Bad iSight Camera?

Just got my new MacBook Pro and was so excited, but I think that the camera is bad on it. Everytime it "takes a picture", I just get a blank screen. In Photo Booth, it's green. Am I doing something wrong or do I need to box it up and send it back?
R~

Search the forum (what a concept!) for "iSight Green" and you’ll find others have reported this problem. I don’t recall at the moment whether it was solved or solvable by the end user, but the issue is definitely out there—or it in here?
Randall Schulz

Similar Messages

Mid 2009 13" MBP iSight camera bad picture quality in photo booth

My daughter's stock mid 2009 13" MBP 2.26 ghz intel core two duo has a problem with the isight camera. The isight camera is built in to the screen. The isight camera works some of the time flawlessly and other times it comes out real grainy and with small colored pixels all over the screen like colored static (about 20% to 30% of the photo booth screen is affected but the rest of the screen outside of the photo booth app is unaffected). She only uses it in photo booth but we've tried the iChat app and the same thing happens there too, once she couldn't get the MBP to connect to the isight camera (it just showed a black photo booth screen), so she closed the lid of her MBP and reopened it and it worked. All of the software and firmware is up to date and we've tried resetting the PRAM and the SMC, it didn't do anything to fix the problem. It seems like there's a wire loose in the computer from the screen to the computer base, only because I can move the screen back and forth and the picture quality changes, the amount of static on the picture will move, go away or get worse. I had the screen changed in early 2010 (January or February) (the MBP was about 5 or 6 months old then) at the apple store under warranty due to dirt under the screen's glass (manufacturing defect). The photo booth picture static problem comes and goes, but here lately it comes more than it goes. The screen in general is in good shape and doesn't have any detectable problems with it, it has a good picture and no dead pixels, the problem seems to be only isolated to the isight camera. Can some one help with this problem? How long of a warranty is given on the warranty repairs (like the screen change they did in early 2010)? If apple does a repair on it and finds a wire that has rubbed the insulation off of it on a hinge causing a short and the isight problem, as a result of a sloppy repair from the first warranty repair, will they cover it under warranty again even if it's been over a year since they changed the screen? Also how honest will apple be if they do find out it is a problem caused from the first screen replacement, will they own up to their mistake? If I don't agree with apple's repair decision, can I get a second opinion from an outside source, third party, and if it's diagnosis different than apple's and can be proven, can I still get apple to do and pay for the repairs and labor if it turns out to be their fault from the first warranty screen replacement?
The reason why I'm asking is, I took my wife's white macbook in about a year ago for the famous cracked top cover replacement (under warranty) and when I got the computer back, the isight camera didn't work, so I gave it back, they took it apart a look at it and said there was nothing wrong with it and gave it back, then the screen wouldn't come on so after 4 hours at the Apple store they decided to send it to Austin, TX. for repairs (I'm in Ft. Worth TX.). Apple in Austin said it needed a new main board. They said the old one had water damage to it. We never had water anywhere near the computer, not even in the same room. It was working fine when we took it in, we took it in just to get the plastic top case, that cracks all of the time, replaced under warranty. And then they wanted us to pay for an $800 main board because some how while they were doing the top cover replacement it got water damaged. I argued with them and they finally gave me a one-time offer of them paying for half of the repair and labor or if I disagreed or left the store I would have to pay the whole amount if I chose to have the repairs done. So I ended up having to pay $467 for a year old macbook main board that was water damaged in their possession during their repairs. I like Apple and their products but I am worried about giving my daughter's MBP over to them for repairs because of this incident, it's an honesty issue with how honest they will be with what they find because they won't give back the old parts for analysis by a third party to verify their diagnosis.
Thanks for any info and advice anyone can give.

