The Mac Observer

Skip navigational links

You're viewing an article in TMO's historic archive vault. Here, we've preserved the comments and how the site looked along with the article. Use this link to view the article on our current site:
iMage USB Webcam

Review - iMage USB Webcam

by , 9:00 AM EST, January 8th, 2007

Not every Mac ships with a built-in iSight camera, but that doesn't mean you have to go without. Ecamm's iMage webcam adds video capabilities to most Macs without any special mounting hardware or drivers.

The iMage requires Mac OS X 10.4.3 or higher and a USB 2.0 port, includes a swivel base that works as a mounting bracket for portable Macs, and also includes a built-in magnetic mount. It doesn't require any special drivers, although you do need a special plug-in to use the camera with iChat. The plug-in is free, but you have to download it from the Ecamm Network Web site.


The iMage attaches to your laptop with its built-in clamp.

In addition to iChat AV, the iMage is compatible with most other applications, including Skype, that can use a webcam.

I tested the camera on an 867MHz iBook G4 just to see how it held up on a slower Mac, and it performed comparably to an iSight camera on the same 'Book. The image wasn't broadcast quality, but it was perfectly fine for Internet-based chats: Not blurry, jumpy or full of pixelated artifacts.


The iMage works great for Web chats.

One thing that is missing, however, is a microphone. If you are using the iMage with an iBook or PowerBook, that's not a big deal since these Macs include a built-in mic. If you plan to use the camera with a Mac mini or a tower-style Mac for video chats, you'll need to provide your own mic.


The camera includes its own carrying pouch.

The iMage also comes with a carrying pouch so you have a scratch-free place to store it when not in use. Unfortunately, the pouch is too small to hold the camera and its USB cable.

The Bottom Line
Affordable alternatives to the iSight camera are nice to find, especially now that Apple's webcam is difficult to come by. The iMage USB webcam offers perfectly acceptable image quality in a compact and portable case, and at a better price than Apple's camera, too. But the lack of a built-in microphone may be a turn-off to some. And don't forget to download the Ecamm iChat plug-in if you plan on using the camera with iChat AV.

Digg!


Product: iMage USB Webcam

Company: Ecamm Network

List Price: $59.95

3 out of 5 stars

Pros: Compact size, good image quality, no extra drivers needed.
Cons: Carrying pouch doesn't hold USB cable, no built-in microphone.

Observer Comments

Show: Subjects Only | Full Comments
Close Name:toeknee Posts: 5 Joined: 14 Oct 2005
Subject: only three stars??

Reading the review, I expected better than three stars out of five to be the result. Considering that the cylindrical plastic case that comes with a (much more expensive) iSight camera doesn't hold the cable OR even the mounting bracket, I am surprised that the cable issue would play into the review so heavily.

Not having a Mic is a minor detail-- for as you said, portables have built-in mics, but so do iMacs and eMacs. And mics for other Macs are available cheaply, and are not a bad idea to have in any case.

I bought such a cam for my nephews to do iChat and iStopMotion movies, and from what's I've seen, it's a great alternative to the iSight cameras, at less than half the cost.

Four out of five stars in my book.

Close Name:gslusher Posts: 2088 Joined: 13 Nov 2002
Subject: Slight disadvantages

Quote
toeknee wrote:
Reading the review, I expected better than three stars out of five to be the result. Considering that the cylindrical plastic case that comes with a (much more expensive) iSight camera doesn't hold the cable OR even the mounting bracket, I am surprised that the cable issue would play into the review so heavily.

Not having a Mic is a minor detail-- for as you said, portables have built-in mics, but so do iMacs and eMacs. And mics for other Macs are available cheaply, and are not a bad idea to have in any case.

I bought such a cam for my nephews to do iChat and iStopMotion movies, and from what's I've seen, it's a great alternative to the iSight cameras, at less than half the cost.

Four out of five stars in my book.


There are some advantages to the external iSight, however. It actually focuses. It has a built-in microphone and is easy to turn off.

Having said that, I will be getting one of these for my PowerBook, especially given the price!

Close Name:FlipFriddle Posts: 480 Joined: 18 Dec 2001
Subject:

Rats. This seemed liek a good alternative to the iSight until I read it was USB 2.0. Now I have to add the cost of a USB 2 PCI board to the price to get it to work with my G4. Great.

Close Name:Guest
Subject: Ecam USB Camera

Bought it last week for use on my IMAC G5. Works well -- not as good quality of video as on my new MacBook, but a good picture for 59.95. Easy to setup after downloading Image plugin. Definitely recommend.

