From the Desk of David Utke
Subj: How the F do you setup a camera as a webcam?
Setting up a digital camera to be used as a webcam (a proper camera like a mirrorless or DSLR camera) is pretty simple, but there are a lot of little steps you need to know.
So I’m going to breakdown everything you need to know in this simple, easy to follow tutorial so you end up with your camera as a webcam like so 👇
What you will need for this tutorial
- Cam Link Capture Card for old USB connections (connects your camera to your computer and converts the video source).
- Guermok Video Capture Card – If your laptop has modern USB 3.0 connections then get this instead of the Cam Link.
- OBS – Free software to stream and record yourself – both your screen and webcam.
- USB microphone – I use the Shure MV7. You need a quality mic to go along with your quality video.
- Dummy battery – Optional, but if you want to stream or record for over an hour, then you’ll need a dummy batter. It plugs into the wall to provide your camera with unlimited power.
Step 1 – Turn “auto power” off in your camera settings
Most cameras come with this setting turned on. It’s when your camera automatically turns off after a period of time, usually 30 seconds to a minute when not in use.
This setting exists to help conserve battery life. But when using it as a webcam, you’ll want to turn this setting off because you don’t actually hit the record button when your camera is setup as a webcam.
The software on your laptop controls the video source, as such your camera will think it’s inactive when really the image is being used in your recording software like OBS.
In short, you can’t record if your video source (your camera) is turning off by itself after a minute.
Step 2 – Disable audio in your camera settings
While you’re in your settings, go ahead and disable the audio. We don’t want the camera picking up audio, we want our microphone that’s plugged into our laptop picking up audio.
If you don’t do this, what will happen is that you’ll have your voice from your microphone and your voice from your camera being picked up. It’s weird, sounds awful, just disable audio on your camera.
Step 3 – Turn on “clean HDMI” in your camera settings
HDMI is all that info you see on your flippy screen with your camera. This meta data will be visible when you record with your camera as a webcam if you don’t turn on “clean HDMI.”
Because you don’t actually press the record button on your camera when using it as webcam, you’ll need a way to remove all this information. That is what clean HDMI is for.
Step 4 – Set your recording settings in your camera (frame rate and quality)
When using software on your laptop to record, you can only match the output to whatever the camera records at.
So before you connect your camera to your computer, set whatever frame rate and video setting you like.
Meaning, if you want to record at 4k or 1080P 60 FPS, whatever, you need to set that in your camera before connecting it to your laptop or computer.
Step 5 – Download and setup OBS
Head over to OBS Project. Download it for your system (Mac, Windows or Linux). Once installed, it’s time to set everything up.
5.1 Connect your camera
Use the Cam Link or Guermok capture card by plugging into your cameras “HDMI output” and also your computer.
5.2 Set your video source as your video capture card
Now to detect your video capture card as your webcam.
If you don’t see “video capture device” then hit the “+” and select it from the menu.
Then click on “video capture device” and click on the “properties” button you see above it.
From here, choose the device to be used as the video capture device. In the image above, I’m using he Cam Link 4k.
5.3 Match the output settings
This is important, make sure your video output matches your camera’s video recording. It’s silly to record in 4k with your camera, but then OBS outputs everything at 720.
Navigate to your settings in OBS, then click on “video” and here is where you can set the output and FPS value. Match it to your camera’s settings.
5.4 – Set your audio input to be your USB mic
Same thing with the video capture. Click on “audio input capture” and then click on properties. Select your USB mic. Obviously your mic should already be plugged in.
Done – make sure to “remux” your files for video editing
“Remuxing” is done primarily to change the format of a video file, like converting an MKV recording to MP4, without changing or altering the actual video and audio data in anyway.
When in OBS just click on “file” and you’ll see “remux recording” in the drop down. Select it, now drag and drop your OBS recording to the remux screen and click “remux.”
This is a bit complicated, are there alternatives?
You bet! There are quite a few different options.
Dedicated webcams
Dedicated webcams are plug and play, and you can skip over all this clean HDMI and capture card nonsense.
Simply plug your high quality webcam in, and select it as the video source in OBS (or whatever software you’re using).
Here are my three favorite dedicated webcams.
- Insta 360 Link 2C – A small, easy to use 4k webcam.
- Razor Kiyo Pro – A big webcam that produces bokeh?! Don’t get if you want something small.
- Logitech c922 – A classic choice, fine if all you’re going to be doing is recording in 1080P, picture in picture withy you in a little box or circle on screen.
On top of that, webcams are powered by your computer so you don’t have to worry about using a dummy battery or your webcam turning off due to low power.
Action cameras can double as webcams now
Not only are action cameras good vlogging cameras, they can also now be used as a webcam as easily as a dedicated webcam.
Just plug your action camera into your laptop with your USB-C cable, select it as the video source and it’s as simple as that.
Here are my favorites:
- DJI Osmo Pocket – Incredible camera overall and makes for an outstanding webcam.
- Osmo Action – The Osmo Action is a great vlogging camera with a very wide field of view, but no shallow depth of field. If you want a wide angle for your webcam get this.
The only potential problem however is that your action camera will not charge when being used as a webcam so you will need an external power source if you want to record or stream for a long time.
Modern cameras can also stream out of the box
This tutorial is only for DLSR or mirrorless cameras that can’t stream natively.
If you have a camera like the Sony ZV-E1 you can find a “USB streaming” or something similar in your settings.
Once selected you can then set the video output setting and framerate. Once your done, connect the camera directly to your laptop or computer using a USB-C cable.
Then in your video software (OBS, Zoom, Screenflow) your camera should be detected as a webcam option.
Use your iPhone as a webcam
Don’t forget you can also use your iPhone as a webcam.
Windows iPhone webcam
For Windows you need to download Elgato’s EpocCam on your iPhone as well as Elgatos Camera Hub on your Windows laptop.
Once you have both pieces of software installed:
- Plug in your iPhone to your Windows laptop.
- Open up both the camera hub and EpocCam and your Windows laptop will detect your iPhone as a webcam.
- In your recording software like OBS, select “EpocCam” as the video source.
Once you record, you’ll notice a watermark from EpocCam. Upgrade your account to remove this watermark. Don’t worry it’s a one time fee.
Once upgraded you can also record at different frame rates and use the wide angle lens if you like.
Mac and the Continuity Camera
Apple has an excellent tutorial on how to use iPhone as a webcam found here.
Using Continuity Camera, you can use your iPhone as both your Mac webcam and microphone. To turn on Continuity Camera on your iPhone, go to Settings
> General > AirPlay & Continuity, then turn on Continuity Camera.
You will want to consider getting some sort of mount for your iPhone as a webcam. Our favorites are these two magnetic mounts from Belkin and Stouchi.
You can also consider using a little tripod to mount your iPhone to give you more flexibility in how you position the iPhone. Our top pick is this mini iPhone tripod.
iPhone webcam mount – If you do decide to use your iPhone then you’ll want a way to mount your iPhone like you would a webcam. This is the best mount I’ve used.
Conclusion
That’s it for my tutorial on how to use a DSLR or mirrorless camera as a webcam that does not come with any sort of streaming function built in.
Combined with a dummy battery, you now know how to setup a pro live streaming setup that can allow you to record for hours.
All the best,
-David
If any questions, drop me a message over on IG.
*I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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