ISight video recording became limited to 15 fps?

Question

From time to time I record videos with my built-in iSight camera. I used to do it using iMovie, then Quicktime and Photobooth lately.
However, I noticed that frame rate in all my recent recordings do not exceed 15fps. Photobooth does the worst job -- it records at 7-10 fps, Quicktime 7 records at 12-13 fps, iMovie -- at 15 fps. I even changed iMovie video recording settings to NTSC to achieve 30 fps, but -- no luck. Stuck at 15 fps.
I have tonns of my earlier recordings done at 30 fps. I don't know when exactly it happend, but I believe around the time I upgraded to Snow Leopard.
Is there a way of getting iSight recording back to 30 fps?
Thanks,
Eugene

Answer 1

edugaev wrote:
From time to time I record videos with my built-in iSight camera. I used to do it using iMovie, then Quicktime and Photobooth lately.
However, I noticed that frame rate in all my recent recordings do not exceed 15fps. Photobooth does the worst job -- it records at 7-10 fps, Quicktime 7 records at 12-13 fps, iMovie -- at 15 fps. I even changed iMovie video recording settings to NTSC to achieve 30 fps, but -- no luck. Stuck at 15 fps.
I have tonns of my earlier recordings done at 30 fps. I don't know when exactly it happend, but I believe around the time I upgraded to Snow Leopard.
Is there a way of getting iSight recording back to 30 fps?
Thanks,
Eugene
Welcome to Discussions, Eugene (edugaev)
You seem like an experienced user, so I will give you some suggestions for your consideration while you troubleshoot your problem. Once you have found the root cause of the trouble, even if it is not automatically resolved, you will have identified what needs to be fixed. If you need clarification or help on any of the following suggestions, I will try to offer more details in response to your specifics.
(1) You are wise to continue test with multiple apps to see if the problem is system wide or application specific. Before continuing, I suggest you also test in another user account to eliminate the possibility that this issue is user-specific.
(2) Try turning on some more the light. The idea for this came from the fact that Apple's article entitled Sight's video "stutters" in low light when I turn it on
  http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2264
says iSight reduces frame rate in low light.
More info: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3097
(3) Be sure you have not increased processor loads with File Vault, multiple applications in a new workflow, or added Login Items. Also, with "tonns of ... earlier recordings", be certain you are not running short of free space on your disk.
(4) If nothing there leads to a fix, because you think the issue began upgrading you Mac OS, if you use third party hardware that requires software installation (mouse, keyboard, A/V interface, etc.,) or software (including Microsoft Office or Exchange, plugins such as Perian, Flip4Mac, etc.,) check their support sites to see if any of them have known-issues with 10.6.2.
Perhaps you merely need to update the software or drivers in order for your third-party system components to be compatible with 10.6.2
Uninstall any that are currently known to be incompatible with your system.
(5) If your problem persists and your system has no third-party components, or at least none that require updating for OS X 10.6.2, backup all important data and apply the 10.6.2 Combo Update (with permissions repairs before AND after the update).
Then test whether your problem persists.
(6) If your problem persists, reinstall Snow Leopard. Be sure to repair permissions before and after installing.
Once you have reinstalled SL and apply the latest current Combo Updater with permissions repairs between each step and after updating.)
Do not reinstall any third-party apps until you have tested your iSight's function. When iSight is working properly again, you can reinstall your third-party apps again, Install only one third party app at a time, and test it thoroughly before installing another so you can tell if one of them causes problems with your system.
(7) If the problem persists, the problem may be caused by a software problem outside the Mac&OS that you cannot find. Then only fix I know for that is to zero your disk and do a clean install of SL to see if you can resolve the problem yourself before seeking help from an Apple  Service Provider.
EZ Jim
Mac Pro Quad Core (Early 2009) 2.93Ghz w/Mac OS X (10.6.2)  MacBook Pro (13 inch, Mid 2009) 2.26GHz (10.6.2)
LED Cinema Display  G4 PowerBook 1.67GHz (10.4.11)  iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9)  External iSight