The webcam of MacBooks, like that of many Windows laptops, is very poor. Here’s how to get the most out of it.
Apple launched two generations of MacBook Airs during the Covid-19 pandemic, the first in March 2020, the second in November of that year, and more are expected to be soon. These two MacBooks are very different, one with a “traditional” Intel processor, so to speak, and the other with an Apple Silicon M1 chip. But both are very good laptops … with the same weak point, a webcam frankly mediocre.
A feeling that everyone shares, professional or not. MacBooks have never been recognized for their webcam. The iPad Pro, iPhone, etc. all have advanced front and rear cameras, but the MacBook’s 720p webcam is full of noise, flat, and lacks depth-of-field technology.
It’s the same kind of basic camera that the Cupertino company has been integrating into its laptops for years, and it’s not the first time we’ve complained. Windows laptops do little better, many having a webcam with a resolution lower than 1080p but at least the light sensitivity is better, as are the color rendering and the depth of field.
So what can we do well?
There is a good chance, especially in this pandemic context, that you may need to participate in a video conference from your MacBook Air or similar device. This means you won’t look your best. This is especially true for small devices like the Air, with your camera not being at an optimal angle if the machine is placed on a desk or table and directly in front of you.
One of the possibilities is to use your phone’s camera. The one on the front or the back, it will always be better than the webcam of a laptop computer. With the smartphone placed on a small tripod, it’s even better. And with Elgato’s EpocCam software on the phone, it’s possible to use the phone easily as a 1080p wireless camera for the MacBook.
You can also opt for an external webcam from Logitech or other but the stock shortages are legion at the moment. In any case, there is a good chance that you will have to make do with your computer’s webcam. Here’s how to get the most out of it.
Elevate your computer
If your computer is ergonomically placed for your hands, then it is not a good position for video conferencing. Take a few big books or a box (full, to avoid accidents) and give your computer some height.
Where to point the camera? It should point just above your eye line.
Good lighting will erase (almost) all the faults
The MacBook Air’s webcam is particularly struggling in low light. Like the majority of other laptops. It’s for this reason that photo studios and other film sets are full of third-party lighting. You don’t need all of these, sure, but a good source of natural light is an easy and inexpensive way to improve the quality of your video feed. Face the window, don’t turn your back on it. You want the camera to see the light from the window, not the window itself.
If you don’t have natural light, don’t depend on the thousand and hundreds in a lighting setup. For a few tens of dollars, you can have a ring, a tripod to put it on and even something to fix your phone.
Macs with a better webcam
The MacBook Air and MacBook Pro both have a 720p webcam, but the 27-inch Intel iMac and the new 24-inch iMac M1 have a 1080p camera. Until today, this option was only found on iMac Pro costing several thousand euros.