I have a Mikomi webcam. and i have installed macam and that detects the camera and shows video, However when it comes to using it with skype its only detects the isight camera, and i cant choose to use the webcam. Any help?????

I have a JVC GR-DV900 DV CAM which I wanted to use as a 'webcam'.

One of the Mac forums indicated that I could 'go in' using FIREWIRE through IMovie. I did, and IMovie 'recognised' my camera.

I rebooted - then opened Skype. I went to 'Preferences' but Skype was saying that there still was 'no camera connected'.

Then I had a thought -- my JVC was set to 'widescreen' (16:9). What would happen if I set it to 640 x 480 pixels? I made the change - and BINGO - it worked!

I then 'enabled' it through the 'Video' control panel in Skype Preferences. In tests with colleagues since, the image is better than 'toy webcams'.

So if you have a FIREWIRE enabled DV camera, try this:

1. Connect the camera to your Mac via a Firewire cable.

2. Boot up your Mac, and turn on your camera.

4. Open IMovie. You should see a blue screen with the words "camera connected" - and with a button which says 'import'. Click the 'import' button. You should see your image from the camera.

5. Open Skype.

6. Go to Skype "Preferences" - then to 'Video".

6. Make sure the box 'Enable Skype Video' is checked.

7. Assuming all the above works for you, your DV CAM 'webcam' will be enabled and others will be able to see you!

Same thing happened to me with my Sony HDR-HC3
All you have to do is change i-link conversion to 'On, HDV -> DV' and change TV type to 4:3 from 16:9.
Using a camcorder as a webcam makes the quality so much better!

Outstanding! Thanks for the tip - I was trying everything to get my JVC to work. Your tip has allowed my to surprise my sister at her wedding by pretending to video it, but really be on Skype to my brother in Oz. Many, many thanks!

Hi,

Have a Sony Z1U and EX1.....I just plug my firewire into my computer and Skype reads it fine without iMovie....matter of fact I tried it per your instuctions and when I tried to use Skype it gave me a window that said it 'could not use the dvcam....being used by another application'.....so I don't know how you got it to work via iMovie...when you think about it, what would iMovie have to do with Skype reading it anyway....they are two different softwares with no syncing capabilities that I'm aware of.....

Let me know something that I may not be aware of......

Thanks.....

I have a ZR65 hooked up to my G4 Mac. It works fine with iChat, but my screen is black for Skype. It notes that the camera is there, however. And if I initiate a call, the other person can see and hear me, but the other way around, we see and hear nothing. iMovie sees the camera and gives an image, but it interferes with Skype; the device is busy.

What do I adjust?

Don't know what type of camera the ZR65 is....does it have a firewire out.....that's the only format I am familiar with and that I use with my cameras, the Sony Z1U and EX1. Just use a firewire to USB cable. Plug the firewire end to the firewire out on the camera and plug the USB into a USB port on the computer. Skype will read it as a dvcam.

If you have iMovie open and view the camera thru it, Skype will not read the camera because the camera is being used by another application (iMovie)....quit iMovie and Skype will read the camera (you may have to quite Skype and start it again)

That's all there is to it to work.....not sure why your party sees your camera but you don't see there's.

If you have iChat and Skype open at the same time, that might be an issue too.....close iChat (and iMovie if it's open) and see if that solves the issue. You may try a re-boot on the computer also after you have your camera connected to see if that helps.

The ZR65 is a Canon DV camera.

I followed your advice and tried to connect with the USB cable instead of the Firewire direct, and Skype said there was no camera attached. It DOES say ZR65 is there when I use/restored the Firewire cabling. But the box is black.

Today I installed the latest driver from Canon. One big complication is that I use a Mac G4, with OS 9 (not just Classic) as well as OS 10.3.9 still on the hard drive. The Canon Utilties folder was in my OS 9 Applications, and I had to move it to the OS X Applications for the download to transfer. Canon's own utilities can't find the camera to run when I leave the Canon files in OS X Applications. (I even made an alias in OS 9 Apps to cover all issues, but no luck.)

I do not run conflicting software. The camera is only on for Skype.

The Canon folder located now in OS X still works fine for iChat.

I have not been able to figure out how to tell the Canon software (ImageBrowser) how to find the camera.

Naive, I guess.

Your help is appreciated!

Sorry to hear you are still having problems.

I am no tech so I can't give you much more info than I have already.

Try using another camera from a friend or relative and see if you are still having the same problem.

Canon software would have nothing to do with see the video from your camera to Skype.....the video signal just goes from the camera to the computer thru the firewire cable...no software involved.

It could be too that your computer software is pretty old and may be a factor.....I would recommend 10.4 the very lowest Mac OS.....most newer is requiring at least that.

The latest Skype is 2.08 for Mac and may only work properly with a 10.4 and higher OS but not sure on that.

Sorry can't help any more.....try calling Skype Tech Support if you continue to have issues....good luck.

Thanks for trying.

I did load the 2.8 Skype version before I tried the video, and it works for chat etc. I thought what I got from Canon today was a newer driver so it would work with Skype. It could be that I am just not getting that driver to the camera somehow because of the OS 9- OS X thing.

Still looking for answers.
Taking a trip. Back next week.

Thanks again.

This Works! On my Sony HDV camcorder the same settings work perfectly with Skype! No converter program required as on my PC.

I have a Power PC G4 con OSX 10.3.9
Anyone con tell me if I can connect a webcam,
and whay model could it be?
Thanks