Hi,
As a personal note I find long posts like this hard to read if they are not broken up in to paragraphs.
As I say it is a personal thing.
I can give you some information about the camera and laptops over the past few years.
Basically in early Laptops of the MacBook Pro and MacBook range the cable did tend to fray at the point where it passed through the hinge. It did take a well used laptop that had the lid open and closed frequently to cause this. (your 2009 model might just be in that group - I have no firm dates or models I am afraid)
Later models have this rerouted so that this does not happen.
However the cable has then tended to get pulled from the camera end and become loose.
This On Line Self fix site has pages about some models (The one I have linked to may not be yours)
I have linked in to later pictures in the sequence but there are navigation points to work back to the start.
Note:- they use pretty specifc specialest tools as well in these pics.
Doing this would certail Void any Warranty you have left.
From Posts mainly in the iChat and the iSight areas I have gathered that it seems common for Apple to replace the Screen as a whole rather than fiddle with getting solely at the camera.
Apple has this article on Trouble Shooting an iSight
Basically it says try several apps then try logging in on another Mac User account to see if it is App based or User based or in fact System wide.
If System wide then resetting the SMC/PMU is the only suggested fix. (Which I did read you had done)
In addition to that I would add that testing should be done in different lighting conditions.
Lighting in the evening or dark that is good enough to read buy is not always good enough for the camera or is not illuminating the right areas.
Some people have reported that Starting the computer in Safe Mode (then Rebooting afterwards) seems to help. (it clears out some caches and starts up with reduced extensions)
As to actual Repairs and any Warranty that may still be in place I cannot say.
I can say that when people post about problems with repairs a certain stores someone else will tend to post that their experience was different.
You seem to report two different experiences with the two computers yourself.
10:24 PM Thursday; July 14, 2011
Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb( 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.7),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Battery wont charge and isight camera wont turn on-macbook, battery wont charge and isight camera wont turn on-macbook

i bought a macbook from a guy and when i started it up... surprise it wont turn on if its not connected because the battery is not being detected.... then what i checked first was photobooth surprise the isight camera is not working... i searched in internet about smc but i do not understand it.... is there a way to recover it using the cd?

Try resetting the PMU - Resetting MacBook and MacBook Pro System Management Controller (SMC). If you have no success then you'll need to take it in for service or replace the AC adaptor if it's gone bad.

Is there a way to turn off and On the isight camera or app to do it ?????

Hi
Does anyone know either of a Simple way to Turn off the isight camera on a Macbook pro (3.1 model with Snow leopard) or a simple program or Widget to do this ??
I have already Googled this but cannot find much - except disable certain files, or a Applescript by Techslaves.org called isight disabler , which seems great except I have to run applescript each time run this script, put in password, then select !
SO is there a Basic app or even a Way of making the isight disabler work like a simple app - or a way to do with Mac's settings ??
Any help is Appriciated
Thanks Mark

Globalmark wrote:
Hi
Does anyone know either of a Simple way to Turn off the isight camera on a Macbook pro (3.1 model with Snow leopard) or a simple program or Widget to do this ??
I have already Googled this but cannot find much - except disable certain files, or a Applescript by Techslaves.org called isight disabler , which seems great except I have to run applescript each time run this script, put in password, then select !
SO is there a Basic app or even a Way of making the isight disabler work like a simple app - or a way to do with Mac's settings ??
Any help is Appriciated
Thanks Mark
Barring some unusual circumstance, there should be no need to disable your built-in iSight because YOU decide when to use your iSight.
Some apps such as iChat allow you to enable and disable the webcam from menu commands.
Other apps such as Photo Booth only use the camera when you click the button.
However, if you REALLY want to disable, scripts like this one can easily disable and enable iSight.
http://techslaves.org/index.php?page=62
However, be aware that it simultaneously disables ALL USB webcams when active.
Although I do not recommend it, you can manually disable your built-in iSight by removing the "QuickTimeUSBVDCDIgitizer.component" file from your computer's HardDriveName > System > Library > QuickTime folder and restarting your Mac. Your built-in iSight should no longer work with any app.
P.S. Manually moving, renaming, or deleting files outside your Username/Documents folder
is generally a BAD idea unless you KNOW how it will effect OS X.
EZ Jim
Mac Pro Quad Core (Early 2009) 2.93Ghz Mac OS X (10.6.6); MacBook Pro (13 inch, Mid 2009) 2.26GHz (10.6.6)
LED Cinema Display; G4 PowerBook 1.67GHz (10.4.11); iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9); External iSight; iPod4touch4.2.1

