We'd love to see a better FaceTime camera on the MacBook. The MacBook Pro still offers a 720p camera. As a comparison the FaceTime camera (aka Selfie camera) on the iPhone 11 range offers 1080p HD. ISight Webcam Camera Cam for Apple MacBook Pro 13' A1278 2011 2012. Product Condition. Compatible Model. MacBook Pro 13' A1278 2011 2012. Compatible Subfamily. MacBook Pro 'Core i5' 2.3 13' Early 2011 MacBook Pro 'Core i5' 2.4 13' Late 2011 MacBook Pro 'Core i7' 2.7 13' Early 2011 MacBook Pro 'Core i7' 2.8 13' Late 2011 MacBook Pro 'Core. In the Apple Store: Offer only available on presentation of a valid, government‑issued photo ID (local law may require saving this information). Value of your current device may be applied toward purchase of a new Apple device. MacRumors forum member Dashwin, for example, put a webcam cover on his 16-inch MacBook Pro in April and the result was a crack in the display under where the camera is located. The latest MBP 16. It far exceeds the color accuracy and sharpness of any Apple iSight camera that might be built into your MacBook, iMac or Apple Cinema Display. Dual microphones cancel echo and noise and deliver good audio response, though many live streaming hosts prefer a dedicated XLR or USB microphone for maximum audio quality.
If you close your Mac notebook with a camera cover installed, you might damage your display because the clearance between the display and keyboard is designed to very tight tolerances. Covering the built-in camera might also interfere with the ambient light sensor and prevent features like automatic brightness and True Tone from working. As an alternative to a camera cover, use the camera indicator light to determine if your camera is active, and decide which apps can use your camera in System Preferences.
Watch for the green camera indicator light
We design Apple products to protect your privacy and give you control over your information. Our products and features include innovative privacy technologies and techniques designed to minimize how much of your data we — or anyone else — can access. And powerful security features help prevent anyone except you from being able to access your information.
The FaceTime HD camera built into your Mac computer is designed with your privacy in mind and uses a camera indicator light that glows green when the camera is active. So you will always know when the camera is on.
The camera is engineered so that it can’t activate without the camera indicator light also turning on. This is how you can tell if your camera is on.
Control which apps can use the camera
As an added security measure, you can control which apps have access to the built-in camera. Before any app can use your camera in macOS Mojave or later, you must first give it permission. To see which apps have permission to use your camera and to revoke or grant app access, learn how to control access to the camera on your Mac in System Preferences.
If your work environment requires a camera cover at all times
If your work environment requires you to cover the camera on your Mac notebook, follow these guidelines to avoid damaging the display:
- Make sure the camera cover is not thicker than an average piece of printer paper (0.1mm).
- Avoid using a camera cover that leaves adhesive residue.
- If you install a camera cover that is thicker than 0.1mm, remove the camera cover before closing your computer.
Learn more
If the built-in camera isn't working on your Mac, learn what to do.
Your MacBook Pro comes equipped with many different functions and features that make it a really great computer to have. All of the high-end tech that is built into these computers can allow you to accomplish many different tasks quickly and Apple products are well-known for their intuitive interface and ease of use. If you just got your hands on a new MacBook Pro, congratulations and welcome to the club!
One basic function and piece of equipment that every MacBook Pro comes with is a camera. The quality of these cameras seems to improve with every new generation that Apple puts out and they are very functional and easy to use. These built-in cameras come in handy during a number of different circumstances and are simple to operate once you are familiar with the basic functions of your computer.
Reasons for Using Your MacBook Pro Camera
The camera on your MacBook Pro can be used for a variety of different reasons. It is typically not used in the same way as a common camera on your phone or other devices. It would look pretty hilarious if you help up your computer for a family photo, wouldn’t it?! I suppose it would work for this, but most people use the built-in camera on their computer for other reasons than taking photos.
1. Video Calls & Chats
One of the most common uses for the built-in camera on your MacBook Pro is for video calls and chats. Well known apps such as Facetime and Skype and utilize the camera to record your image in real-time and show it to whoever you are calling with. Since the camera on your laptop is located above your screen, it is easy to adjust the angle to center it on your face or body to make these calls happen. These cameras work really well for these calls and chats.
2. Photo Booth
Although it’s not very common to use your laptop in a similar fashion as a regular camera, that doesn’t mean it can’t be done. With the Photo Booth app on your MacBook Pro, you can take fun and creative photos easily from your computer. The app operates similar to an old-school photo booth where you hit a button, hear a countdown, and then a photo or two are taken. Photo Booth can be really fun and I’ve had a bunch of laughs using the program.
3. Live Streams
Another thing you can use your built-in camera for is live streaming. You won’t have the best high-quality using your computer’s camera but you can easily live stream any talking or informative content if you have a YouTube channel or are currently a video blogger or interested in learning how to do so. Using the camera on your MacBook is an easy way to learn the basics of how to live-stream and video blog and a lot of people use it for this reason.
How to Turn Your Camera On
In order to operate your camera and utilize it for any of the above purposes or whatever other reason you might want it for, you need to turn it on. It’s actually really easy to do and pretty self-explanatory so once you learn how to turn it on, you’ll probably never forget how.
Macbook Pro Webcam Specs
The first step to turning on your camera is to open whatever app you want to use your camera for. This could be any of the apps mentioned above including Facetime, Skype, or Photo Booth. There are other apps that use the camera feature and those can work for turning your camera on too.
When some of these apps are opened, such as Photo Booth, the camera will come on automatically. For the other apps, like Facetime and Skype, you might need to click on the video icon to turn the camera on. You’ll know that your camera is on because there will be a small green light that comes on right next to the camera lens. You’ll also see the image that the camera is capturing displayed within the window of the app you are using.
If Your Camera Doesn’t Turn On
Sometimes you might open up one of these apps and your camera will not turn on. There are a few troubleshooting tips you can use to try and fix the problem. Apple mac keyboard layout diagram.
First, make sure that you only have one app that uses the camera open at a time. If you have two apps open and both are trying to use the camera, chances are only one will have access and the other won’t work. Close any programs that might be trying to use your camera except the one you want to use.
Apple Macbook Pro Webcam
You can also try restarting your computer and then opening up an app that uses the camera. This usually fixes the problem if you don’t know why your camera is not turning on. If the restart doesn’t work, you might need to update your operating system or the photo/video app you are trying to use.
Also Read: How to Turn off Camera On MacBook Pro
Final Thoughts
Using the camera on your MacBook Pro is easy and can also be a lot of fun. Turning your camera on really is as simple as opening up one of the apps that use the camera or video function. It’s rare that this doesn’t turn your camera on but if so, just follow the troubleshooting steps and you should be good to go with a quick restart or update. If you’ve never used your computer’s camera before, give it a shot and you’ll see how nice it is!
Webcam Apple Macbook Pro Leather Case
What do you use your built-in camera for most often?