Close Name:Guest
Subject: image USB2 CAM. WORK WITH SKYPE?

Hi there, does this cam work with skype??

Close Name:Guest
Subject: iMage on Panther?

I have an early MacMini, with Panther on it, I am trying to find a webcam suitable to use with Skype & PC users. Can I use iMage with a patch? I am not particularly computer savvy. Has anyone got any other suggestions re webcams to use with my computer?Thanks, newbie

Close Name:2pac Guest
Subject: Re: Ecam USB Camera

Quote
Anonymous wrote:
Bought it last week for use on my IMAC G5. Works well -- not as good quality of video as on my new MacBook, but a good picture for 59.95. Easy to setup after downloading Image plugin. Definitely recommend.


yes it does. but im not satisfied with the quality

Close Name:Guest
Subject: IMAGE CAM

I PURCHASED THIS CAMM AND TO SAY THE LEAST I WAS REALLY DISSAPPOINTED. THE PRICE IS OK, BEING THAT IS THE ONLY CAM OUT THERE OTHER THAN ISIGHT THAT WORKS WITH MAC, BUT I HAD TO RETURN IT BECAUSE I COULD NOT GET IT TO WORK WITH YAHOO OR AIM LIKE THEY ADVERTISE. I SPENT ABOUT AN HOUR ON THE PHONE AND ONLINE WITH THEIR TECH SUPPORT PERSON TRYING TO GET IT TO WORK WITH YAHOO AND THE GUY COULDN'T DO IT.

TRUE IT WORKED WITH ICHAT BUT I ONLY KNOW A COUPLE OF PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY OWN A MAC OR USE ICHAT, MY PRIMARY CHAT PLATFORM IS YAHOO MESSENGER AND IT DOESN'T WORK, SO I D NOT RECOMEND THIS PRODUCT UNLESS YOU EXCLUSIVELY USE ICHAT TO CHAT.

Close Name:Guest
Subject: RE: IMAGE CAM

You know that you can use Aim, Yahoo, and every other messenger THROUGH iChat right? you just have to know the correct info to program into the server settings in iChat.

so...
you can actually use that thing...

and if you don't want it, send it to me!

i can use it!

Close Name:Guest
Subject: ORDERING FROM CANADA

For those of you who ordered it from ecamm, do you know if there is a Canadian Distributor? It's such a hassel ordering from the states and paying duty.

Close Name:Guest
Subject:

Yeah i also want to know if i can use this for skype...
And how much does it costs? Do they sell it in Europe?

Close Name:Guest
Subject: built-in microphone

I have a macmini so it's just too bad they don't have a version with built-in microphone.

Anybody knows of any alternatives ?
I heard logitech offered decent mac compatibility on some cams. Can anyone recommend an affordable Logitech cam with a mic that worked successfully ?

Tks !

Close Name:Guest
Subject: iMage webcam

I can get it to come up on my screen but it won't show up anywhere that there is a webcam capability.
skype, msn messenger and other sites with cam

Close Name:Guest
Subject: Other Mac Cams

There are several other cams that work with Macs. I have a MacAlly ICE Cam. It's small, highly portable, and has a long flexible neck that allows me to position the cam in a variety of ways. It's got ok image quality, but nothing to write home about. It cost me less than $30 at the time (about 3 years ago). No mic, though. But no big deal, as I use a PowerBook. It works with Skype and iChatAV (with eCamm's iChatUSB plugin.)

I also have plugged my Sony Handicam in and used that as a webcam with iChat and Skype. That has EXCEPTIONAL image quality and I can use the camcorder's mic if I want.

Close Name:iBill Posts: 642 Joined: 23 Feb 2005
Subject: Re: built-in microphone

Quote
Anonymous wrote:
I have a macmini so it's just too bad they don't have a version with built-in microphone.

Anybody knows of any alternatives ?
I heard logitech offered decent mac compatibility on some cams. Can anyone recommend an affordable Logitech cam with a mic that worked successfully ?

Tks !


Unfortunately I don't know of any, and I can't understand with all of the various products available why there aren't more that have Mac compatibility. It's not rocket science, I don't think. It's a USB interface which most reasonably recent Macs have covered.

What's the story? This issue for me is one where the Mac user/second class citizen syndrome is particularly apparent. If someone, anyone can answer any or all of the following questions, I'd be grateful.

