2003 External iSight not working on 2017 mac mini

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Level 1

9 points

2003 External iSight not working on 2017 mac mini

Mac Mini is Macmini7,1 and the iSight is from 2003. It's been working great on my other computers as recently as a year ago. I have two and both exhibit the same problem.

Using the firewire to thunderbolt adapter, the picture, when it shows at all, will update every minute or so, and only partially. They're nice little cameras and good quality video for facetime. Everything functions, but there seems to be a software/firmware incompatibility.

Is there a driver or something I can use? It seems pointless to buy a new camera just because of that, though they are pretty cheap nowadays. Am I doomed to continue to buy newer computer accessories forever?

Which brings up a good point. I'm still using an original cinema display from 2001. Maybe that is the problem? I hate buying new things for hardware that doesn't need to be replaced.

Mac mini, macOS High Sierra (10.13.2), Cinema Display from 2001 or so

Posted on Jan 25, 2018 11:37 AM

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Answer 1

Lanny

Level 6

13,225 points

Jan 25, 2018 2:17 PM in response to Mike Rentner

You mean a Late 2014 Mac Mini, there are no 2017 models. The date refers to the model introduction, not your purchase date.

Using Firewire iSight cameras with newer equipment has been spotty.

A search of the forums has turned up: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8145681

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Answer 2

Lanny

Level 6

13,225 points

Jan 25, 2018 2:57 PM in response to Mike Rentner

Was Factime running when you disconnected and reconnected it?

What happens when you click on, "Video," in Facetime's menu?

While there, try turning the iSight on and off by turning the lens barrel.

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Answer 3

Mike Rentner Author

Level 1

9 points

Jan 25, 2018 2:44 PM in response to Lanny

Yes, I bought it in 2017. If Apple made their model numbers easier to find, I'd tell you what year model it was. That's why I referred to the model name in the text of the message. Regardless it's a newer Mac Mini with 10.13.2.

Thanks for the link, but that has not fixed my problem. I plugged and unplugged, changed cameras (I have two identical ones), rebooted, switched wires. I suppose my firewire to thunderbolt adapter could be bad, it's brand new. I have another at work, I might try and swapping it out, but it seems more a driver or software type of issue.

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Answer 4

Lanny

Level 6

13,225 points

Jan 25, 2018 2:50 PM in response to Mike Rentner

If Apple made their model numbers easier to find, I'd tell you what year model it was.

Uh, click on the Apple Menu's, "About This Mac," is all that it takes.

You'd get more responses by posting in a more appropriate forum area, perhaps for macOS Sierra, as this issue is most likely not related to your using a Mac mini.

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Answer 5

Mike Rentner Author

Level 1

9 points

Jan 25, 2018 3:15 PM in response to Lanny

Yes, I have connected and reconnected while facetime is open. Previously, it would show a frame of video and that frame would remain no matter whether someone was connecting or not. Testing it right now, I can't get any picture at all.

Plugging in gets a green light on the isight, but it quickly goes away. The facetime application goes black.

Here's what it looks like before plugging in the camera.

And this is what it looks like after plugging in the camera. Before, rebooting caused it to show a single frame of video, updating to a new frame after a minute or so. Sound seemed to work on the facetime connection, but of course my 2003 isight has no microphone.

This is one of my two iSights. Both have worked well on other computers just a few months ago. (albeit very old computers)

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Answer 6

Mike Rentner Author

Level 1

9 points

Jan 25, 2018 2:52 PM in response to Lanny

Yes, that's why in body of my message I identified the mac as macmini7,1. Thanks.

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Answer 7

Mike Rentner Author

Level 1

9 points

Jan 25, 2018 3:16 PM in response to Mike Rentner

When I click on "Video" I can choose the iSight camera. Each camera is labeled differently when I separately plug them in (only one at a time). One is "iSight" and the other is "iSight 2"

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Answer 8

Lanny

Level 6

13,225 points

Jan 25, 2018 3:40 PM in response to Mike Rentner

but of course my 2003 isight has no microphone.

All external iSight cameras had a built-in microphone.

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