Built in isight freezes

Lately, whenever I'm trying to take a picture with photo booth or record a movie with imovie, at some point the picture will freeze. The rest of the application works perfectly; I can look at my other pictures on photo booth or edit my clips on imovie, I just cant record anything new. It's like the webcam itself just stops working entirely, and the best part is my computer wont quit the application. It just sits in my dock, no matter how many times I hit "force quit." The only way to fix this is to restart my computer entirely.
It's really getting annoying.
Message was edited by: shullke

Hello shullke
(1) You can try the relevant suggestion for built-in iSight in Apple's How to Troubleshoot iSight.
It seems that you have already verified that the problem is not "application-specific." Be sure to also check whether the problem is "user-specific". Click here if you need help creating a new user account to check whether your problem is "user-specific" during Troubleshooting.
(2) If resetting or the other suggestions do correct your problem, you can 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 10.4.10 Combo Update v1.1 (Intel).
• 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.
(3) A few iNtel Mac laptop users have also reported success after unplugging their Macs and leaving the battery out for half-an-hour to overnight.
(4) If none of these suggestions help, contact Apple or an Apple-Authorized Service Provider for a professional check.
EZ Jim
PowerBook 1.67 GHz Mac OS X (10.4.10) G5 DP 1.8 External iSight

Similar Messages

Built - In ISight freezes after a few seconds

I tried to reboot...I just bought a new MacBook Pro with the built in camera.
I tried a IChat, IMovie and Skype...they all turn on the video camera and then after a second or two, camera freezes and then drops from sight.
I am brand new to MAC...HELP PLEASE!!!

One other thing, tommybo
As a new Mac user, if you have not already seen this, take a look at
http://www.apple.com/support/mac101/
Mac 101 offers a lot of help on a wide variety of things you can do with your new Mac.
EZ Jim
G5 DP 1.8GHz w/Mac OS X (10.5.8) PowerBook 1.67GHz (10.4.11) iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9) External iSight

Built-in iSight Freezes when iChat Connection is established

I'm attempting to iChat with friends who have an iMac Duo from my Macbook. Both our cameras work just fine. This has been confirmed using Photobooth. However, the moment we connect their camera image freezes and I receive no image of them is transmitted to me. We've used Connection Doctor to confirm that no video signal is being received on my end, but their getting signal just fine from me.
Things we've made sure of are.
1. We know from Photobooth and iChat before connection is made that their camera works fine.
2. We know there are no blocks in place.
3. At an Apple Operator's suggestion we are both using 100kbps setting to rule out bandwidth issues.
4. We have both followed the instructions of this article, http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93208
One Apple operator suggested we reinstall iChat AV, but there is no way to do so from the Apple website. The Apple Site only goes up to 2.1, and that won't install.
My friends and I are good Apple people with .Mac accounts using iChat (a Mac service) with Mac Products. Also, we both have current Apple Care protection plans. Basically, we're all APPLE! Please help us.

Welcome to Apple Discussions, bobthecopywriter
Sorry you are having problems with video chat. Until you get more good suggestions from Tony, here are a couple more things you can consider:
(0) Unless you have already tried restarting, shut down everything. Then restart your modem and wait until it finishes its self-test. If you use a router, restart it and let its self-test run. When all self-tests are finished, restart your Mac and try again.
(1) If the restart does not get things working for you, when you post back, please let us know whether you and your problem contact can successfully text chat. Also, can you successfully audio chat?
(2) It will usually be simpler to fix one problem at a time. Both you and the chat buddy you are trying to contact should test with others to determine which system is the source of the problem. See this list of Buddy Names for iChat Test for names of testers you can add to your buddy lists.
When testing with anyone other than the "Auto-Respond Test Accounts", I suggest that always text first. Successful video is very unlikely if you cannot get a successful text connection.
(3) If you cannot connect with anyone, check your internet service, connection, and Check your Broadband Speed. Post back both your DOWNLOAD and UPLOAD speeds.
We will try to offer more specific suggestions based on your responses.
Cheers,
Jim
Mac OS X (10.4.9) G5 DP 1.8 External iSight

