewire (perhaps Thunderbolt, too?) while you are trying to make this work.  External iSight can be fussy about sharing Firewire connections.