Apple isight

Release date June 23, 2003

• 1/4-inch CCD image sensor with 640x480-pixel (VGA) resolution • Full motion video at up to 30fps and 24-bit colour • Autofocus from 50mm to infinity • Built-in image processing for optimal picture quality • On-air indicator light and lens shutter that closes to zero aperture to ensure privacy • Integrated dual-element, noise-suppressing mic • Firewire connectivity

Original price (base level)

£149/$149

Price now

£20/$20

Before Macs came with built-in cameras there was Apple’s maiden foray into webcams, the impressively-spec'd isight. This standalone camera came with three different mounts (for flat and vertical surfaces) and the power, video and audio feeds were served with one Firewire connector. The camera itself was by far the most aesthetically-pleasing on the market with a gorgeous cylindrical aluminium mesh design complete with a satisfying twist mechanism to open the shutter and effectively power on the device. Although this device was obsolete when Apple started incorporating technically-superior cameras into its Macs from 2005 onwards, the ‘isight’ name lives on as a collective branding for Apple’s camera technology that continues to innovate.