1. Does anybody make a quality webcam that works with the Mac?

2. If not, why not, and why can't, for instance Logitech, who has umpteen models of webcams, make at least one that works with the Mac, and says so on the box?

3. Why did Apple cancel iSight, not replace it with a newer model, and also fail to release Cinema Displays with built-in cameras?

Close Name:Guest
Subject: Known Working Macintosh Webcams

A short list of 'These-Just-Work-On-A-Modern-Mac' UVC compliant USB 2.0 webcams for Apple Mac OS X 10.4.9+ and Leopard 10.5+ is here:
http://www.mac-compatible-web-cam.com/

Logitech models can be dicey, only the 9000 and UltraVision at the very high end are UVC for sure. Creative Labs has a few UVC choices with built-in microphone that are more affordable. Those listed are also good choices for Intel Macs running Windows Vista with BootCamp, VMware etc., since Vista has native UVC web camera support as well.

Close Name:Guest
Subject: at store. mac guy/ said apple is attempting to make consumer

apple is attempting to make consumers by new computers with cameras installed. just one more reason to get new make 3 years from now. I'm upset they are trucking us to not allow more web came with webcam capabilities.

Close Name:Intruder -   TMO Mac Specialist Posts: 3149 Joined: 07 Jul 2004
Subject: Re: at store. mac guy/ said apple is attempting to make cons

Quote
Anonymous wrote:
apple is attempting to make consumers by new computers with cameras installed. just one more reason to get new make 3 years from now. I'm upset they are trucking us to not allow more web came with webcam capabilities.


I am skeptical of this, because an employee of the Apple store would never say this to a customer.

Close Name:Guest
Subject: Image qulity VERY poor for the money

Despite what obviously biassed commentators claim, the image quality of the iMage, compared to both similarly and lower priced Logitech, Microsoft and Creative Labs webcams is significantly inferior. Color balance is inferior -- contrast is inferior -- images are very grainy in lower light levels that other cameras available for less money and with many more features perform MUCH better. I have an ten year old webcam from Logitech that outperforms the iMage, albeit it at a lower resolution. Don't waste your money.

For a specific example, the quality is massively inferior tot he built-it MacBook webcam -- and I don't mean maybe.

"Perfectly acceptable image quality". Sure, for a $20 cam maybe. VERY disappointing. Pity Ic an't attach screen shots as evidence.

Comment on this Article


You cannot edit your comments.   You cannot delete your comments.

Comments are currently closed. Please email the author instead.


Recent Headlines - Updated February 11th

Fri, 8:10 PM
News - Apple Sues Motorola Mobility in California Over German Case
7:54 PM
Free on iTunes - OnLive Desktop: Windows & Office on Your iPad
7:43 PM
Product News - Apple Rolls Out MacBook Air Configurations for Education
6:35 PM
Just a Peek - Battle Pocket Bulge With The Hint for iPhone
6:01 PM
Rumor - Apple Reportedly Bringing MacBook Air Styling to Pro Line
4:50 PM
Particle Debris - The Hidden Gotchas of Browser Security
3:56 PM
Apple Stock Watch - Analyst: Paying a Dividend Makes Sense for Apple
2:58 PM
Deal Brothers - iMac 27-inch 2.93GHz Intel Quad-Core i7 processor:  $1,999
2:45 PM
In-Depth Review - Theodolite App for iOS is Breathtaking
12:52 PM
Apple Stock Watch - Mizuho Securities Starts Apple Coverage with $635 Target
11:35 AM
Hot Forum Topic - Forum Poll: Are You Planning on Buying a New iPad?
11:00 AM
Analysis - Competitors Size up Apple’s iBooks Author

The Mac Observer Reader Specials

  • TypeStyler 11 is now in the Mac App Store!! -- Special Introductory Price of $59.95!! -- To Buy From The Mac App Store Click Here Now!! Or buy direct from Strider Software.
  • Mac RAM Upgrades: MacBook Pro 16GB kits $475, 8GB Kits for $119.99! iMac 16GB RAM Kits (4x 4GB) for $229.99! Mac Pro Memory 32GB Kit for $399.99, 64GB Kit for $889.99! Mac Hard Drives 2TB Seagate SATA II for $249.99! Click Here!
  • Poker Mac If you're using a Mac, then you've gotta check out Online Poker Mac. This mac poker and online casino mac site actually does the unthinkable, it actually rewards!
  • __________
  • Buy Stuff, Support TMO!
  • Podcast: Mac Geek Gab
  • Podcast: Apple Weekly Report
  • TMO on Twitter!