The camera as a web-camera: connection procedure and setup features. How to use a digital camera as a webcam? Can a DSLR be used as a webcam?
A properly connected webcam to a PC allows you to record videos or chat with other people on the Internet. In this article, we will talk about the connection process and subsequent verification of such a device.
Despite the variety of webcams, the process of connecting and using them is not much different.
Step 1: Preparation
When choosing a webcam, you need to find out in advance which USB interfaces are present on your computer and purchase a compatible device.
If your camera does not have a microphone, you will need to purchase and connect an audio recording device separately. Otherwise, the camera will only transmit the video signal.
When connecting a webcam with a built-in microphone, you may need a jack 3.5mm jack corresponding destination.
After completing the compatibility check between the PC and the webcam, you can proceed to the connection.
Step 2: Connection
The process of connecting a webcam to a computer is the simplest step, as it has many similarities with connecting most other peripherals. Moreover, the instructions are fully relevant if you use a laptop.
Upon successful connection, you will receive a sound notification and the process can be considered completed at this point.
Step 3: Software Installation
Some models of webcams, in addition to connecting, also require the installation of special software that comes with the device. Usually the necessary drivers and software are installed automatically from optical media.
You can automatically update webcam drivers using DriverPack Solution or DriverMax.
If the specification of your camera does not specify requirements for software, its installation is not required.
Step 4: Check
After connecting and installing special software, it is important to check the device's performance. This process was described by us using the example of Windows 7, but the instruction is quite relevant for other versions of the OS.
Step 5: Setting up
If the webcam is not transmitting the image you would like after connecting and checking, you can configure it. To change the settings, you will need special software, whether it be the bundled software or Skype.
Webcam settings are also present in many video recording programs.
Hello blog readers!
Today I would like to consider one interesting question, which has already been asked several times by subscribers and readers of the blog. So, can the camera be used as a webcam?
How to use the camera as a webcam?
The question is relevant for those who do not have a webcam on their computer, but want, for example, to chat with friends via Skype. The answer is ambiguous - it can, but there are a number of conditions for this. Firstly, many modern models are already equipped with a similar mode of operation. In order to activate it, you just need to install the drivers, connect the camera with a USB cable to the computer and activate the camera mode.
But in most cases, everything is much more complicated. First of all, you need to check if your camera has the ability to broadcast streaming video. To do this, we take from the kit that came with your model a cable with tulips for connecting to TV - at one end it usually has 3 tulips, and at the other the connector that is designed for audio-video output on the camera - it can be usb, miniJack or some other.
As a rule, a yellow tulip is responsible for the video - we connect it to the video input on the TV and select the AV input as the image source in the TV menu - the camera must, of course, be turned on. If there is no picture, then you will not be able to use this camera as a webcam, since it cannot transmit streaming video.
If a picture from the camera appears on the screen, then you can proceed to the next step and connect it to the computer.
But first you need to make sure that it has a video capture device with a tulip video input that will transfer video to the program. It can be a video card or a TV tuner. If there is no tuner, and the video card is not equipped with the necessary video input, then you can purchase a separate video capture device - there are a lot of all kinds of inexpensive models in Chinese online stores.
We connect this device to the USB of the computer, and insert the tulip connector from the cable that came with the camera, which is inserted into the included camera.
For Canon cameras, there is a separate similar special proprietary utility called PSRemote.
As you can see from the screenshot, you can also select a video file, picture or broadcast your desktop for playback on the Internet. In addition, the program allows you to impose various cool effects on the video.
After that, in Skype or another application for video communication, for example ooVoo, select our application as the outgoing video (“Tools> Settings> Video settings> Select webcam> SplitCam Capture”)
The MoneyCam program works in a similar way, in which there are even more various effects for overlaying for online video and detailed settings for displaying video images. To launch an image from the camera, go to the “Sources” tab and select our camera.
In Skype, as in the case of SplitCamer, we go to the source selection section and activate the ManyCam application as it.
Or, for example, you can use the program on Facebook:
That's all for today - I hope the question of how to use the camera as a webcam has become not so unsolvable for you - act!
Many are interested in the question: Is it possible to use a digital camera instead of a webcam for video communication on the Internet?For example, in a well-known program? The answer is definitely possible!
I was prompted to solve this problem by dissatisfaction with the quality of my web-camera, which I acquired thoughtlessly, without first understanding its characteristics. As a result, I received a video broadcast of poor quality, which did not give pleasure when communicating with my interlocutors. Having a decent high-quality camera, the thought has matured: should I use it instead of a web-camera? As a result, a method was developed to solve this design. This method is suitable for digital cameras that do not have the function of using the device as a webcam, but it is possible to connect to a TV via an AV (audio / video) cable.
To successfully implement this idea, several elements are necessary:
- a program that uses videotelephony - Skype;
- a TV tuner built into a computer, for example, from AverMedia, and the AverTV program;
- video stream distribution program - .
