Skip to main content

The iMac is Apple's line of all-in-one desktop computers.

8350 Questions View all

Pinout of the iMac's built in iSight.

Does anyone know the pinout of the camera so I can make a USB cam out of it? Here's the situation, I have a Mac mini and an Acer Monitor, along with an isight out of a dead iMac. I want to put the camera on top of the monitor (not in, on) and plug it in to a USB port. Thanks for any help.

Answered! View the answer I have this problem too

Is this a good question?

Score 7
Add a comment

10 Answers

Chosen Solution

I have made a couple of these out of Isight G5 Camera's

Block Image

Cut off the little connector to reveal the usb cables on the short wires connected to the video board..

these are standard usb colors and can be joined to a longer usb cable.

Was this answer helpful?

Score 9

11 Comments:

That's cool. I did not know that would be possible. ++

by

Thanks, I haven't taken the camera out yet so I was hoping it was simple.

by

It would be nice if you could do a tear down of this and post it to iFixit. I would love to do this. + vote from me.

by

I might build one of these into my westinghose display, looks really cool

by

or an even better idea, build it into an apple ADC studio display, it has built in USB, will these run on USB 1.1?

by

Show 6 more comments

Add a comment

To connect iSight on a Late 2008 iMac

USB -> Camera cable

Black -> Black

Red -> Blue

White -> Brown

Green -> Purple

Was this answer helpful?

Score 1

2 Comments:

On the Imac intel my wires broke from the board, I was able to figure out the colors and locations. ZT1 is Hot "Red", ZT2 is Black "Neutral", ZT3 is "White" and ZT4 is Green! If your wires come undone and need resoldered this will help!

by

For iMac 2007 24” Aluminum, the connections are:

USB -> isight

Black -> Black

Red -> Brown

White - > Grey

Green -> Purple

I just connected my one and it runs perfectly at Windows 10 :)

by

Add a comment

I followed this tutorial when converting a dead 27 inch iMac to a 27 inch cinema display, and managed to connect the iMac's internal isight through USB... the problem is that I want to use it with a MBP in clamshell mode, and the USB isight is recognized as "internal isight", and disabled when the MBP lid is closed!

Any solution to this problem?

Was this answer helpful?

Score 1

2 Comments:

Hello can you tell me how do you connect it to the usb wire please? I need to do the same on my imac 2013. Thanks

by

@drmac I'm also curious, as I too have taken on the project of converting my 2013 iMac into an external display, and would like to repurpose as many other of the components as I can.

by

Add a comment

For the iSight Camera on an iMac 27" Mid-2010, I found that the wire colouring matches the colouring of the SD Card reader as mentioned in this thread: https://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/apple...

Was this answer helpful?

Score 1
Add a comment

iSight on a 2009 24” iMac:

iSight color —— USB color

Brown —— Positive

Black thin —— Negative

Purple —— Green USB Data

Gray —— White USB Data

Thick Black —— Unused

Was this answer helpful?

Score 1

1 Comment:

@Fernando Ferre Thanks for this! Helped me greatly.

by

Add a comment

I think this is a useful link to connect an internal isight webcam to usb

Isight pinout

GYuri

Was this answer helpful?

Score 0
Add a comment

hi…. can anyone explain how to successfully solder those hairs of copper? despite the flux, it acts as it is pushing the solder away (floating?) … maybe i don't remove the insulation correctly (i melt it), but i don't see an other way…. help please!!!!

Was this answer helpful?

Score 0

2 Comments:

Use a razor to lightly scrape away the insulation and then trim back the shielding and carefully remove the inner insulation and expose the few hairs inside and good luck soldering from there. Steady hands daniel san

by

I know its an old post but i am looking for the pinouts now. I have 2 red wires, a green, a blue, a yellow, and a white. Should i tie the reds together? Which wire goes to ground?

by

Add a comment

Any isight wiring usb schema for 2011 imac 27” ?

Was this answer helpful?

Score 0

2 Comments:

I'd like to know too

by

If you have different cable colors in your 2011 iMac 27 inch (like I do).

This is the connection for usb:

USB black cable to camera black cable.

USB cable red to camera blue(ish) cable.

USB cable white to camera green cable.

USB cable green to camera light gray cable. (look closely)

by

Add a comment

Block Image

Block Image

Block Image

The webcam I have taken from a Macbook Air has ten black wires - no colour at all. I can’t find any part numbers online. I have tried multiple methods of trial and error and only had error. Any ideas ?

Thanks - I have a lot of them.

Was this answer helpful?

Score 0

1 Comment:

hello u get any answer about it ??

by

Add a comment

My built in iSight has red, white, green and black wires. However, when I connect them to the usb, its not able to find the driver.

I connect black to black, red to red, white to white and green to green.

Was this answer helpful?

Score 0
Add a comment

Add your answer

KC Bills will be eternally grateful.
View Statistics:

Past 24 Hours: 4

Past 7 Days: 30

Past 30 Days: 92

All Time: 19,639