Freeze after import from built-in iSight

I go to File > Import from Camera..., record my lovely visage, and then I click Done. iMovie imports the new video just fine, I see it pop up in the little clips tray, but then I'm faced with a problem.
The capture window is still open and if I click the "Done" button or close the capture window, iMovie just freezes and I have to force quit.
When I re-open iMove, everything is fine, my project and the new clip still exist, but I've just wasted a lot of time.
It happens every time and it's really frustrating. What's going on?
Console offers little of interest...
3/28/08 12:51:43 AM iMovie[19101] CFDictionaryAddValue(): immutable collection 0x2630a390 given to mutating function
3/28/08 12:55:01 AM com.apple.launchd[169] ([0x0-0x38c38c].com.apple.iMovie7[19101]) Exited: Terminated
Message was edited by: Iynque

There are a few other threads out there based on iMovie freezing after importing, but most are people importing from other devices, not the built-in iSight camera. None has any good advice about how to correct it, that I can see.
I suppose the good news is it's not a problem endemic to the iSight camera capture option itself. I'm willing to bet it has something to do with disk fragmentation or dropped frames during capture -any of which a standard NLE would tell you about instead of crashing.
I guess the usual salvo of countermeasures are called for: verify the target volume using disk utility, defragment the drive, try building a new user account on your Mac and try the capture again (just to rule out any unruly preferences in your current config). Worst case, reinstall iMovie and see if it keeps happening. Now, having said all that, I haven't actually taken the time to try it myself. So, grain of salt, and all that.

Brand new MBP built in iSight image corruption

I bought a new 15" MBP in September. 2.8 Ghz, 4gb ram, 500gb HD, one of the nicer, new models.
I haven't had a need to use the built-in iSight since then, but as I'm going abroad for a year in a few months and will be keeping in touch with my fiancee using it, I decided to give it a try and make sure everything is set up right.
Every time I turn the camera on it starts working just fine but within about 15 seconds it freezes, with multi-colored lines stretching across the last frame that it displays. Once it does that you need to quit whatever application you're in that is using the camera, let the camera turn off, and then re-launch the app, after which you get about another 15 seconds of functionality.
It does this across multiple apps. I have tested Photobooth, iMovie, and iChat and all show the exact same problem.
Some googling has suggested that I clear the PRAM (did nothing) and clear something that's name escapes me right now (I had to hold down the left hand alt-ctrl-shift keys with the computer shut off and press the power button), but neither of those fixes did anything.
Is this a hardware issue, or is there something else I can try?
here is a link to a picture that shows what this "corruption" looks like - Photo Booth at least has no problem actually taking a picture while the camera is frozen up like this, but it can't take any other picture than the one the camera gets frozen on.
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j130/cyrano4747/example.jpg

Welcome to Discussions, Cyrano4747
You are wise to practice with your iSight before your major travel.
For any iSight trouble, start with Apple's "How to Troubleshoot iSight"
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2090
If your iSight problem occurs in more than one app and more than one user account, the reset suggested there sometimes restores proper function of inbuilt iSight.
However, the image you linked and all the things you have already tried lead me to believe that yours is most likely a hardware problem. Unless the Troubleshooting corrects your problem, contact Apple or an Apple-Authorized Service Provider for service. If your new Mac was bought from a local retailer, your retailer may be able to offer the best and fastest help.
EZ Jim
Mac Pro Quad Core (Early 2009) 2.93Ghz w/Mac OS X (10.6.1) MacBook Pro (13 inch, Mid 2009) 2.26GHz (10.6.1)
G5DP1.8GHz (10.5.8) G4 PowerBook 1.67GHz (10.4.11) iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9) LED Cinema Display External iSight

Photo Booth / iSight freezes the whole machine

I have purchased a new 20" iMac.
Photo Booth seems to work fine but, so far twice while it's on, the whole computer froze twice, under identical situation. (My daughter loves playing with it.)
It's a complete freeze but not kernel panic, and only power cycling brings the machine back. I tried to "ping" from other Mac but no response from the machine.
Is there anything I can do to avoid the freeze?
Tai

