How To Use Camcorder As Webcam

A woman filming a video on a camera in front of a laptop. — Chaay_Tee/Shutterstock

Good webcams tin can exist hard to find. Fortunately, you can use many digital cameras equally makeshift webcams. If you accept a loftier-end mirrorless or DSLR photographic camera, you'll even go a big boost in video quality for your online meetings.

Using Your Camera as a Webcam

The ability to apply your camera as a webcam is largely dependent on which photographic camera you ain. Some meaty point-and-shoot cameras are bundled with offset-party software and drivers that allow you to utilize them as webcams.

Unfortunately, this seems to be a less common feature nowadays. Withal, third-party software has sprung up that allows you to utilise many Nikon and Catechism cameras for this purpose. Every bit you lot might accept guessed, though, this software isn't free.

Modernistic mirrorless and DSLR cameras that produce clean HDMI output (pregnant, no overlays on the screen), volition give y'all the best results. Y'all'll need additional hardware to do this, only it should piece of work with any future camera upgrades, too.

Accessories You'll Demand

A camera on a tripod filming a woman speaking. — Flamingo Images/Shutterstock

If y'all're going to be using a photographic camera equally a webcam, you'll need something to mount information technology on like, a tripod. You'll as well demand some way of powering the camera, bold power-over-USB isn't an option. For many mirrorless and DSLR cameras, that means buying a "dummy battery." Dummy batteries sit in the battery compartment merely plug in to the wall.

All these methods require either a micro-USB-to-USB cablevision (like the one that came with your camera), or a mini HDMI-/HDMI-to-HDMI cable. For our concluding (and virtually constructive) solution, you'll need a capture device, every bit well.

Method ane: Use Your Camera's Software

The first thing to practise is cheque whether your camera supports this feature natively through the manufacturer'southward software or drivers. The best way to do this is to look at the manual and any bundled software. Yous might besides find software downloads for your particular model on your camera manufacturer'south website.

A cursory search of the net for your camera model and webcam (for example, "GoPro hero three webcam") should tell you what you demand to know. If tutorials start recommending capture cards and HDMI adapters, it'southward unlikely your photographic camera can exist used as a webcam over plain onetime USB.

Update: Canon now offers an "EOS Webcam Utility" that allows "select EOS Interchangeable Lens Cameras (ILC) and PowerShot cameras" to function as webcams on 64-fleck Windows 10 systems.

In one case you've downloaded and installed any drivers, your camera should be recognized equally a capture device by your Windows or Mac estimator. You tin and then cull information technology as an input device in whichever applications y'all want to utilize, including Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Slack, Skype, Discord, or FaceTime.

If your camera doesn't take webcam mode support, don't fret. Some activeness cameras and compact signal-and-shoots back up this feature, but nearly mirrorless and DSLRs exercise non. Yous have other options.

Method 2: Use a Third-Party App

If your photographic camera is supported, you tin can use a third-party awarding to plough your DSLR, prosumer, or compact camera into a webcam. The Windows-only Sparkocam works with a large variety of Catechism cameras and a pocket-sized number of Nikon cameras, besides.

Unfortunately, Sparkocam has its issues. One Redditor noted "information technology's bulky and full of bloatware." Another remarked that he or she "cannot remove the demo of sparko cam (sic)" from the estimator. Another shared that he or she "tried using eos and Sparkocam but I am unhappy with how laggy the video is."

Based on our enquiry, there aren't presently whatsoever alternatives to Sparkocam, and it'due south pricey. There are split up versions for Canon and Nikon, one that supports both, and another that focuses on the app's other features, similar green-screen and filters. A single-user license for your organization of selection is $50 ($70 if you desire to use both Nikon and Canon systems).

It'due south hard to recommend Sparkocam, only, for some people, in that location might non exist an culling. So, if you find yourself in this boat, yous use Windows, and you don't take any other alternatives, Sparkocam is your all-time bet. Before you buy the app, though, you might want to read on and consider the HDMI route.

Method 3: Utilize an HDMI-to-USB Adapter

For a serious setup, you can't crush HDMI capture. This technique takes a raw, uncompressed video feed from your mirrorless or DSLR camera and turns it into a USB webcam feed. The quality is unbeatable, but you'll need a few actress $.25 of equipment to arrive work.

You'll first desire to brand sure your camera is compatible with your chosen capture device. Many cameras offering a clean HDMI output for use with external recorders, which means there's no overlay or camera settings visible onscreen.

If your camera has an HDMI out (or mini-HDMI out) port, you're halfway in that location. To test this, connect your camera to a regular Goggle box or monitor and try to find a "clean" output way. If you're even so unsure, search the web for your model and see what others have constitute.

To capture video, yous'll need a capture device that converts an HDMI input to USB. The all-time-known of these devices is the Elgato Cam Link 4K. This small-scale dongle works with Mac and Windows computers and retails for effectually $130. Once connected, your camera volition appear as a capture device, and you tin use it as a webcam in your favorite apps.

Before you buy, make sure to check that your photographic camera is on Elgato'due south list of supported cameras. You tin also search the web for your make and model to run across if others have had success. The Cam Link 4K supports up to 4K resolution, or 1080p at 60 frames per 2d. You can use nearly whatever HDMI capture device for this, but the Cam Link 4K is purpose-built (and cheaper).

Elgato isn't the but company producing HDMI-to-USB capture devices. You can find all sorts of cheap knockoffs on Amazon (similar this one); just search "HDMI to USB video capture" or something similar. Unfortunately, these cheaper devices lack the support and smooth yous get from a company like Elgato. They might exist unreliable and accept poor commuter support, then brand sure you lot read the reviews earlier parting with your cash.

If you can beget the hardware, yous'll get the best results from an HDMI capture setup. Since you're using a mirrorless or digital SLR, you too have the liberty to choose a flattering lens.

Don't Forget a Microphone

In-camera microphones are just marginally amend than not having any audio at all. They're tinny, poorly positioned, also quiet, and often capture additional sound from the lens focusing machinery. Exercise yourself a favor and become a microphone for your desk-bound.

If that's also much, use a pair of caput- or earphones with a microphone attached. A bad microphone that'southward close to your face will sound meliorate than the one mounted above your monitor. Some computers, like Macs, come with passable microphones, which might also piece of work. Other computers, nonetheless, include pretty bad congenital-in mics with poor sound quality.

For all-time results, invest in an XLR microphone. Alternatively, a USB microphone will do the task nicely, likewise.