View source for ISight

{{Short description|Brand name used for webcams by Apple}}
{{distinguish|InSight}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2013}}
{{lowercase|title=iSight}}
{{Refimprove|date=March 2010}}
{{Infobox camera
| camera_model     = iSight
| image            = Apple iSight logo.png
| image_size       = 120px
| manufacturer     = [[Apple Inc.]]
| camera_type      = Motion picture camera
| sensor_type      = Digital [[Charge-coupled device|CCD]]
| sensor_size      = {{frac|1|4}}{{nbsp}}[[inch]]
| res              = 640{{nbsp}}×{{nbsp}}480{{nbsp}}[[pixel]]s
| recording_medium = Attached to computer via [[FireWire]]
| lens_system      = Glass, internal auto-focus lens system
| focus_type       = Automatic (50 mm – ∞)
| shutter_speeds   = Continuous up to 30 frame/s
| f_numbers        = 2.8
}}
'''iSight''' is a brand name used by [[Apple Inc.]] to refer to webcams on various devices. The name was originally used for the external iSight [[webcam]], which retailed for US$149, connected to a computer via a [[FireWire]] cable, and came with a set of mounts to place it atop any then-current Apple display, laptop computer, [[All-in-one PC|all-in-one]] desktop computer, or round surface.

Apple introduced iSight at the 2003 [[Worldwide Developers Conference]], and it was intended to be used with [[iChat AV]], Apple's video-conferencing client. [[iMovie]] (version 4 and later) could also be used to capture video from the device. In April 2005, Apple released a [[firmware]] update for the iSight to improve [[sound reproduction|audio]] performance. As of October 13, 2008, the external iSight was no longer for sale in the Apple online store or in retail locations.

Meanwhile, Apple began using the term to refer to the camera built into Apple's [[iMac (Intel-based)|iMac]], [[MacBook]], [[MacBook Air]], and [[MacBook Pro]] computers, [[Apple Thunderbolt Display|Thunderbolt Display]], and [[Cinema Display]]. In November 2010, Apple began calling them "[[FaceTime]] cameras". However, the term was not retired, as the [[iPhone 4]] and later, [[iPod Touch]] (fifth generation and later), [[iPad]] (third generation and later), iPad Mini, and iPad Pro all incorporate an “iSight” rear camera in addition to a front-facing “FaceTime” or “FaceTime [[High-definition video|HD]]” camera.

==Design==
[[File:Apple iSight FireWire Camera.jpg|thumb|170px|right|Apple iSight webcam]]

The external iSight's ¼-inch color [[Charge-coupled device|CCD]] sensor has 640×480-pixel [[Video Graphics Array|VGA]] resolution, with a custom-designed three-part [[F-number|F/2.8]] [[Lens (optics)|lens]] with two aspherical elements. It features autoexposure, autofocusing from 50&nbsp;mm to infinity, and video capture at 30 frames per second in 24-bit color with a variety of shutter speeds. However, the iSight has an image delay of approximately 120 [[millisecond|ms]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}}

The iSight incorporates internal [[microphone]]s with dual-element [[noise suppression]]. The actual camera only takes up one-quarter of the unit; the remaining space is primarily occupied by its two microphones and mounting socket.{{citation needed|date=April 2013}}

The iSight camera weighs 2.3&nbsp;ounces (63.8&nbsp;grams). It uses a single FireWire 400 (IEEE 1394a) cable (included) for audio, video, and power.

[[Image:iSights.jpg|thumb|left|170px|Apple iSight webcam]]
Four camera mounts, a plastic tube carrying case, and a FireWire camera mount adapter are also included. The user can select the mounting bracket most appropriate for their monitor or other mounting surface. It is fully compatible with its [[Native mode|native]] [[macOS]], as well as partially compatible with the [[Microsoft Windows]] and [[Linux]] operating systems.{{citation needed|date=April 2013}}

The iSight has a small green [[Light-emitting diode|LED]] that illuminates when the camera is in use. It also has an iris that closes by twisting the front of the camera.

==Built-in iSight==
[[Image:MacBook iSight.jpg|thumb|A built-in iSight on a White MacBook.]]

