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Using a "proper" camera as a webcam

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Re: Using a "proper" camera as a webcam

#191

Post by tveyben »

NamTaf wrote: post #160

Protip: if your goal is to use your smartphone as a webcam, check out this: https://vdo.ninja Written by some guy named Steve, it’s an incredible piece of web software that uses WebRTC to stream phone audio and video as an OBS input. OBS then features a virtual webcam capability to take that stream and make it a webcam. I can then also use OBS to do whatever processing I want, e.g. making my webcam also contain a scr…

This was the best tip of the day - this is why I read HN - to find such gems. Work smart - not hard, thank you for the tip NamTaf!!!

Re: Using a "proper" camera as a webcam

#192

Post by giobox »

For me, I look for the opposite solution. What is the poorest quality camera my colleagues in meetings will passably accept? I want as few pixels of my sleepy head in morning meetings being beamed to my colleagues as I can get away with, which for now the crappy MacBook integrated webcam does a reasonable job for.

I second others here in that having a good quality mic is generally far more important. High quality doesn't mean spendy either - the location of the mic is just as critical as the mic you choose, many cheap headset mics sound pretty good because they get to place the mic directly in front of your mouth, not because they are especially great mics.

I fully appreciate my opinion might be different if I worked in a field where being seen clearly mattered, such as guitar teacher in online lessons etc, but I imagine for most of us here this isn't the case.

Re: Using a "proper" camera as a webcam

#193

Post by kmike84 »

flipflipper wrote: post #3

Another reason to not use a DSLR is that many (all?) have timeouts (<30min) in their video mode due to some import tax reason, even when hooked up to a computer. Atleast this is what I found when I tried a canon DSLR with canons webcam software.

Is it such a big issue? My Canon DSLR turns off every 30min, but that's only for a couple of seconds, it then turns back on. On a positive side, it's now easy to notice when 30min or 1hr meeting is running over, it's a nice reminder :)

Re: Using a "proper" camera as a webcam

#194

Post by xdennis »

flipflipper wrote: post #3

Another reason to not use a DSLR is that many (all?) have timeouts (<30min) in their video mode due to some import tax reason, even when hooked up to a computer. Atleast this is what I found when I tried a canon DSLR with canons webcam software.

> have timeouts (People are often misinformed about EU laws, but on the other hand the EU has no shortage of ridiculous laws that give fodder to the euroskeptics.

In this case, it DOES look like the 30 minute limit is the EU's fault[1]. Thankfully it ended in 2019.

[1]: https://www.fujirumors.com/yes-eu-import-duty-reason-fujifil...

Re: Using a "proper" camera as a webcam

#195

Post by nicwolff »

gernb wrote: post #114
cr3ative wrote: post #8

I'll put Reincubate Camo here as an option too - turns your iPhone in to a webcam. I was so impressed I bought a used iPhone to use solely as a webcam; the whole setup was cheaper than the Logitech C920 he mentions. The picture quality is great.

what stand/mount do you use and where is it on your setup? (right now I have crappy logitech hanging on to top of monitor)

These $10 selfie sticks with handles that open into a stand are actually great and much more compact and portable when closed than even a small tripod https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09B6QHZK5

Re: Using a "proper" camera as a webcam

#196

Post by kmike84 »

renewiltord wrote: post #2

Does anyone have a comprehensive guide for Canon DSLRs on MacOS on M1? The Canon drivers to use as a webcam are nightmarish and my friends had a hell of a time trying to get it to work.

As I understand, the drivers (webcam utility? not sure) are built for x86. For some reason they don't work in apps which are built for M1, so the camera only works if an app which needs a video is running in emulation mode.

So, if you want to use Canon DSLR on M1 in a web browser (e.g. google meet), get a browser built for x86.

I'm using Chromium, it can be downloaded for x86. The issue is that Chromium doesn't have screen share feature. So, for screen share, I'm using Chrome, and joining the call for the second time, in "companion mode". That's 2 separate browsers to participate in a call. Maybe there is a way to get Chrome or Firefox for x86, but I was a bit too lazy when setting it up :)

Re: Using a "proper" camera as a webcam

#197

Post by kmike84 »

spoonjim wrote: post #156

The problem with all “proper” cameras is that they have multiple frames of latency and latency is by far the most important thing in a call. Has anyone found a “proper” camera pipeline as low latency as a webcam?

Hm, I haven't noticed any increased latency when using a DSLR as a webcam.

Re: Using a "proper" camera as a webcam

#198

Post by plorg »

bertman wrote: post #27

I found my phone's camera together with DroidCam[0] to be good enough for my conferencing needs. [0] https://www.dev47apps.com/

Only thing I find annoying about Droidcam is that I end up having to reinstall the audio and video drivers on Linux every week or so, either due to updates, restarts, or PulseAudio breaking.

Re: Using a "proper" camera as a webcam

#199

Post by SamPatt »

munificent wrote: post #182
PragmaticPulp wrote: post #137

If you go this route, please make sure your system is robust and ready to go before meetings. We had to ask one employee to go back to his reliable built-in webcam because every other meeting started with 2 minutes of him getting his camera turned on, messing with audio inputs, getting his microphone boom in place, and fighting other quirks. He also had a tendency to drop out of long meetings when his camera overheat…

I've got a very nice mirrorless camera and glass and eventually came to the same conclusion: It's just not worth the hassle even for the improvement in image quality. However, I have found that it's absolutely worth it to upgrade to a better microphone . Just about anything is better than the mic built into most computers and better voice quality will give you more presence and make it significantly more enjoyable fo…

I 100% agree. I have a decent video and lighting setup and never get comments on it, but I always get comments on my audio.

It's fairly easy to get an audio interface and a xlr microphone. I always appreciate when other people have clean audio.

Re: Using a "proper" camera as a webcam

#200

Post by Karawebnetwork »

Hamcha wrote: post #75

Only tangentially related but if you already have a popular Logitech webcam (like the C920) chances are you can find a kit to mount C/CS/D-mount lenses on it, like with this one: https://www.kurokesu.com/shop/C920_REWORK_KIT2 C/CS/D mounts are for CCTV camera so you can find new and used lens for cheap. They will not fix a cheap/bad sensor, but they will definitely get you extra flexibility in what kind of framing/sh…

Do you know of sites with examples of the results?
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