Webcam for Mac

[Furbo]

I am one stage further towards binning Microsoft and set up my Mac Mini yesterday. So far, I am loving it. Apart from the webcam.

The cheap Chinese cam I have was super on the PC for both camera and mic. On the Mac, the image is grainy, the lighting weird, the "night vision" doesn't work and people cannot hear me.

It's a USB A connector, for which I have used an adaptor and plugged it into a thunderbolt port.

Is there a solution outside of buying a new setup? If not, any recommendations for a Mac friendly option?

TIA

[mmm-five]

Logitech ones are usually a safe option...and they come at lots of price points (so you don't need a £250 4k version).

The lowest-end one they seem to offer now is the BRIO 100, at about £28...but it's also USB-A, so if the USB-C to USB-A adapter you have is causing issues then you may want to try a native USB-C version instead...Logitech Brio 300 @ £42.

I have had a good experience of UGREEN's cables and docks but never had a webcam from them, UGREEN do a relatively cheap 4K model for £30 and a 1080p, fixed focus version for £15.

Finally, if you have a iPhone, you may be able to use that as a webcam...but you may find the mounts cost almost as much as a webcam ( for example, this SODI magsafe iPhone mount @ £16 (or £14 for the white version)).

Edited by mmm-five on Thursday 4th December 17:37

[Furbo]

mmm-five said:

Logitech ones are usually a safe option...and they come at lots of price points (so you don't need a £250 4k version).

The lowest-end one they seem to offer now is the BRIO 100, at about £28...but it's also USB-A, so if the USB-C to USB-A adapter you have is causing issues then you may want to try a native USB-C version instead...Logitech Brio 300 @ £42.

I have had a good experience of UGREEN's cables and docks but never had a webcam from them, UGREEN do a relatively cheap 4K model for £30 and a 1080p, fixed focus version for £15.

Finally, if you have a iPhone, you may be able to use that as a webcam...but you may find the mounts cost almost as much as a webcam ( for example, this SODI magsafe iPhone mount @ £16 (or £14 for the white version)).

Edited by mmm-five on Thursday 4th December 17:37

Thank you.

It's a Ugreen adapter I am using. I am also using Ugreen cables and, if packaging is anything to go by, the quality should be OK.

You think one of the cheaper Brio over and above, for example. a 920?

[mmm-five]

Furbo said:

Thank you.

It's a Ugreen adapter I am using. I am also using Ugreen cables and, if packaging is anything to go by, the quality should be OK.

You think one of the cheaper Brio over and above, for example. a 920?

Depends on what features you need really. Do you want higher resolution, stereo mics, webcam light, auto-focus, background removal/replacement, etc.?

I think the only difference between the C920 HD and C920 S HD is the S version has a manual privacy shutter you can close.

But the C920 HD range has been around for ages, and is a very reliable camera.

[mmm-five]

BTW, John Lewis has had the C920S HD on offer for £39.99...but it's local store stock only, so you'd have to check if it's available locally (if you're near Nottingham, they seem to have 1 in stock).

[Furbo]

Thank you for a comprehensive reply.

[richard-8zwx3]

The iPhone works really well, in this scenario and has a good mic. Mine is propped up on the monitor stand on an upside down charger plug, between the prongs, works a treat. Personally I don't like cameras mounted on top of screen.

[therams]

Assuming you have an iPhone, the use iPhone as webcam feature is great. Here’s how to do it

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/mac-help/mch...

[Furbo]

mmm-five said:

BTW, John Lewis has had the C920S HD on offer for £39.99...but it's local store stock only, so you'd have to check if it's available locally (if you're near Nottingham, they seem to have 1 in stock).

I cannot find that John Lewis offer. I might however bite the bullet and just go there and buy one. They are generally okay to deal with, if things go wrong, and you get two years warranty.

Also, I've tried a new USB A to USB C adapter and that has not sorted it. My working assumption is that the Mac doesn't correct webcam performance in the same way as Microsoft.

Edited by Furbo on Friday 5th December 08:56

[Tycho]

I'd second the iPhone suggestion until you get decided. You can get a MagSafe mount to attach to your monitor from Amazon for under £20 IIRC.

[shed driver]

Do you have a canon DSLR gathering dust? They can be attached and used as webcam.

https://www.canon.co.uk/cameras/eos-webcam-utility...

SD.

[mmm-five]

Furbo said:

I cannot find that John Lewis offer. I might however bite the bullet and just go there and buy one. They are generally okay to deal with, if things go wrong, and you get two years warranty.

This is the out of stock page for the C920s...and you have to click the 'check in-store stock' to find pout if your local branch has any stock.

Furbo said:

Also, I've tried a new USB A to USB C adapter and that has not sorted it. My working assumption is that the Mac doesn't correct webcam performance in the same way as Microsoft.