Although external and internal iSights have significant differences, Apple has used the "iSight" name to brand its built-in video camera found in their [[MacBook]] (includes [[MacBook (Retina)|Retina MacBook]] (2015-2019)), [[MacBook Air]] and [[MacBook Pro]] notebook computers, [[iMac]] desktop computers produced since late 2005 and the [[LED]] [[Cinema Display]]. While the external iSight is similar to the built-in iSight, the built-in iSight uses an internal [[USB]] 2.0 interface and not the FireWire 400 (IEEE 1394a) interface used by the external iSight camera.<ref>[https://developer.apple.com/documentation/HardwareDrivers/Conceptual/MacBookPro_0601/Articles/MacBookPro_0601.html Apple Developer Connection, "15-inch MacBook Pro Developer Note"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010192847/http://developer.apple.com/documentation/HardwareDrivers/Conceptual/MacBookPro_0601/Articles/MacBookPro_0601.html |date=October 10, 2008 }}, Last updated: May 9, 2006.</ref> Further, the built-in iSight has a plastic lens, is fixed-focus, and uses a [[CMOS]] [[active pixel sensor]], rather than the [[Charge-coupled device|CCD]] used in the external iSight. With the LED-Backlit MacBook Pros, Apple has moved to using a sensor capable of 1280x1024 pixels. The built-in iSight can also be used in the [[Photo Booth]] application on [[macOS]] and [[iOS]]. 

In 2011, the iSight branding on cameras built-in to displays on the MacBook Pro and iMac was renamed to FaceTime camera. The FaceTime HD cameras included with the 2011 and later models of the MacBook Pro and iMac can output [[720p]] [[high-definition video]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201300|title=Identify your MacBook Pro model|website=Apple Support|language=en|access-date=2020-02-11}}</ref> The [[iMac Pro]], released in December 2017, introduced a newer generation FaceTime HD camera which now outputs [[1080p]] video. This newer generation camera was later built into the 2020 27-inch iMac model in August 2020.

===Security concerns===

Some MacBooks are affected by the [[iSeeYou]] vulnerability, potentially allowing their iSight cameras to record the user without the user's knowledge.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2013/12/18/research-shows-how-macbook-webcams-can-spy-on-their-users-without-warning/|title=Research shows how MacBook Webcams can spy on their users without warning|first1=Ashkan|last1=Soltani|first2=Timothy B.|last2=Lee|newspaper=Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://techland.time.com/2013/12/20/apple-please-give-us-a-fix-a-guarantee-that-our-isight-webcams-are-safe/|title=Apple, Please Give Us a Fix — a Guarantee — that Our iSight Webcams Are Safe|first=Matt|last=Peckham|magazine=Time |date=December 20, 2013|via=techland.time.com}}</ref>

==iSight on Linux==
[[Linux kernel]] 3.0+ internally contains the driver for the iSight camera.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kernelnewbies.org/Linux_3.0|title=Linux_3.0 - Linux Kernel Newbies|website=kernelnewbies.org}}</ref>

For previous versions of the kernel, one has to manually extract the firmware from Apple's driver with a specific program. The Apple driver cannot be deployed inside a Linux distribution due to legal issues.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://help.ubuntu.com/community/MactelSupportTeam/AppleiSight?action=show&redirect=AppleiSight|title=MactelSupportTeam/AppleiSight - Community Help Wiki|website=help.ubuntu.com}}</ref> This lack of native support in the kernel for iSight persists on MacBook 2.1.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://h-node.org/notebooks/view/en/1463/MacBook-2-1|title=MacBook 2,1|publisher=h-node.org|access-date=April 25, 2015}}</ref>

==iSight Camera vs. FaceTime Camera==
The June 2010 release of the iPhone 4, where Apple introduced the [[FaceTime]] communication platform, also involved them naming the integrated front-facing camera on the device a "FaceTime Camera". All subsequent devices and models, including smartphones and personal computers, released after this announcement had the camera branded as FaceTime cameras.

In March 2012, with the release of the [[iPad (3rd generation)|third generation iPad]], Apple re-introduced the iSight camera branding for the ''rear'' camera on iPhone and iPod Touch releases (retroactively, in the cases of older models still being sold at the time). Apple would once again discontinue use of the iSight branding in 2015, starting with the release of the iPhone 6s. Similarly, Apple discontinued the use of the FaceTime camera branding with the iPhone 8 as the last phone in 2017 in favour for the TrueDepth Camera branding on the iPhone X.

In general usage the iSight rear camera is used to take higher-resolution photos in scenarios where better quality is usually desired, whereas the front-facing camera is used for lower-resolution casual video conversations using the FaceTime communication platform.

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|ISight|iSight}}
*[https://lisight.sourceforge.net/ iSight Linux audio driver] project page
*[https://sourceforge.net/projects/lisight/ iSight Linux driver project] on SourceForge
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080518070830/http://developer.apple.com/documentation/Hardware/Conceptual/iSightProgGuide/index.html iSight Programming Guide] for FireWire iSight cameras on Apple.com

{{Apple hardware}}
{{Apple hardware since 1998}}

[[Category:Apple Inc. peripherals]]
[[Category:Webcams]]
[[Category:Teleconferencing]]
[[Category:Videotelephony]]
[[Category:Discontinued Apple Inc. products]]