Two cameras

I have an iMac and have plugged a Logitech QuickCam Pro 5000 into a USB
port.

Opening Photo Booth shows the built in camera.

I intend on using the Logitech as a scanning tool, and like the fact
that i can take it away from my Mac. I don't know which works better.
I downloaded MacCam version 0.9.0. It wants me to move some files into
a non-existent /Library/Quicktime/ directory, but lets me click on an
application which opens to an application which doesn't think I have a
camera.

Is there another way to see the camera? What's my next step?

Howard Brazee <howard DeleteThis @brazee.net> wrote:

> I have an iMac and have plugged a Logitech QuickCam Pro 5000 into a USB
> port.

Which iMac model and MacOS version are you running?

Late versions of 10.4 (around 10.4.10) added a fair degree of support
for third party cameras which support a standard USB protocol for
cameras (which only covers a few models - I don't know if the QuickCam
Pro 5000 is one of them).

For any other camera, you may need to install a driver and/or run a
special application, if it works with the Mac at all.

> Opening Photo Booth shows the built in camera.

Try iChat. It lets you choose between mulitple cameras, but only
recognises ones that are fully integrated into the system with a proper
driver.

I've had an older Apple iSight and my built-in camera connected at the
same time, and iChat was able to select between them in its preferences.

Skype supports a wider range of cameras than some of Apple's software.

> I intend on using the Logitech as a scanning tool, and like the fact
> that i can take it away from my Mac. I don't know which works better.
> I downloaded MacCam version 0.9.0. It wants me to move some files into
> a non-existent /Library/Quicktime/ directory

Make sure you are looking in the correct Library folder. The one at the
top level of the hard drive should have a QuickTime folder if you have
any third party QuickTime plugins already installed (e.g. DivX, Perian,
Flip4Mac). I wouldn't expect to see one in the Library folder inside
your home folder.

If there really is no QuickTime folder in the top-level Library folder,
then you can create one in Finder. Most third-party QuickTime component
installers will do this for you, but if they just provide a file to drag
and drop then you will have to do it manually.

> but lets me click on an application which opens to an application which
> doesn't think I have a camera.
>
> Is there another way to see the camera? What's my next step?

You can at least confirm that the Mac sees a USB device is connected by
going into System Profiler (which you can get to via About This Mac
under the Apple menu, then click on the More Info button). Click on USB
and it shows the connected devices. The camera might be shown as an
unrecognised device or as a camera. This may provide some clues as to
the degree with which it is supported by your currently installed
software.

I tried a Logitech webcam for someone a few months ago. I forget which
model it was. After I installed its driver, it worked with a little
camera test application included on the CD, and in Skype, but not iChat.

--
David Empson
dempson DeleteThis @actrix.gen.nz