It may be that the Mac requires some specific software/driver that is standard on Windows...but you can't expect a cheap, no name Chinese manufacturer to customise their device for Macs when it might double their costs

The Logitech one will work out of the box, but will need the Logi software installed to customise things (I also need the Logi software for fine tuning the webcam on the PC). However my Mac Studio monitor has it built in, so don't have to run anything else on that...and my old Apple Firewire webcam worked out of the box too (but is now in a box in the attic somewhere).

Edited by mmm-five on Friday 5th December 10:28

[ZesPak]

mmm-five said:

Finally, if you have a iPhone, you may be able to use that as a webcam...

This was really popular for a while during covid with there being a scarcity of webcams.

But remember, this is pretty bad for your battery health (charging and in use). So I would say fine in a pinch, or ok if you have an older device that you don't care about anymore, but I wouldn't do it daily with my current phone.

[Furbo]

mmm-five said:

Furbo said:

I cannot find that John Lewis offer. I might however bite the bullet and just go there and buy one. They are generally okay to deal with, if things go wrong, and you get two years warranty.

This is the out of stock page for the C920s...and you have to click the 'check in-store stock' to find pout if your local branch has any stock.

Furbo said:

Also, I've tried a new USB A to USB C adapter and that has not sorted it. My working assumption is that the Mac doesn't correct webcam performance in the same way as Microsoft.

It may be that the Mac requires some specific software/driver that is standard on Windows...but you can't expect a cheap, no name Chinese manufacturer to customise their device for Macs when it might double their costs

The Logitech one will work out of the box, but will need the Logi software installed to customise things (I also need the Logi software for fine tuning the webcam on the PC). However my Mac Studio monitor has it built in, so don't have to run anything else on that...and my old Apple Firewire webcam worked out of the box too (but is now in a box in the attic somewhere).

Edited by mmm-five on Friday 5th December 10:28

I cannot even find it on JL website. Have you the link please? But I’ve to go in later so may just call in.

[Tycho]

ZesPak said:

mmm-five said:

Finally, if you have a iPhone, you may be able to use that as a webcam...

This was really popular for a while during covid with there being a scarcity of webcams.

But remember, this is pretty bad for your battery health (charging and in use). So I would say fine in a pinch, or ok if you have an older device that you don't care about anymore, but I wouldn't do it daily with my current phone.

Continuity cam can be used over wifi but my VPN client for work doesn't have a local traffic setting so I can't connect them while on it.

[ZesPak]

Tycho said:

Continuity cam can be used over wifi but my VPN client for work doesn't have a local traffic setting so I can't connect them while on it.

It'll still eat through the battery in a matter of hours if you don't plug it in. As I said, good for occasional use.

[eps]

Furbo said:

mmm-five said:

Furbo said:

I cannot find that John Lewis offer. I might however bite the bullet and just go there and buy one. They are generally okay to deal with, if things go wrong, and you get two years warranty.

This is the out of stock page for the C920s...and you have to click the 'check in-store stock' to find pout if your local branch has any stock.

Furbo said:

Also, I've tried a new USB A to USB C adapter and that has not sorted it. My working assumption is that the Mac doesn't correct webcam performance in the same way as Microsoft.

It may be that the Mac requires some specific software/driver that is standard on Windows...but you can't expect a cheap, no name Chinese manufacturer to customise their device for Macs when it might double their costs

The Logitech one will work out of the box, but will need the Logi software installed to customise things (I also need the Logi software for fine tuning the webcam on the PC). However my Mac Studio monitor has it built in, so don't have to run anything else on that...and my old Apple Firewire webcam worked out of the box too (but is now in a box in the attic somewhere).

Edited by mmm-five on Friday 5th December 10:28

I cannot even find it on JL website. Have you the link please? But I ve to go in later so may just call in.

https://www.johnlewis.com/logitech-c920s-webcam-black/p4753121

Then check in-store stock

ETA seems to be £79 tho

[mmm-five]

eps said:

https://www.johnlewis.com/logitech-c920s-webcam-bl...

Then check in-store stock

ETA seems to be £79 tho

Yes, offer has disappeared and it's back to £79.99.

[Furbo]

On the basis that the JL offer seems to have finished and I ideally want USB C I’ve bought a Logitech Brio 4 from Amazon.

[Furbo]

Okay so I've got the Brio 4 up and running.

I was expecting to look like Brad Pitt and be a razor sharp image. Not so. I look a bit washed out and featureless. I've downloaded Logitech's software and messed about with it, but it's still not GREAT.

I've tested the Brio against my old webcam and, apart from the old one is a bit more saturated, there isn't a LOT of difference.

Is there something I am missing?