Webcam problem with Skype, Logitech S7500, Jaunty

[Aryan Ameri]

Hi there,

After doing a fair bit of research on which webcam would work out of the
box in Jaunty with Skype, I bought a Logitech QuickCam S7500. 

The webcam is recognised out of the box in Jaunty, and I can capture
video from it using VLC, which uses Video 4 Linux 2. The picture is
crystal clear, and everything is fine. 

The problem is Skype. Going through its options and testing the video on
Skype shows a distorted and truncated picture, which is out of focus,
captures only part of the image, and is even showing the picture in the
wrong angle! Basically, it's useless. 

Considering that others seem to be using the same webcam fine with
Skype, and that my Ubuntu installation is a fairly vanilla one with not
much customisation (vanilla ubuntu kernel, etc.), I was wondering if
anyone can shed some light on this, and tell me what I am missing here.
I even don't know how to begin troubleshooting this thing. 

Using Skype Version 2.0.0.72 here from the Medibuntu repository
(compiled with with dynamic Qt) on AMD64 platform. Also using
proprietary FGLRX ATI driver, in case that makes any difference. 

PS: I hate Skype! Is there something else which does Video calling? Does
Empathy 2.26 which is in the Jaunty repos do video over XMPP? Googling
on the net, some people are saying that it does, but I can't find any
video calling options in it, and I have all the telepathy stuff
installed. 

Cheers
-- 
Aryan Ameri