Review: iSight

One of my hardware issues when moving over to the Mac Mini was related to my video camera. The Logitech video camera I owned was old and PC only so I was in the market for a Mac compatible camera. While reviewing my various camera options I couldn’t stop myself from coming back to the iSight over and over again. The iSight’s appeal was two fold. First, it looks beautiful. It’s sleek, modern and just cool. Second, the iSight has a high quality auto focus that was essential for me to have. What I didn’t like about the iSight was its price. It is at the high end of the desktop camera price range listing at around $150. When researching what others thought of the camera I read dozens of articles of those who never used the camera, but considered it a waste of money compared to other mid price point webcam products. I recently purchased an iSight and could not be happier. Those who compare the iSight with a mid price point webcam are really not being fair. The iSight is superior in quality and hence its price point (plus a bit of Apple price padding). No one ever said the iSight was for everyone. As a switcher from Windows I had one problem with the device. The newer iSights, including the one I purchased, do not include an attachment for non Apple monitors. This was a real disappointment after opening the box. Through the documentation I learned I could purchase an accessory kit for $32 to get what I needed. After spending $150 on a camera I didn't want to spend another $32. The newer camera attachments are focused on Apple’s new aluminum products, laptops and the iMac. The packaging should be clearer with the attachment situation so the buyer can be aware. Excluding the attachment issue I’ve found the camera to be fantastic. The auto focus is excellent and the built in microphone works extremely well. I highly recommend the Apple iSight.