Hello Tai
Is there anything I can do to avoid the freeze?
Depending on the age of your daughter, you might want to be sure that your Mac is protected from her when you are not watching.
If you do not force your iMac to run all the time without letting it sleep overnight, you should perform regular Mac OS X Maintenance.
Even if you keep your Mac running overnight or manually perform OS X Maintenance, whenever you have to force-shutdown or force-restart your computer you should do a Safe Boot and then restart. Do so now if you have not done so already.
If the only problems you notice are with iSight, you can try the relevant suggestion for built-in iSight in Apple's How to Troubleshoot iSight. Be sure to include the checks for whether the problem is "application-specific" and "user-specific". Click here if you need help creating a new user account to check whether your problem is "user-specific" during Troubleshooting.
If your problems continue, if you have trouble with multiple applications, or if you notice that your Mac is behaving in any other unusual way, consider the suggestions in Isolating issues in Mac OS X and let us know the particulars. We will offer other suggestions based on the details in your response.
EZ Jim
PowerBook 1.67 GHz Mac OS X (10.4.10) G5 DP 1.8 External iSight

Built in iSight, other problems

Hi, I have a white Macbook that I've had for about a year now. I love it, but lately its been giving me some problems. The battery wasn't recognized and I did all the troubleshooting with that. Apple is sending me a new battery right now, so hopefully that'll fix the problem.
Other problems I'm having that aren't solved yet are:
The isight no longer functions. My computer still recognizes it, but when I open Photobooth, the screen shows up as green. I checked the video on iChat and it just showed up as a black screen. This problem is recent, but before that, Photobooth or whenever the iSight was turned on, it would occasionally freeze. Can anyone tell me what to do with that?
Another small problem that hasn't happened recently is just that programs like Firefox and iChat will randomly freeze or quit unexpectedly. It doesn't happen often enough to bother me too much, but I hope the problem doesn't get worse. Any suggestions?
Thanks for your help.

Welcome to Apple Discussions, mch786310
The isight no longer functions.
Try every suggestion re: Built-in iSight in How to Troubleshoot iSight. Be sure to include the checks for whether the problem is "application-specific" and "user-specific".
If resetting or the other suggestions do correct your problem, you can try the following:- Backup your Home Folder, or at very least, your important files.
- Repair permissions.
- Then download and apply the Mac OS X 10.4.9 Combo Update (iNtel).
- 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 the latest Combo Updates.
A few iNtel Mac laptop users have also reported success after unplugging their Macs and leaving the battery out for half-an-hour to overnight.
If your problems persist, I suggest that you take your iMac to your Apple-Authorized Service Provider for a professional check.
...programs like Firefox and iChat will randomly freeze or quit unexpectedly.
If you have not recently performed regular Mac OS X Maintenance, do so now. That should help this problem.
Jim
G4 PowerBook 1.67GHz Mac OS X (10.4.9) G5 DP 1.8 External iSight

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'

Built-in iSight will not work with Skype

I have a new Macbook Pro that I purchased about a month ago, running OS
X 10.5.8.
I've been using Skype to video chat, and at first everything was working
very well. In the middle of a chat, however, the video stopped working
altogether.
If I go to the video tab in Skype preferences, the camera will then turn
on and I can see myself, but once I go back to the call, the camera
won't turn on (the green light on my camera stays off too). In video
preferences I have the following options checked: Enable Skype Video,
Automatically receive video from: People in my Contact list, and Show
that I have video to: People in my contact list. I have also tried to
enable the "Start my video automatically" option but to no avail. The
video camera it is set to use is the Built-in iSight.
I have tried reinstalling skype, including deleting all the preference
files on the computer, but that did not help.
The video works fine in other applications such as Photobooth, iMovie and Google Chat. I have browsed through the many Skype forum posts about similar issues, as well as Apple forums and have tried every fix that people have suggested including resetting my SMC, updating all my applications, trying Skype under different user accounts, reinstalling Quicktime, reinstalling Skype (as outlined in the Uninstall guide for mac), repairing permissions, etc.
I am pretty sure that this problem began directly after I switched to
SCREEN SHARING during a video chat. When I switched back to Video, it
did not work.
No other applications that use my camera are running.
I am assuming that since it originally worked with Skype, and since I had not touched ANY of the options in Skype and have done nothing other than try screen sharing, and since I did a complete Skype reinstall includeing preferences, that the problem should NOT be with the Skype program itself, but rather something that was modified in the operating system configuration during screen sharing.
The only other thing I can think of trying is to reinstall iSight, although I haven't been able to figure out how to do that, or to reinstall my entire operating system, which I don't see as an acceptable solution.
I am using Skype Version 2.8.0.659
Any help getting this fixed would be greatly appreciated.
I have posted a similar topic in the Skype forums along with a screen shot of my Skype preferences window: http://forum.skype.com/index.php?showtopic=422861
From my online reading in both the Apple and Skype forums, it seems as though this is a relatively common problem. If I can find a solution from either Skype or Apple, I will post the solution in both of the forums.
Update: I just upgraded my OS to 10.6.1 and my camera started working again. Then, I was in a chat and I lost my internet connection. As soon as I got back online I restarted the conversation and the camera doesn't work again. This is getting to be ridiculous.
Thank you for your time,
rystheguy

