Camera Preview For Mac

Before joining a video call, you want to make sure everything looks good, something you would normally use Photo Booth for. Apple’s app has some downsides, however, opening the door for third-party alternatives that can do a better job.

Camera Preview is a very simple app meant to replace Photo Booth in most situations. It provides a quick way to see your camera’s video feed, from the menu bar, Dock, or via a hotkey. It shows the entire camera output without cropping, and it even lets you take photos.

By default, the app stays in the Dock, but it can be moved to the menu bar or hidden altogether. If you hide it, make sure to set up a keyboard shortcut to toggle the camera window.

Either from the Dock or menu bar, you just have to click the app’s icon to bring up the camera feed. While the app is running, you can also use the configured hotkey to toggle the window.

The camera preview has no window frame, and it can be kept on top of all other windows. Thanks to its minimalistic design, you could even keep it active in a corner of your screen if you want to monitor something, and it won’t take up desktop space unnecessarily. Unlike Photo Booth, this app shows you everything captured by your camera without cropping the sides.

Camera Preview can also be used to capture images, and it lacks the annoying countdown you get in Photo Booth. The photos are also easier to access, as they’re stored in a regular folder that can be opened from the app’s interface.

For such a simple task, you need a similarly simple app, and Camera Preview is just that. It does everything you need without undue complications, and it comes in a very lightweight package.