Having installed the above software on your computer, you need to make sure that it is working properly by running each of the programs in turn. In order for Skype to be able to recognize the video broadcast from your digital camera, do the following:
We connect the camera via the AV (audio / video) cable that comes with the kit to the composite input of the TV tuner. As a rule, it is yellow, like the cable tulip, respectively. Connecting via a USB connector in this case will not give the desired result, since the Windows operating system will perceive the digital camera as a flash medium;
- launch the AverTV program. In the settings, select the composite input as the video source (Composite);
- turn on the digital camera. On the screen of the AverTV player, we will see a picture coming from a digital camera. That is, the image will be broadcast directly from the camera;
- close the AverTV program, launch the Splitcam program. In its settings (File - Video Source), select AverMedia AverTV WDM Video Capture as the video source. Video from a digital device will also be broadcast on the program screen. You can also set the desired frame rate in the settings (File-frame rate) (normally 25-30 frames per second);
- launch Skype. Important - the Splitcam program must work simultaneously with Skype! Go to Tools - Settings - General - Video Settings. From the "Select webcam" list, select Splitcam capture. In the window (which is below) a broadcast from the camera will appear. Click Save.
In parallel, using the same Splitcam, you can turn on the program for capturing video and record conversations using the program voicespy. That's all, the whole laborious process is over and now you can normally use your digital camera as a webcam, the video quality will already depend on the characteristics of your camera. Have a nice chat!
The editors received a lot of letters from readers wishing to use a digital video camera as a webcam. For many users, camcorders gather dust on the shelves most of the time, so it would be quite good to assemble a webcam from them. And the quality of video conferencing programs such as Yahoo Messenger or MSN Messenger can also be improved. A simple software solution will turn your digital video camera into a high-end webcam.
For our article, we used a Panasonic GS70 camcorder. This is a discontinued MiniDV model using three CCD sensors. At the same time, everything said in the article is suitable for any digital camera with a USB or FireWire connection.
Benefits of a digital video camera
Using a several hundred dollar digital video camera as a webcam may sound strange to some people, but we're killing a few birds with one stone here. The optics in a digital video camera are far superior to web models. Modern MiniDV cameras allow you to shoot video at a resolution of 720x480 and at 30 frames per second. In addition, the camera lens provides accurate color reproduction. Webcams, on the other hand, only boast 640x480 and 15 frames per second.
Using a camcorder instead of a webcam also saves you money - of course, if it gathers dust on your shelf. Instead of paying $50-$200 for a decent webcam, you can use free USB drivers or spend $20 on OrangeWare WebcamDV to turn it into a high quality webcam.
Restrictions
However, this method has several limitations. First, a camcorder uses more power than a webcam. You will need to connect the power supply if you plan to use the camcorder for a long time.
Almost all camcorders today are equipped with a demo mode that displays various special effects. It allows you to attract the buyer when choosing a camera. Make sure you disable this mode - you don't want all kinds of crazy effects during a video conference, do you?
Most camcorders have an auto-off feature. It turns off the camera if you leave the tape in the compartment and do not record anything. This feature prevents unnecessary battery waste and component wear. However, automatic shutdown will be inconvenient for us, so do not leave the cassette inside the camcorder.
Webcams weigh much less than camcorders because they don't have a complicated cassette mechanism and a retractable LCD screen. If home users hardly make sense to worry about weight, then such a solution will not work for mobile applications.
USB interface: free
Our first way to turn a camcorder into a webcam is free. Some cameras, like our tried and tested Panasonic GS70, have a USB port for webcam mode. Thus, connecting the camcorder to the USB port will turn it into a webcam.
To do this, you need to install the USB driver that comes with the camera. If you have lost the CD, you will have to look for the driver on the manufacturer's website. After installation, you need to switch the camcorder to webcam mode. The process differs from one model to another and is described in the user manual.
Our Panasonic webcam has been recognized as "Panasonic DVC Web Camera" in videoconferencing programs like Active webcam
Unfortunately, the picture quality turned out to be rather low, reminiscent of Creative Webcam Live! in our previous review.
OrangeWare WebcamDV
OrangeWare releases WebcamDV software that turns a camcorder into a webcam. The program, in fact, "deceives" Windows, forcing us to believe that we have a full-fledged web-camera in front of us. FROM company website you can download a trial version and then register it for $20.
How is this program different from the free webcam drivers used by some models? WebcamDV transmits a video stream via the FireWire interface, which provides a very high quality picture. You can evaluate the quality yourself at the end of the article.
Installation is quick and easy. Then you simply connect the camcorder to the FireWire port and launch your favorite video conferencing software. As you can see below, Yahoo Messenger recognized the Panasonic camcorder without any problems. In any video conferencing program, the camera will be visible as "WebcamDV Capture".
Quality Comparison
For our quality tests, we used the same conditions as in webcam review. In good light, two blocks of fluorescent lamps, simulating office conditions, gave light. In poor light, the lights were turned off, with the laptop screen and 17" LCD monitor as the only sources.
We captured frames using the program DV Rack from Serious Magic for maximum quality. Then we compared the frames obtained using the free USB driver and the WebcamDV program.
You can easily see that the USB driver gives a terrible picture compared to the WebcamDV program. In addition, the USB driver's maximum resolution is 352x244, while WebcamDV provides up to 640x480.
The only visible difference between pure frame capture and using WebcamDV is the resolution. When capturing frames, it is 720x480 (MiniDV format), while in WebcamDV it is 640x480. We're not posting results in low light as the picture was black - the Panasonic GS70 couldn't handle those conditions. For other camcorders, the situation may be better.
Click on the picture to get a larger version.
Conclusion
With the right software, you can turn your camcorder into a quality webcam. The OrangeWare WebcamDV program allows you to "trick" the operating system and use a camcorder connected via FireWire as a webcam. As you can see, the quality of WebcamDV is excellent.
At the same time, the free USB driver gives terrible quality. So we consider WebcamDV to be the best solution. At $20, WebcamDV is a great way to get a webcam.