Is there a way to record video from the iSight camera

Running Mavericks on an early 2008 iMac. iMovie 08 says 'NO CAMERA CONNECTED." Recording from QuickTime Player no longer has a perference panel, and the videos recoded are jerky and sound is bad. I can't find any soluion on youTube - they all say just pick th iSight camera in iMove - which I can't. I thought maybe iMove10 bu the app store said my cideo board does no support it. Seems like there should be but I cannot find it. I don't want to have to buy Camtasia which is the only one that seems to work with the iSight input.

Hello Sugeet Posey
Check out the article below to troubleshoot issues with connecting to your iSight camera.
How to Troubleshoot iSight
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2090
Regards,
-Norm G.

External iSight camera video delay in 10.5.2

Since upgrading from Tiger to Leopard, external iSight camera has a short video delay which renders it unusable for video conferencing in iChat AV. Has any one noticed this? The cam has the latest firmware so that is not the problem. The delay is very obvious in Photo Booth as well. The delay is also apparent on my Macbook Pro 17 with built in iSight. Is this normal?

Welcome to Apple Discussions, bzamp1
I do not experience the delay you describe, but I do not have any known solutions to offer. Because the problem is the same on all of your Macs including your MacBook Pro, you can rule out processor speed as the sole problem.
Some iNtel Mac users report poor AV sync in Photo Booth even though they are running no other applications and have plenty of free space on their hard drives. However, you experience the problem with other apps, too. The fact that your problem occurs with multiple software applications remove candidate issues like bad applications software, low internet connection speeds, or improper network configuration.
If you updated to 10.5.2 via your Mac's Software Update... feature, try the following:
• Backup your Home Folder, or at very least, your important files.
• Repair permissions. (Click here if you need help.)
• Then download and apply the Mac OS X 10.5.2 Combo Update.
• Finish with another Permissions Repair, and then check your iSight again.
Users have reported fixes to a variety of audio, video, connectivity, and software conflicts and unreliability issues after properly applying Combo Updates.
EZ Jim
PowerBook 1.67 GHz w/Mac OS X (10.4.11) G5 DP 1.8 w/Mac OS X (10.5.2) External iSight

Facetime and external firewire iSight camera

Hi,
I bought Facetime yesterday. When I start it, it says that there is no camera. I turn on my iSight, nothing happens.
I close Facetime, turn on my iSight, then start Facetime: instant crash.
So, basically, Facetime doesn't work for me. Anybody experienced something similar? Any idea?
My external iSight camera is version 1.0.3.
I run OS X 10.6.6 on my Mac Pro 1.1.