Hi,
It is years since I tried Skype. (Probably in Tiger)
I use Little Snitch, a utility that can report the ports and IPS any App is trying to contact.
For Video chats it seems the Skype process spreads the load across many "Servers" wanting to connect to about 3 doz (I got fed up with clicking the accept Button)
For this reason I do not think it is very secure.
I only today read a post that said Skype had Screen Sharing.
iChat 5 makes it clear (well if you run /Applications/iChat.app/Contents/MacOS/iChat -errorLogLevel 7 In Terminal) that there is a "camera" setting for the Desktop which may be a forthcoming thing or is about produce the Screen Sharing pic. (i.e iChat lists two "cameras" in the log produced by the above Terminal command).
iChat 4 and 5 use the Apple Remote Desktop engine to do Screen Share as does the Screen Sharing App invoked from the Finders Go Menu > Go to Server and using VNC:// as the Link type.
I would have no idea what protocol Skype are using.
They created their own Video protocols and similar with SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) for Connecting to POTS (Plain Old Telephone Systems) Phones in disregard for Internationally agreed Standards.
I doubt that it makes use of the ARD engine. It will probably be a reinvention of the wheel again.
I took a look around the Skype web site but could not find any mention of how they are doing Screen Sharing.
I would guess it is similar to the iUSBCam method of Desktop as Video Feed.
Do the Console or System Log in Console (Applications/Utilities) have any messages about this ?
9:59 PM Monday; September 21, 2009

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.

IMovie 6.0.3 does not recognize built in iSight Camera on new iMac

New iMac, Intel, OS 10.5.4, QT 7.5.
Built in Camera works with Photo Booth, the new iMovie 7.1.3 and iChat.
iMovie HD 6.0.3 or 6.0.4 does not recognize the camera. Opening a new project results in a No Camera Connected error. I have tried selecting various options in the video format drop down when creating a new project. I have repaired permissions, tried it under various users, removed the imovie plist, reinstalled imovie (both 6.0.3 and 6.0.4) without success. All 10 of the new computers are exhibiting this problem.
Any help would be appreciated.

That is not an option that I can select on the imac's. On my iBook under 10.5.4 with iMovie HD 6.0.3 or 6.0.4 I can click on the triangle next to the camera icon and select the built in iSight camera. On the new iMacs that does not work. The built in iSight is not listed as an option.

Problem with built-in iSight

Hello,
I am having trouble with my Macbook Pro's built in iSight. I appreciate any help anyone could give me.
As of a couple of days ago, iChat and Photobooth are now unable to access the iSight camera. iChat states, "There is no camera attached to this computer." Photobooth gives the error "There is no connected camera."
The weird thing is, Skype and any flash based software are still able to use the camera perfectly.
System profiler lists the camera correctly as "Built-in iSight" under USB. It doesn't list any problems. Nothing else is attached to the computer.
I have tried resetting the PRAM, resetting the SMC, repairing disk permissions (twice), and reinstalling 10.6.4 with the combo updater.
Can anyone think of anything else to try?
I would think it was a hardware problem, except that several programs are able to use the camera. It just seems to be Apple software (iChat, photobooth, Quicktime X) that are unable to see that there is a camera built in.
Thanks anyone for your time and help.
-Matt

