How to use your DSLR from 2008 as a webcam in 2022 (NixOS) • Hacker News Board

Re: How to use your DSLR from 2008 as a webcam in 2022 (NixOS)

#21

Post by Filligree » Sun, Nov 13, 2022, 3:20 PM UTC

revilotom wrote: post #7

evgpbfhnr wrote: post #4

Note if the author reads this (perfect is the enemy of good, feel free to ignore): You can make udev run systemd services directly, replacing RUN=... by e.g. TAG+="systemd", ENV{SYSTEMD_WANTS}+="foo.service" That might require you also remove the 'enabled = true' for the service, and make sure gphoto2 dies when the camera is unplugged? Anyway, it was a nice read :)

Wow thanks for the suggestion! I knew there must be some way to do it with fewer steps but didn't quite figure out what it was so I really appreciate this comment. When I get a chance I'll test what you said out!

Make sure it doesn't end up stopping the service on system activation, if you do that.

Re: How to use your DSLR from 2008 as a webcam in 2022 (NixOS)

#22

Post by gsich » Sun, Nov 13, 2022, 3:24 PM UTC

mrkeen wrote: post #2

Any restrictions about how long you can keep it turned on? I tried to do this but found I'd need to flash the cam's firmware to override the 10min recording limit. (I read that cameras which can record longer are taxed as video cameras, so they're deliberately crippled)

Why recording limit? Leave it in live view, no need to record. Or is the HDMI output not active then?

I don't think this tax applies anymore.

Re: How to use your DSLR from 2008 as a webcam in 2022 (NixOS)

#23

Post by [deleted] » Sun, Nov 13, 2022, 3:29 PM UTC

Markoff wrote: post #16

whole guide about using some gphoto software, yet not a single link in article btw it's only for Linux, so don't even bother reading the linked web, if you are in windows http://www.gphoto.org/ Correct title: How to use your DSLR from 2008 as a webcam IN LINUX in 2022 (NixOS) I wished people would not omiss such important information in title when writing articles or linking them wasting everyone's time including ser…

[deleted]

Re: How to use your DSLR from 2008 as a webcam in 2022 (NixOS)

#24

Post by gsich » Sun, Nov 13, 2022, 3:35 PM UTC

throwaway294566 wrote: post #6

formerly_proven wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Normally you can leave live view (768x512 resolution, 0.4 MP in this case, usually not much higher for modern cameras) running indefinitely. Besides the low resolution especially on older cameras the readout for live view will use pixel skipping to conserve power at the expense of quality. This is why "the pro streamers" don't use the live view image, but instead go the HDMI-to-UVC route using the camera's video mode…

Unfortunately most cameras do not provide "clean" HDMI output. That is, the HDMI output contains camera UI symbols like focus points, battery state, lighting, etc. Configuration options to disable those UI symbols are generally not available, at best one can disable some of them. A model with "clean" HDMI is usually more expensive and you have to explicitly look for it as a feature. Live view readout via USB is somet…

Most cameras do? Especially if bought in the last ~5 years.

Nikon D750 also can do it, 2014.

Re: How to use your DSLR from 2008 as a webcam in 2022 (NixOS)

#25

Post by yrro » Sun, Nov 13, 2022, 3:36 PM UTC

evgpbfhnr wrote: post #4

Note if the author reads this (perfect is the enemy of good, feel free to ignore): You can make udev run systemd services directly, replacing RUN=... by e.g. TAG+="systemd", ENV{SYSTEMD_WANTS}+="foo.service" That might require you also remove the 'enabled = true' for the service, and make sure gphoto2 dies when the camera is unplugged? Anyway, it was a nice read :)

Is BindsTo= the right way to have systemd shut the service down if the device disappears?

Re: How to use your DSLR from 2008 as a webcam in 2022 (NixOS)

#26

Post by SECProto » Sun, Nov 13, 2022, 3:37 PM UTC

gsich wrote: post #22

mrkeen wrote: post #2

Any restrictions about how long you can keep it turned on? I tried to do this but found I'd need to flash the cam's firmware to override the 10min recording limit. (I read that cameras which can record longer are taxed as video cameras, so they're deliberately crippled)

Why recording limit? Leave it in live view, no need to record. Or is the HDMI output not active then? I don't think this tax applies anymore.

Live view turns itself off after a period of time. I believe with my Nikon it's 30min.

For me, having to press the LV button twice an hour seemed more preferable than flashing the firmware.

Re: How to use your DSLR from 2008 as a webcam in 2022 (NixOS)

#27

Post by stavros » Sun, Nov 13, 2022, 3:58 PM UTC

I've been using an old Android phone as a webcam for a while, it's very good and latency is minimal, but conferencing software will just kill your stream. There's no reason to have even an HD webcam when your fellow participants will see a very compressed 0.4 Mpixel stream.

Re: How to use your DSLR from 2008 as a webcam in 2022 (NixOS)

#28

Post by gsich » Sun, Nov 13, 2022, 4:05 PM UTC

SECProto wrote: post #26

gsich wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why recording limit? Leave it in live view, no need to record. Or is the HDMI output not active then? I don't think this tax applies anymore.

Live view turns itself off after a period of time. I believe with my Nikon it's 30min. For me, having to press the LV button twice an hour seemed more preferable than flashing the firmware.

Can be disabled

Re: How to use your DSLR from 2008 as a webcam in 2022 (NixOS)

#29

Post by arriu » Sun, Nov 13, 2022, 4:06 PM UTC

This should work with a ton of other cameras from roughly 2008 onwards. So long as it supports live view over usb with gphoto.

The camera from this article is also known as the Canon 500 or 1000D in other parts of the world.

Re: How to use your DSLR from 2008 as a webcam in 2022 (NixOS)

#30

Post by Xeoncross » Sun, Nov 13, 2022, 4:06 PM UTC

BirAdam wrote: post #19

mrkeen wrote: post #2

Any restrictions about how long you can keep it turned on? I tried to do this but found I'd need to flash the cam's firmware to override the 10min recording limit. (I read that cameras which can record longer are taxed as video cameras, so they're deliberately crippled)

Magic Lantern will take care of that. To accomplish what the OP does, I use a USB HDMI in, a mini HDMI to HDMI cable, and Magic Lantern on my Rebel. It works well. Magic Lantern allows me to leave the camera in preview without overlays for indefinite time periods. It can also provide video this way, but heat can be an issue there…

Magic Lantern was a game changer that really helped expose thousands to amateur videography. The Canon 5D MkII was the start of a revolution (an to a lesser extend, the T3i+) and the Panasonic GH4 and then Sony Alpha lines really played a role in pushing those young people from hobby to actual product videos and commercials.