When it comes to video conferencing on a Mac , Apple seems frustratingly in the darkness . The company that made it such a priority nearly 20 years ago with the iSight camera , and brought video call to our collective knowingness on phones with FaceTime , seems content to sell expensive electronic computer with frustratingly awful webcams , yr after twelvemonth .
Just as annoying as the lackluster hardware is the fact that Apple does n’t give users any build - in control to improve timbre themselves . There ’s no System Preferences accommodation for the FaceTime camera on a Mac . If the video app you ’re using does n’t have its own controls , you ’re out of fortune .
All hope is not lose , though . Wether you ’re usingthird - political party webcam hardwareor Apple ’s built - in FaceTime tv camera , you have options , if you ’re willing to invest a chip of money in an app .
Webcam Settings gives you more control over your FaceTime camera.
Try the Webcam Settings app
There are several apps out there that let you change the options on your Mac webcam . One of the more often bring up options is iGlasses . We discover it has a portion of great features , but it ’s heavy to recommend . First , it ’s rather expensive at $ 20 . Second , it creates a “ practical webcam ” which form alright with some apps ( like young version of Zoom ) but not with FaceTime , Photo Booth , or newer versions of Skype .
Webcam configurations give you more dominance over your FaceTime camera .
A better solution is probably theWebcam configurations app , which you could snap up for $ 7.99 in the Mac app store . It mould fine on macOS Big Sur and Apple Silicon macs ( through Rosetta ) , anddirectlycontrols features of your webcam , so it work with nearly every app .
Webcam Settings gives you more control over your FaceTime camera.
you may adjust picture time , aperture , light , direct contrast , zoom , backlight recompense , focus , and lots more — depending on the computer hardware characteristic of the camera you ’re adjust . you’re able to pull through these configurations as agile presets , too . Webcam configurations sits up in your menu debar for quick approach , and does n’t waste much in the way of resources .
you’re able to even operate many third - party cameras with Webcam options .
It ’s frustrative to crush out money for features that probably should be found in Apple ’s system of rules preferences , but with a little fiddling around you’re able to really improve the look of your webcam .
You can even control many third-party cameras with Webcam Settings.
Check your webcam maker’s software
If you ’ve get an external USB camera ( which we highly paint a picture if you do lots of remote encyclopaedism or work , because Apple ’s built - in photographic camera are so bad ) , you should check your camera Jehovah ’s website for any detached software it extend .
You were believably able to just plug in your television camera and have it do work with Zoom and FaceTime and Skype and Teams and such , but instal the driver may give you better control .
If you own a USB webcam , start by check out out the webcam maker ’s own package . It ’s in all probability better , and free .
If you own a USB webcam, start by checking out the webcam maker’s own software. It’s probably better, and free.
Logitech’sG Hub software , for example , is the hub for all Logitech ’s gaming gear , include webcams . Or you might want to pop over to the support site and download the company’sCamera configurations app , which will get you tweak configurations on all Logitech webcam .
Ultimately , the right thing would be for Apple to recognize the decisive purpose webcam act in modern computer use and build in television camera hardware on par with front - facing iPhone cameras . This should be accompanied by System Preferences controls to pick off their preferences . Until that fourth dimension , you ’ll have to spend a bit of money , either on a pay app or an extraneous webcam .
