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Using a "proper" camera as a webcam

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Re: Using a "proper" camera as a webcam

#81

Post by formerly_proven »

ldayley wrote: post #42

One thing that I’ve been trying to educate my colleagues about (including the A/V folks!) is that one can bypass the need to fiddle with drivers by using a generic hardware HDMI -> USB video conversion stick utilizing the mirrorless/DSLR’s HDMI output. It’ll mount as a generic video input that Zoom/Teams/OBS can use. You can find these for $40-$100 and it allows one to switch out hardware brands at will without insta…

> You can find these for $40-$100 and it allows one to switch out hardware brands at will without installing drivers.

The cheap ones (as little as eight bucks) all use the same all-in-one HDMI-receiver-MJPEG-encoding-USB-device chip; it's not perfect, but they do actually support 1080p at 30 fps.

Re: Using a "proper" camera as a webcam

#82

Post by johnwalkr »

extinctpotato wrote: post #16

Could somebody do an ELI5 on why some phones have very good cameras but for some reason there's no standalone USB version of them?

Phones have just an image sensor with a direct interface to the CPU, with a driver plus a ton of software running on the CPU to enhance quality. You can get good cameras with modern image sensors with usb interface. Note that they need a local controller to well, control them and provide a usb interface, and need firmware for the local controller and need to provide a driver or support for a standard API at the USB end. The market is tiny compared to phones, so for those reasons you can't buy a usb camera with the same low cost and high performance as what is in your smartphone.

That being said, you can buy good usb cameras based on many modern image sensors from a company like e-con[1], but you have to do research about what features are enabled by the driver.

I'm not sure why actual webcams including a way to mount on your monitor are so far behind and expensive. Logitech C920 is still a common recommendation, and it's now 10 years old!

[1]https://www.e-consystems.com/See3CAM-USB-3-Camera.asp

Re: Using a "proper" camera as a webcam

#83

Post by formerly_proven »

mcdonje wrote: post #64

I agree with the blogger that you should go with a smaller sensor size. In addition to better price points, they have less scanning to do for each image and should work better for this scenario. I've heard reports of some full frame mirrorless cameras overheating when used extensively for video.

That really entirely depends on the brand / model. Some will overheat in under an hour, some will go on forever as long as you supply power. Price has nothing to do with it.

DSLRs will almost certainly be a cheaper option than a mirrorless camera for this, because pretty much any DSLR from the last ten or so years works for this, and there are many more of them. Autofocus and availability of clean HDMI in video-liveview mode depends though. Many support direct streaming over USB using proprietary tools.

Re: Using a "proper" camera as a webcam

#84

Post by florbo »

curiousgal wrote: post #4

I guess the only reason for me not to try this is how insecure I am about seeing my make-up free face in HD haha Solid write-up though! For those with no camera, DroidCamX works rather well too!

Yep, I'm using a Pixel 2 with both DroidCamX and DroidCam OBS (with OBS' virtual camera), I can second that claim.

I occasionally use a Nexus 6 on another setup, but it's a bit bulkier to mount and is a bit finicky with DroidCamX. It has froze up on me a couple times. The OBS version works fine, though. I'll chalk it up to not cleaning up the phone prior to repurposing it.

Re: Using a "proper" camera as a webcam

#85

Post by formerly_proven »

supermatt wrote: post #48

Having done exactly this, my main annoyance is that you have to manually power on and off the camera, which means losing whatever zoom and settings you had configured.

There are proper cameras which don't remember settings across power cycles and battery swaps? Curious. Never heard of that before, that's a complete deal-breaker for actually, y'know', using a camera to me. Perhaps the SRAM battery/capacitor in yours is just dead? (Then again, not exactly sure how that happens, I've used 15+ year old Nikon DSLRs and they had no trouble with Alzheimers)

Re: Using a "proper" camera as a webcam

#86

Post by jeffbee »

adhoc_slime wrote: post #19

Extra note here, I've been running my olympus em5 mk-2 with the drivers Olympus released to run it as a web camera and its been working just fine, out of the box. I got an extra dummy battery to power it (cannot be powered though usb) so I have no worries of it dying during a long meeting. in a remote office world, I'm glad my team leaves their cameras on and I view it as a form of professionalism to present myself a…

I'm also using an E m5 mk2 on macos, with the battery holder grip and 25mm lens. I'm happy with the image but the software is pretty bad, isn't it? There's a substantial lag between the audio and video which is disconcerting to the viewer. And the video stream doesn't reliably start. I usually have to flip the video off and on a few dozen times in the Zoom app before it begins working.

Aside from that the cost of the Very Special USB Cable is a real insult.

Re: Using a "proper" camera as a webcam

#87

Post by ekrebs »

callumprentice wrote: post #79

The quality aspect is obviously important but I'd suggest that the location of the lens is also vital if you don't want to have meetings where everyone seems to be not looking at you. I cannot wait until cameras work behind the screen and can be positioned right in the center but for now, the only option I found was something called Center Cam that mounts a small lense on a skinny support that can be positioned over…

That’s a super neat idea! I have a feeling the inevitable solution to this need will be a combo of a tech like Apple’s Center Stage and some sort of eye-focusing alteration to the image, like a live deep fake of yourself (just the eyes). Software-only means widespread adoption.

Re: Using a "proper" camera as a webcam

#88

Post by formerly_proven »

aendruk wrote: post #77
alphabettsy wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Phone cameras are very good but owing much of it to the DSP and software. An iPhone camera will not produce iPhone quality photos without the chipset and OS.

That still leaves the original question of why dedicated cameras aren’t doing this.

The question of GP wasn't that, but why you can't buy "iPhone image processing pipeline to UVC/USB".

Re: Using a "proper" camera as a webcam

#89

Post by callumprentice »

ekrebs wrote: post #87
callumprentice wrote: post #79

The quality aspect is obviously important but I'd suggest that the location of the lens is also vital if you don't want to have meetings where everyone seems to be not looking at you. I cannot wait until cameras work behind the screen and can be positioned right in the center but for now, the only option I found was something called Center Cam that mounts a small lense on a skinny support that can be positioned over…

That’s a super neat idea! I have a feeling the inevitable solution to this need will be a combo of a tech like Apple’s Center Stage and some sort of eye-focusing alteration to the image, like a live deep fake of yourself (just the eyes). Software-only means widespread adoption.

Yeah, agreed - I had wondered if 4 lenses at the screen corners (maybe) plus some clever software could maybe do the trick too.

Re: Using a "proper" camera as a webcam

#90

Post by formerly_proven »

wingmanjd wrote: post #57
madduci wrote: post #55

But isn't running a camera as a Webcam actually bad for the battery, especially if you plan to use that camera also for trips?

I've seen some AC adapters that fit into the battery compartment to replace the battery. No idea if it's a good idea or not.

That's a standard accessory
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