Edouard Boily wrote:
Hi,
I bought Facetime yesterday. When I start it, it says that there is no camera. I turn on my iSight, nothing happens.
I close Facetime, turn on my iSight, then start Facetime: instant crash.
Because you "turn on" your iSight, you must be using your external.
Test your external iSight with other apps using the suggestions here:
http://www.ralphjohns.co.uk/EZJim/EZJimpage4.html
*If external iSight doesn't work with any app*, try creating a new user account and test there.
*If external iSight doesn't work with anything in any user account*, it may be repairable. If you don't have local access to an Apple Service Technician, other options are shown here:
http://www.apple.com/support/isight/service/
*If your external iSight is not economically repairable*, you may want to consider a new camera. Several alternatives are included in the discussion here:
http://www.mac-compatible-web-cam.com/
*If your iSight works with apps* (QT, iMovie, iChat, Photo Booth, etc.) *other than FaceTime*, you may merely need to restart the Mac, repair permissions, and reinstall FaceTime.
So, basically, Facetime doesn't work for me. Anybody experienced something similar?
Not I.
Any idea? ...
Several. You do not say which display you use. As shown in this image using my Mac Pro and LED Cinema Display:
when your Mac recognizes more than one camera, you can select the one you want by clicking the appropriate item in the FaceTime > Video menu item.
(1) *If either camera works*, your FaceTime software is working.
(2) *If you have only one webcam that can connect to your Mac Pro*, try resetting the FaceTime preferences. If you need help, here is how:
• Restart Mac
• Navigate to the "com.apple.FaceTime.plist" file in your Home ( ) > Library > Preferences folder.
(Be sure you are in the "Home" Folder preferences folder, not your System's.)
• Move the "com.apple.FaceTime.plist" file to Trash
• Connect external iSight, launch FaceTime, and test again.
(3) *If the FaceTime problem persists,* apply the 10.6.6 Combo Update as follows:
• Backup your Mac and turn off Time Machine
• Disconnect peripherals and restart Mac
• Use Disk Utility to repair permissions
• Download and install http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1349
• Repair permissions again immediately following the restart that finishes the update.
• Test FaceTime again
(• Turn Time Machine on again when you are satisfied that the Combo update worked.)
(4) *If FaceTime still does not work on your Mac Pro*, test with your other Mac. Leave external iSight disconnected from your MacBook Pro and test FaceTime using its inbuilt iSight. If FaceTime works on your MBP with its inbuilt iSight, you know that the software you downloaded is good.
(5) *If you’re new FaceTime doesn't work with either of your Macs*, click "Support" in the App Store Quick Links (upper right quadrant) section and ask if you should download another copy to test whether the one you have is bad.
EZ Jim
Message was edited by: EZ Jim
Mac Pro Quad Core (Early 2009) 2.93Ghz Mac OS X (10.6.6); MacBook Pro (13 inch, Mid 2009) 2.26GHz (10.6.6)
LED Cinema Display; G4 PowerBook 1.67GHz (10.4.11); iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9); External iSight; iPod4touch4.2.1

19 dead pixels in Isight camera of new 27' imac i7

Hi there, I received my new Imac 27" i7 yesterday. I was very happy at first as I could not find any dead pixels however when I used my Isight camera I was very upset. I found a total of 19 dead + stuck pixels in the isight camera making it really unusable, I was shocked with this. How is it possible for there to be so many? Has anyone else checked their isight cameras? If you put a black cloth over it or if you are wearing a black top you will be able to see them much better. This is my first post so I'm sorry if I am taking over someone's thread.
I'm sorry I have posted the same post in several different topics but I could not work out how to post a question at first.
Apple said they are sending me a replacement but I am scared that it will have other problems now. But how can 19 pixels be possible is what baffles me?

I'm really upset guys, I got my replacement and I waited forever for it. Now it is even worse:
1. Isight has 16 dead/stuck pixels in it
2. Screen has several dead pixels
3. I have had a few issues with screen flickering/blackout
4. The computer is extremely slow compared to the first one even after the software update and the same things done to it, in particular Imovie is pretty much impossible to use now with the amount of lag.
5. Probably the worst as it is a physical defect: There is a tiny crack within the black glass border that I noticed straight away although it is small + The glass is not perfectly aligned so the silver chin sticks out on the left side.
Its going back, if next one is bad then I'm getting a refund for the time being. Oh and my first one was a week 46 and the replacement is a week 48 which was supposed to have resolved the issues...don't think so

