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MindFad · May 17, 2004, 12:05 PM

When I open up the preview window in iChat for my iSight, it runs noticeably slower than 30 FPS. I know it can capture at 30FPS, but it's not. This is when it is pointing towards the inside of my room. Now, when I turn the thing around and point it outside towards brighter light, you'll hear�and see�the iSIght focus, and then the framerate jumps to the smooth 30FPS. Point it back at my room (which is a little darker, obviously) the framerate cuts back down�it looks like 15FPS heavy on the motion blur. It's at least noticeably not as smooth as when I point it outside. Not really a big deal, but a little irritating. I assume it has something to do with focusing and light source? Anyone have any ideas?

d4nth3m4n · May 17, 2004, 01:21 PM

i have my money on aperture and exposure. like a still camera, a video camera (or isight in this instance) needs to take many successive pictures. what i think is happening is that in the darker situation, the camera takes a longer exposure picture (to get anything at all) which brings the framerate down.

try a light?

Todd Madson · May 17, 2004, 01:26 PM

Trying turning all of the lights on in your room and try it then.
If you don't have any lights, get some. I suspect bright lights
will make the iSight happier.

MindFad · May 17, 2004, 03:14 PM

I figure that's what it is. Thanks, dudes.

MindFad · Jun 1, 2004, 10:24 AM

Hmm, I'm really not so sure now if it's the light. I've gotten the room bright as hell, and the framerate doesn't jump up like it does when I point it outside. And it's weird�when I turn it on for the first time in a day or so, even if it's dark, it will run full blast at 30 FPS. Then a second later, it'll focus (making a clicking) and bring the framerate down.

It does this even in the dark, which is why I think it might not be the light. *Shrug*

SafariX · Sep 16, 2004, 05:35 PM

Originally posted by MindFad:
Hmm, I'm really not so sure now if it's the light. I've gotten the room bright as hell, and the framerate doesn't jump up like it does when I point it outside. And it's weird�when I turn it on for the first time in a day or so, even if it's dark, it will run full blast at 30 FPS. Then a second later, it'll focus (making a clicking) and bring the framerate down. It does this even in the dark, which is why I think it might not be the light. *Shrug*

Did you find any fixes?

MilkmanDan · Sep 19, 2004, 04:59 AM

Both my parents and I have the exact same problems with our iSights. With a laptop at least I can go outside and do video chatting.

MindFad · Sep 19, 2004, 03:08 PM

Originally posted by SafariX:
Did you find any fixes?

Nope, no luck.

Even with both my windows open all the way, my light on, the framerate won't reach 30FPS. If I aim it out the window, the framerate will jump to 30FPS, as expected. Apparently it needs a supar dupar photon overload blast to get 30FPS. Which I don't understand, because when I turn on the iSight for the first time in awhile, it will run at 30FPS for about 2 second and then scale back down as it focuses. *shrug* I've come to live with it. Apparently I need to live outside to get 30FPS, or install floodlights in my room.

SafariX · Sep 28, 2004, 11:41 AM

Ok, well I just moved my entire desk outside so I can video chat at a silky smooth rate.

Ok, not really. I HAD YOU FOOLED HUH!!

This is ridiculous, it should support 30fps regardless of lighting condition. On another note, can anyone test to see if over the internet (not network), their FPS exceeds 10fps or UL exceeds 15k a sec. I have menumeters installed, and no matter what settings I select, it caps my video at 15k a sec (I have 512k up, not 128).

Any suggestions?