MMariska wrote:
Hello,
I am having trouble with my Macbook Pro's built in iSight. I appreciate any help anyone could give me.
As of a couple of days ago, iChat and Photobooth are now unable to access the iSight camera. iChat states, "There is no camera attached to this computer." Photobooth gives the error "There is no connected camera."
The weird thing is, Skype and any flash based software are still able to use the camera perfectly.
System profiler lists the camera correctly as "Built-in iSight" under USB. It doesn't list any problems. Nothing else is attached to the computer.
I have tried resetting the PRAM, resetting the SMC, repairing disk permissions (twice), and reinstalling 10.6.4 with the combo updater.
Can anyone think of anything else to try?
I would think it was a hardware problem, except that several programs are able to use the camera. It just seems to be Apple software (iChat, photobooth, Quicktime X) that are unable to see that there is a camera built in.
Thanks anyone for your time and help.
-Matt
Welcome to Discussions, -Matt.
You seem to have tried all relevant suggestions from http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2090
When only a couple of apps give trouble, their preference files might be corrupted. If you are using the OS X version of Skype successfully, my suggestion is that you reset the preferences for the apps that are giving trouble. If you need help:
Here is how to reset Photo Booth preferences:
• Quit Photo Booth if it is running.
• Delete the com.apple.PhotoBooth.plist file from your ~ (Home) /Library/Preferences folder.
• Restart Photo Booth and test. A new .plist file will be created when you launch.
Resetting iChat is similar except iChat's camera preferences are kept in the com.apple.PhotoBooth.plist file in the same directory.
Be sure to quit iChat before you reset preferences. When you start iChat again after tossing your iChat.plist file, you will need to reset any preferences that you want to be different from the default values.
Message was edited by: EZ Jim
Mac Pro Quad Core (Early 2009) 2.93Ghz w/Mac OS X (10.6.4) MacBook Pro (13 inch, Mid 2009) 2.26GHz (10.6.4)
LED Cinema Display G4 PowerBook 1.67GHz (10.4.11) iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9) External iSight

MacBook Pro no longer recognizes USB external hard drives or built-in iSight

I have an older MacBook Pro 17" Intel that I use with various external USB hard drives (8 of them). It is connected to my LG 720p 32" flatscreen and works perfectly. Recently, when visiting, I disconnected my external HDs and connected my MBP to my brother's LG 1080p and it was OK.
When I returned home and reconnected my external HDs and TV, it would not recognize the HDs and couldn't find my built-in iSight. Viewing System Information, the USB buses showed an assortment of items, such as the Apple Internal Keyboard/Trackpad, IR Receiver, and Bluetooth USB Host Controller in the buses. The High-Speed Bus showed an external HD as a Vendor-Specific Device, but none of these appeared on the desktop. I plugged in my external iSight to Firewire and it showed up in Photobooth, iChat, and Skype.
What is the problem and can I fix it myself or must I take it to be serviced?
Has anyone encountered the same problem? Got any answers?
I really would appreciate all the help I can get. Thanks.

I have never heard of this before, but the fact that your external iSight works shows that at least some parts of your Macv's AV circuitry are undamaged.
Depending on exactly how you "disconnected" your "external HDs and connected" your "MBP to" your "brother's LG 1080p", I suppose it is possible that your software settings have been compromised somehow. Here is what I would try if my system showed the symptoms you describe.
(0) Start by making a current backup if you do not already have one.
Then try any of the following you have not already considered or used. Use them in any order you think appropriate and test after each one to determine if the problem is resolved:
(1) Shut down (do not merely restart) your MBP. Wait a couple of minutes before starting.
(2) Test in a different user (NOT the "Guest") account: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.7/en/mtusr001.html
(3) Reset SMC http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964
(4) Reset PRAM: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.7/en/mh26871.html
(5) Repair your startup disk: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.7/en/mchlp1718.html
(6) Reinstall Lion and apply the 10.7.2 Combo Update: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1459
(7) Contact Apple or an Apple-Authorized Service Provider for service
Message was edited by: EZ Jim

After upgrading to Lion, my Macbook Air's built in iSight camera has disappeared. I'm not sure how to get it recognized again.