Everything works on FW port EXCEPT iSight camera

I'm stuck. I have a 17" iMac G5 10.5.8 and an external iSight cam that used to work fine together. But at present, the iSight is not recognized by PhotoBooth, iChat, iMovie or even System Profiler. The Firewire ports both work when I use a Canon Vixia camcorder (which is recognized in all 4 apps listed), and external FW drives. The iSight camera works just fine on another iMac G5 that is the exact same model as well as a 17" iMac G5 ALS.
I've tried:
1. Resetting the SMU using the well-described method of plugging in the power cord while holding the power button as well as pressing the small button on the logic board, but no change (it doesn't even reset the clock).
2. Zapping the PRAM.
3. Booting into Open Firmware and using "reset-NVRAM" and "reset-all".
4. Disconnecting all other Firewire devices and plugging them back in various permutations.
5. Reading most of the 9000+ posts by EZ Jim.
For what it's worth, these iMac G5's were all falling prey to the famous bad capacitor problems on the logic board and their power supplies, and had become essentially unusable with random crashes, inability to wake from sleep, fans running full blast, etc. I replaced 73 bad capacitors among them and now all three iMacs are working great—except for the iSight on one as described above.
I'm open to suggestions...
Thanks,
Ralph

Ralph Parker wrote:
Thanks for your reply.
You're most welcome. ...
FWIW, I had also installed a new OS starting with the original install discs which were 10.3, (so I could get a few of the apps that came bundled with it), ...
If the old FW iSight won't work with the apps in 10.3, it won't likely work after updating.
and then upgrading .. in sequence ... topped it off with 10.5.8 Combo update...I noticed an inability of Disk Utility to repair several permissions...
Inability of Disk Utility (DU) to repair permissions can be caused by using a different OS's DU version. You MUST use 10.3 DU to repair 10.3 permissions, 10.5 DU to repair permissions on a startup disk running 10.5, etc.
(ACL found but unexpected on items in the System/Library/User Templates folder). Again, FWIW.
You may not have a problem if you are using the appropriate DU version while repairing permissions and are merely commenting on error messages such as the ones listed here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1448
So long as the repair process ends with a statement that necessary repairs have been made, all is OK.
I will go back and zero out the drive and try again.
Having already tried that, I doubt that another reinstall will help you, but it cannot harm anything.
If there are bad caps or other components in the FW circuits, I would not expect my other FW devices (video and drives) to work properly.
Nor would I. Perhaps someone else has other ideas.
FIngers crossed.
We will watch for your status update.
Mac Pro Quad Core (Early 2009) 2.93Ghz Mac OS X (10.6.6); MacBook Pro (13 inch, Mid 2009) 2.26GHz (10.6.6);
LED Cinema Display; G4 PowerBook 1.67GHz (10.4.11); iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9); External iSight; iPod touch 4.2.1

IMovie '08: Built-in iSight camera not recognized in Yosemite

On this page
http://support.apple.com/en-us/TS2472
iMovie '08: Built-in iSight camera not recognized
it says:
In Finder, navigate to /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/
Select the file com.apple.mio.VDCAssistant.plist and delete.
Restart your system.
You should now be able to use your iSight camera with iMovie.
However, in Yosemite, it only has this file name
com.apple.cmio.VDCAssistant.plist
and I don't want to delete it as instructed without someone who knows telling me it won't hurt my newly installed and thus far working well OS 10.10.1, with iMovie 7.1.4 on my iMac 24 inch, Early 2008, 2.8 GHz Intel Dore 2 Duo, 2 GB 800 MHz DDR2 SDRAM. It worked with Leopard, and I don't recall having to use the above mentioned support page.

Contact Apple. I believe you have a hardware issue there if it's not showing up in your System profiler.
Dave M.
MacOSG Founder/Ambassador  An Apple User Group  iTunes: MacOSG Podcast
Macsimum News Associate Editor  Creator of 'Mac611 - Mobile Mac Support'

Can't capture video using iSight camera in QuickTime 7.4 (92)

