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Canon wants us to pay for using our own camera as a webcam

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Re: Canon wants us to pay for using our own camera as a webcam

#51

Post by sam_lowry_ »

tobyhinloopen wrote: post #31
alibarber wrote: post #20

I also discovered that I couldn't use my Canon SLR to record more than 30 minutes of video continuously. The problem however wasn't Canon, but that I lived in a region (EU) that would have imposed a customs tariff on cameras that could do that, but by keeping it under that, the camera would be classed as a 'stills' camera and so was therefore exempt. Admittedly this is different from the case in the article - but it…

It would likely overheat anyway hah. Old Sony cameras have the same restrictions.

No, this is not the reason. If the camera records video for more than 30min, then it is a video camera, see the question answered here https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34640107

In short, there is no good reason anymore, but originally this was because of EU import tarifs.

Re: Canon wants us to pay for using our own camera as a webcam

#53

Post by Rodmine »

bambax wrote: post #16

Not all companies. The DJI Action camera has a built-in webcam mode that you can select whenever you plug it in via USB, and it just works.

Reasons like this is why the Japanese companies are eating sh*t and are VERY interested in pushing for a US-China war just like the western companies.

Everything coming out of China is way more customer friendly, usually way cheaper and getting better and better to a point that they are surpassing everything else that exists. If DJI releases a full-frame mirrorless camera with L-mount (which they are going to), Canon, Nikon, Fuji and all these companies with firmware from the 90s will die and I am not going to miss them.

They have made absolutely no effort to provide any value and a whole lot of tacit collusion is going on. They still sell you SD cards instead of including an SSD which would be MUCH cheaper and faster. Same with battery technology. Compatibility, apps, software... everything.

Re: Canon wants us to pay for using our own camera as a webcam

#55

Post by shultays »

alibarber wrote: post #20

I also discovered that I couldn't use my Canon SLR to record more than 30 minutes of video continuously. The problem however wasn't Canon, but that I lived in a region (EU) that would have imposed a customs tariff on cameras that could do that, but by keeping it under that, the camera would be classed as a 'stills' camera and so was therefore exempt. Admittedly this is different from the case in the article - but it…

Sometimes there are hidden menus or settings that might allow you to toggle those features. I used to work on TVs and we had a secret menu that toggles various features. Some of those features would be disabled for specific countries (mainly for patents)

Re: Canon wants us to pay for using our own camera as a webcam

#56

Post by the-grump »

sam_lowry_ wrote: post #51
tobyhinloopen wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It would likely overheat anyway hah. Old Sony cameras have the same restrictions.

No, this is not the reason. If the camera records video for more than 30min, then it is a video camera, see the question answered here https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34640107 In short, there is no good reason anymore, but originally this was because of EU import tarifs.

GP didn’t claim that’s not the reason. They’re making a joke that if the camera kept recording past 30min, it would overheat.

It’s a joke.

Re: Canon wants us to pay for using our own camera as a webcam

#58

Post by rozenmd »

jjcob wrote: post #27

In case you are considering Nikon as an alternative, their Webcam Utility might be free, but it doesn't work on the latest version of macOS. There are 3rd party utilities (paid), but I had trouble with autofocus when I tried them. I wish camera manufacturers put half as much effort into usability as smartphone companies. Why does a camera need drivers to be recognized as a webcam at all? Why doesn't my 2000€ camera c…

I'm running my full frame Nikon DSLR as a webcam using a $15 USB to HDMI dongle - works great.

Re: Canon wants us to pay for using our own camera as a webcam

#59

Post by School-Cotton »

alibarber wrote: post #20

I also discovered that I couldn't use my Canon SLR to record more than 30 minutes of video continuously. The problem however wasn't Canon, but that I lived in a region (EU) that would have imposed a customs tariff on cameras that could do that, but by keeping it under that, the camera would be classed as a 'stills' camera and so was therefore exempt. Admittedly this is different from the case in the article - but it…

This vaguely reminds me of the fact that in many countries, pure ethanol sold for industrial purposes is intentionally made poisonous, so you can’t drink it and thus merchants don’t have to charge the taxes on it that they would for spirits.

Re: Canon wants us to pay for using our own camera as a webcam

#60

Post by Terr_ »

xmprt wrote: post #6

I wonder when we'll reach a tipping point for the subscription hell that the world is moving towards. On the other hand, with the amount of consolidation and difficulty competing (especially with Lina Khan out) I'm not sure if that will ever happen.

I tend to think of insufficient competition as a root cause.
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