After upgrading to Lion, my Macbook Air's built in iSight camera has disappeared. I'm not sure how to get it recognized again. Help -Sami

Well, if you did then you may be able to track it, if you did not it's not possible.

How can I use the built-in Isight camera with an external camera (usb/firewire) at the same time?

How can I use the built-in Isight camera and an external video camera at the same time?
I'm wanting to stream over Oovoo/Skype/etc. using 2 cameras.
Thanks

Simple question with a not so simple answer.
(a) If you mean that you want to run multiple apps simultaneously using a different camera with each app, you may encounter computing power limitations. Digital video is processor intensive. The only way to know if your Mac can do this it to try it. If the video does not work together but each app works when it it the only app running, you are likely overloading your Mac's ability to process and/or move all the required data in your data bus. You can get a better indication of whether this is the case by watching your Activity Monitor utility while running the apps you want to use.
(b) If you mean that you want to have more than one compatible camera connected to your Mac simultaneously for ease of changing between video sources, some, but not necessarily all, apps you are using to operate your camera(s) allow you to select between your cameras.
How you select among connected cameras depends on which application you are using. Here is how camera selection works in a few examples:
(1) For iChat, you can choose which iSight you use in the "Camera:" choices bar in iChat > Preferences... > Audio/Video that appears when more than one compatible camera is connected. Although your camera choices will be different, the choices bar will look something similar to the Preferences settings shown here:
If you cannot see the "Camera" choices bar, your Mac is recognizing only one (or none) of your cameras. In that case, consider the suggestions fromhttp://support.apple.com/kb/HT2090 for iSight problems or refer to your other camera's documentation for help.
This particular choices bar solution applies ONLY to iChat. Most other applications also have settings that allow you to choose which camera to use. However, they do not all work the same way.
(2) For instance, iMovie HD's camera choice is NOT set via Preferences. When you have more than one compatible camera connected, iMovie6 HD uses a drop-down menu choice something like this (depending on which version of iMovie you use):
Note: Because I had no built-in iSight connected when I made this example, and because my external iSight was not connected, the drop-down menu showed only "Time Lapse." Because your Mac has a built-in iSight, your built-in iSight would show in the drop-down menu even when no other camera is connected. Connecting an additional Mac compatible webcam should allow you to choose either camera.
Other iMovie versions work slightly differently.
iMovie 9 (from iLife '11) uses a different camera choice button shown in this article:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=iMovie/9.0/en/mov39f84285.html
iMovie 8 (from iLife '09) is slightly different as explained in this article:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=iMovie/8.0/en/10172.html
In general, you can use your Mac's help for the application in use to find out how to select among more than one connected camera.
(3) Photo Booth in Snow Leopard 10.6.x and later uses the Photo Booth > Camera menu command to select which camera to use.
Note for readers with older Mac OS X: The previous version of Photo Booth that came with Tiger (10.4.x) is such a simple, basic app that it offers no menu selectable choice. Unless your built-in iSight is already occupied as the camera being used by some open application before you launch Photo Booth, Photo Booth will use ONLY your built-in iSight.
However, you can use the trick from ¶ 4 of http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=302781 to let Photo Booth use an external camera.
(If you have an external Firewire camera connected, it may be used in preference to any USB webcam. If that is a problem for you, merely disconnect the problem Firewire device.)
(4) For FaceTime, launch the app and click the Video menu item.
If your Mac recognizes more than one connected compatible camera, a "Camera" section listing the cameras from which you can choose will appear there. Clicking on the desired camera name will let you select the one you want as shown in this image from my Mac Pro and LED Cinema Display:
If your Mac recognizes only one compatible camera, the "Camera" section will not appear in the Video menu, but FaceTime will automatically use the connected camera that is recognized by OS X.
(5) I do not use Skype oir Oovoo. For those or other apps, see Help for each app for info on how to select your desired camera.
Message was edited by: EZ Jim

Built in isight freezes

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