OK, I see that there are plenty of "bugs" with Quicktime Version 7.4 (92), but I don't see the problem I am having, posted anywhere. Here goes...
I cannot capture video using my [Firewire] iSight camera on my CoreDuo MacMini. I definitely used to be able to do this. When I go to File>New Movie Recording, I get a back/blank Movie Recording window and that's it. I click on the Red/Record button and nothing happens. The timer doesn't even advance. Just sits there. When I try to stop the recording, I get the following message:
*"Recording failed because no data was received.*
*Make sure that the media input source is turned on and playing."*
I can still capture audio, although had some problems and had to "downgrade" to version 7.3.x and subsequently reinstalled 7.4. Now the audio works but still no video.
A few things:
1. YES, the iSight camera works - I can use it in iMovie, iChat, Photobooth, etc. - for both video and audio.
2. As I mentioned, I tried "downgrading" (using "Pacifist") but still no video.
3. I re-installed Version 7.4 and the audio problems cleared up, but again, still unable to capture video.
3. All software updates installed.
Any ideas???
Thanks!

"As I mentioned, I tried "downgrading" (using "Pacifist") but still no video."
See QuickTimeKirk’s posting in the following thread:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1357579&tstart=0
Try the following:
Trash com.apple.LaunchServices.plist
It's located in your account:
HD/Library/Preferences/com.apple.LaunchServices.plist
Delete the file, restart (a new .plist will be created) and quicktime hopefully will work again w/o doing an Archive & Install.
+If you want to do an A&I:+
Do an archive and install of your OS from the OS disc. Stop at the QT upgrade you need.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301270 Scroll down to "Archive and Install”
IMPORTANT: Maker sure you select "preserve user preferences and data" when you performed the A&I?
Good luck!

How do I attach my iSight camera to my Apple Cinema Display?

I've just bought two iSight cameras, and found nothing in the accessory kit with them that would allow me to attach the camera to my Apple Cinema Display. This is because the back of the Cinema Display is beveled rather than flat, so the flat base of the accessories won't set firmly.
Does anybody have a solution for this?

Robert,
Isn't it it nice to have your issues solved.!!
I was wondering if you would help us out, & mark you posts so that this message on top of your threads are gone:
"This question is "Helpful" answers available: 2. "Solved" answers available: 1"
Thought this might be appropriate reading, regarding those Helping You to Solve Your issues.
Answers, Helpful and Solved
Marking simply as Answered does not award points.
You are the Original poster and only you can do this.
Thanks, for your Time and effort !!
Eme

How do I use my isight camera live?

I have a 27 inch Imac. How do I use my Isight camera as a web cam? I have flashplayer 10, but it still won't work. Help?

Software always operates webcams, so you need to find software applications that does what you want.
Use your Mac's  > App Store... menu command to search for "webcam"
(without quotation marks).
You can also search for other terms like "video chat", "video conferencing", "video surveillance", etc.
If you need other functions, some of the older apps in the list in this link are also still available:
http://www.ralphjohns.co.uk/EZJim/EZJimpage7.html
BTW, Flash 10 is out of date for OS X 10.7.2.
• You can find the latest Flash version that works with you system using this page:
      http://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/
If you update, use your Mac's Disk Utility to repair permissions. Then follow Adobe's instructions here: http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/908/cpsid_90893.html
Be sure to uninstall your current Flash player before installing the new one.
Repair permissions again immediately following installation of the updated Flash player.
• Be aware that the current Flash Player Preferences can be configured in your Lion Mac's  > System Preferences...    These settings may be blocking Flash on a system-wide basis.
• Individual Flash settings are still configured in the same way as older versions:
      http://tinyurl.com/5kjv3
Message was edited by: EZ Jim

How do I activate my Isight camera to take an image of my gift card?

How do I activate my Isight Camera to take an image of my Gift card so I can redeem it?
The camera sees the card OK, but I don't know how to make it take an image.
Please help.
Greg.

I don't think that you can do it with older MacBook's which have iSight cameras on them, the redeem by camera lists requirements as :
Mac with a FaceTime camera (an Apple Display with FaceTime works too)
I think that you will need to manually enter the card's code

HT3964 my built-in isight camera will still not work on my macbook pro after completing smc reset. The green light comes on but no video.

my built-in isight camera will still not work on my macbook pro after completing smc reset. The green light comes on but no video.
Any Suggestions?

Restart the computer.

Bad iSight Camera?

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