How to Use a Digital Camera as a Webcam
Using Your Camera as a Webcam
Good webcams can be hard to find. Fortunately, you can use many digital cameras as makeshift webcams. If you have a high-end mirrorless or DSLR camera, you’ll even get a big boost in video quality for your online meetings.
The ability to use your camera as a webcam is largely dependent on which camera you own. Some compact point-and-shoot cameras are bundled with first-party software and drivers that allow you to use them as webcams.
Unfortunately, this seems to be a less common feature nowadays. However, third-party software has sprung up that allows you to use many Nikon and Canon cameras for this purpose. As you might have guessed, though, this software isn’t free.
Modern mirrorless and DSLR cameras that produce clean HDMI output (meaning, no overlays on the screen), will give you the best results. You’ll need additional hardware to do this, but it should work with any future camera upgrades, too.
Accessories You’ll Need
If you’re going to be using a camera as a webcam, you’ll need something to mount it on like, a tripod. You’ll also need some way of powering the camera, assuming power-over-USB isn’t an option. For many mirrorless and DSLR cameras, that means buying a “dummy battery.” Dummy batteries sit in the battery compartment but plug into the wall.
All these methods require either a micro-USB-to-USB cable (like the one that came with your camera) or a mini HDMI-/HDMI-to-HDMI cable. For our last (and most effective) solution, you’ll need a capture device, as well.
Method 1: Use Your Camera’s Software
The first thing to do is check whether your camera supports this feature natively through the manufacturer’s software or drivers. The best way to do this is to look at the manual and any bundled software. You might also find software downloads for your particular model on your camera manufacturer’s website.
A cursory search of the internet for your camera model and webcam (for example, “GoPro hero 3 webcam”) should tell you what you need to know. If tutorials start recommending capture cards and HDMI adapters, it’s unlikely your camera can be used as a webcam over plain old USB.
Once you’ve downloaded and installed any drivers, your camera should be recognized as a capture device by your Windows or Mac computer. You can then choose it as an input device in whichever applications you want to use, including Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Slack, Skype, Discord, or FaceTime.
If your camera doesn’t have webcam mode support, don’t fret. Some action cameras and compact point-and-shoots support this feature, but most mirrorless and DSLRs do not. You have other options.
Method 2: Use a Third-Party App
If your camera is supported, you can use a third-party application to turn your DSLR, prosumer, or compact camera into a webcam. The Windows-only Sparkocam works with a large variety of Canon cameras and a small number of Nikon cameras, too.
Based on our research, there aren’t presently any alternatives to Sparkocam, and it’s pricey. There are separate versions for Canon and Nikon, one that supports both, and another that focuses on the app’s other features, like green-screen and filters. A single-user license for your system of choice is $50 ($70 if you want to use both Nikon and Canon systems).
It’s hard to recommend Sparkocam, but, for some people, there might not be an alternative. So, if you find yourself in this boat, you use Windows, and you don’t have any other alternatives, Sparkocam is your best bet. Before you buy the app, though, you might want to read on and consider the HDMI route.
Method 3: Use an HDMI-to-USB Adapter
For a serious setup, you can’t beat HDMI capture. This technique takes a raw, uncompressed video feed from your mirrorless or DSLR camera and turns it into a USB webcam feed. The quality is unbeatable, but you’ll need a few extra bits of equipment to make it work.
