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Using a "proper" camera as a webcam

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Re: Using a "proper" camera as a webcam

#421

Post by manmal »

almog wrote: post #352
manmal wrote: post #315

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Magewell capture card costs almost 300 bucks, finding it for 80 is quite lucky I‘d say. I‘ve just seen it for €260 in used condition where I live.

I found it just after many of the covid restriction were lifted, which resulted in businesses, schools and even churches getting rid of streaming gear on ebay. I'm not sure if it's still the case, but I found quite a few at that were sold around that price (I just checked my ebay account and it was $75). Just checked and the price for new one where I live (Tel Aviv) is around $450, so I guess I was lucky, at least in…

I actually think it’s an ideal device even for more recent computers, because it reduces latency to a minimum!

Re: Using a "proper" camera as a webcam

#422

Post by Gigachad »

gsich wrote: post #375
SkyMarshal wrote: post #366

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>He also had a tendency to drop out of long meetings when his camera overheated, Also make sure your digital SLR or whatever expensive camera you're using as a webcam doesn't have a 30m video limit, which some do. This is one of the most recommended pieces of advice on /r/videoediting (non-professional) for new streamers. https://www.reddit.com/r/VideoEditing/ For most people, if you want better video quality for Zoo…

Doesn't apply since you are not recording.

The video limit isn't related to recording but thermals. Often they just have an in built timer to turn off video at the point they tested the camera to be getting too hot.

Re: Using a "proper" camera as a webcam

#423

Post by Thorrez »

jtvjan wrote: post #274
ChuckNorris89 wrote: post #271

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Like profile pictures?

Take a picture of your face, set it as your background in OBS, and stream that. It's much more convenient, because you only have to make sure your camera works well once, instead of for every meeting.

How is streaming a picture to Zoom more convenient than uploading a profile picture to Zoom? If you stream the picture, you have to have special software running all the time. With a profile picture, you don't.

Re: Using a "proper" camera as a webcam

#424

Post by athrun »

presentation wrote: post #388
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…

Not free, but Camo Studio is great if you're using an iPhone. Works perfectly for me.

+1 for Camo.

They recently updated it so that it works in all apps now, including FaceTime.

Re: Using a "proper" camera as a webcam

#425

Post by BeefWellington »

anonred wrote: post #354
bradlys wrote: post #305

I hate to say this but it’s almost entirely not worth it. The image quality only shows up here because they’re uploading images that they took from the camera locally. Trying doing it with Zoom. The compression is absolutely terrible. You’re gonna find that you spent a lot of time and money only to see a decent quality image on your side . Everyone else is gonna see the same muddy mess that they always saw. The image…

Sorry, but have you actually compared the two? As another point of anecdata, I immediately noticed that my new coworker was using a proper camera during our first 1:1. The depth of field and crispness really stands out from your typical MacBook Pro webcam.

I think what a lot of people are underestimating is just how terrible most laptop webcams and cheap off the shelf webcams are in terms of image quality. Spending a bit on a half decent webcam can get you probably 85-90% of the way towards what you can get with a DSLR.

As someone who has actually used both setups, the DSLR setup was great but a pain to manage. Just for simplicity of my desk setup, I switched to a decently pricey webcam after doing some research for whenever I am WFH and the image quality for streaming video is very close to my Canon's. There are some tuning advantages the DSLR has that obviously the webcam doesn't give you so it will never be able to match it perfectly IMO but it is far superior to any of my laptop webcams and a far more convenient substitute.

Re: Using a "proper" camera as a webcam

#426

Post by fudged71 »

kejaed wrote: post #266
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…

At work we had to create a streaming setup to provide remote training to a customer on the other side of the world that involved parachute packing & guided drone integration. Stuff that was usually done in person but due to the pandemic traveling was not an option at that time. vdo.ninja and a couple of iPod Touch's (RIP) were really useful to give the trainers the ability to walk around the parachute loft to get up…

PowerPoint plugins? Say more

Re: Using a "proper" camera as a webcam

#427

Post by BeefWellington »

mrdonbrown wrote: post #56

I'm surprised no one has mentioned using a teleprompter yet. You can pick one up for around $100 and when combined with a little 7" monitor (another $100) attached to your computer, creates a nice setup for zoom calls where you can look directly at your partner. Also doubles as a great talking head setup for video production.

The Youtube channel DIY Perks has a video making essentially a homemade teleprompter mod for a laptop with very cheap materials.[1]

I've thought about getting a proper teleprompter but my issue there would be screen space and lighting. Has this worked well with a decently inexpensive webcam or do you use a full-on streaming/production type camera setup?

[1]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AecAXinars

Re: Using a "proper" camera as a webcam

#428

Post by looshch »

dexterdog wrote: post #387
tomxor wrote: post #355

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agreed. However one thing I have noticed is mic quality matters... up to a point. I'm not even talking mic booms and super expensive setups, the difference between some omnidirectional mic on the bottom of a laptop or the side of one of those bluetooth headphones and pretty much any headset with a mic pointed at your actual face is night and day. It doesn't need to be expensive, but it does need to be within reasonab…

I find the macbook pro onboard mic to be superior to every headphone mic and every group room mic I have tested and I have tested many. If you have one and you are using headpones made for music do everyone a favor and set your defaults so that it always uses the mac's mic. With many Bluetooth heaphones you also get vastly better sound quality in your ears if the mic is not in use.

I agree with your statement about quality, but everything is good only until you start typing. Everyone on a meeting will hear it as if their ears were inside your laptop. And when you’re talking while typing, oh god

Re: Using a "proper" camera as a webcam

#429

Post by ricardobeat »

dekhn wrote: post #134

I have an alternative approach that I discovered recently while building a microscope with a webcam driven by linux. Nearly all modern cheap webcams are UVC-compatible and they work with linux. Different models expose different functionalities, but I ended up with this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07R489K8L It does 1600x1200 25FPS YUYV (as well as a wide range of other resolutions and FPS) uses the C/CS-mount lens sta…

Do you have a sample image from that camera? I bought a similar board, same sensor, with the intent of attaching a nicer lens to it, but quality is dogshit. Absolutely horrendous, like a Nokia phone from 2001.

Re: Using a "proper" camera as a webcam

#430

Post by unrealp »

Using this way for last 1 year without any issue. My setup has canon d5200 with 18-55 lens. Camera is powered by dedicated plugged in power supply. For audio I use a separate headset. OS is ubuntu. Longest I have used is 5 hours continuous without any problems.
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