Your laptop webcam looks a flake pixelated. The webcam mounted on your monitor cost a lot of coin a few years agone, but somehow makes yous look like yous alive in a videogame.

In short, your Zoom meetings look ridiculous and you're losing authority to a lack of video resolution. The budget won't stretch to a new webcam, just there's no reason why it should. After all, yous already own a DSLR camera.

Hither's what you need to know about how to employ a DSLR every bit a webcam.

Why Use a DSLR Instead of a Standard Webcam?

A DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera provides a more than accurate view of what you're photographing, equally the viewfinder displays exactly what is in front end of the lens. DSLRs have been used for years – since replacing traditional SLR cameras – for professional person photography. While they're slowly succumbing to the march of engineering science and the new generation of mirrorless cameras, for many the DSLR is the perfect marriage of old school photography and the digital era.

A webcam, in contrast, is more meaty, with a pocket-sized lens, smaller CMOS sensor, and lower resolution. They're optimized for sending data through wires rather than straight to a memory carte du jour, which means that webcams are more efficient, but the outcome can be, you guessed it, pixelated.

DSLR cameras can supplant webcams for streaming video over Zoom, Skype, or whatever video conferencing software y'all're using. If y'all've ever watched live streams on YouTube with stunning picture quality, the chances are the streamer was using a DSLR.

The result is a meliorate picture show, smarter positioning (thanks to your tripod), and the benefit of using whatever lens y'all have attached to create depth that a webcam just cannot. There is too the advantage of autofocus, although this tin be noisy sometimes. It's smarter to utilise this for video calls than stay static or keep reaching for the focus band, though.

Disadvantages to Using a DSLR Instead of a Webcam

Yet, there are some reasons non to use a DSLR every bit a webcam.

Webcams accept quite wide lenses. If you motion effectually a lot, yous'll need a similarly wide lens on your DSLR, or have the default lens installed with the zoom pulled right back. The trouble here is you might pick up items in the groundwork that yous might not desire to be seen.

Finally, leaving a DSLR switched on and feeding video volition hit the battery and can cause the camera to overheat. This can cause the device to shut down while it cools off. To avert this, go on the calls relatively short, the environment well ventilated, and switch off the camera when not in utilize.

Before You Get Started: What Y'all'll Need

To use your DSLR camera as a webcam, ensure you accept:

  • A tripod that suits your photographic camera.
  • A high-capacity battery or mains power solution. Mains power supplies for DSLRs typically feature a dummy battery that slips into the battery compartment. This then connects to an adapter to power the camera.
  • The micro-USB cable that shipped with your camera, or a mini-HDMI cablevision.
  • Optional: LED ring or other lighting, microphone.

Ensure yous have these items and take them connected or prepare before proceeding.

Is a Webcam Function Congenital In?

Some digital cameras include a webcam function, and this includes some DSLRs.

So, before proceeding, cheque the driver disc that shipped with your camera, forth with the menus on the device. If there is a webcam setting you can use, y'all're free to proceed with connecting the device to your computer, webcam mode enabled. The photographic camera should then be detected as a standard USB webcam, fix to be used with your video chat software. Notation that if this is an option for yous, the resolution will be lower than usual, limited by the constraints of the USB cable.

Usually, however, this selection is limited to standard digital cameras. DSLRs don't often have a built-in webcam function. And so, how can you replace your webcam with a popular DSLR?

How to Apply a Canon DSLR as a Webcam

Canon DSLR owners can use their cameras as webcams. An incredible 43 models can be used in this way. For total details, check the Canon EOS Webcam Utility download page.

Download: Canon EOS Webcam Utility for Windows or Mac (Free)

After downloading, unzip the contents and run the setup file to install.

With the software installed on your calculator, switch on your Catechism camera and put it in movie mode. Accommodate the exposure as required, then connect the USB cable that shipped with the camera. Connect the other end to your computer, and then open your video conferencing tool. In the video settings screen, select EOS Webcam Utility equally your called photographic camera.

That's all at that place is to information technology.

Canon EOS Webcam Utility includes a useful feature that enables yous to save footage to the camera'southward onboard SD menu while you're streaming. This is enabled past hitting record on the camera.

For further information, consult the Canon EOS Webcam Utility download folio, where yous'll detect other tips and tricks.

How to Setup a Nikon DSLR as a Webcam

Download: Nikon Webcam Utility for Windows or Mac (Gratis)

After installing, find the camera's USB port and connect it to your figurer with the USB cable that shipped with the device. Switch on the photographic camera, put information technology in video mode, and select a suitable way – P (Programme Machine Mode) is the easiest for getting started.

Next, set the photographic camera and then your webcam doesn't switch into standby:

  1. Printing Bill of fare
  2. Navigate to Custom Settings > Timers/AE Lock
  3. Set the Ability Off Delay standby timer to No limit

Too, be sure to enable Machine Focus (AF) and set AF-area manner to Auto-area AF.

For audio, the Nikon Webcam Utility requires an external microphone connecting to your DSLR, rather than the built-in mic. Alternatively, employ your computer's mic.

It is worth checking the notes for the Nikon Webcam Utility as there are some quirks to the software. For case, it may go along recording/broadcasting until y'all switch it off and on again.

Photographic camera Non Supported? Endeavour a Capture Device Instead

Despite wide support, not all DSLRs work with manufacturer webcam utilities.

To become around this, you lot can use the device'south HDMI out, a video capture menu, and the OBS circulate software. Specific instructions differ between devices, and this can prove expensive if you demand to buy a capture card as well.

To discover the right solution to your camera and operating system, perform a web search using a term like "Camera model + webcam + OBS" to find precise details.

Your DSLR Tin Now Be Used every bit a Webcam

Using your DSLR guarantees a far superior picture when compared to a normal webcam. It's straightforward to do with uniform DSLRs, merely if you don't have the right camera for the manufacturer'south webcam software, you can use a capture carte du jour.

Failing that, why non use your smartphone every bit a webcam instead?

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About The Author

Christian Cawley (1592 Articles Published)

Deputy Editor for Security, Linux, DIY, Programming, and Tech Explained, and Really Useful Podcast producer, with extensive feel in desktop and software support. A contributor to Linux Format magazine, Christian is a Raspberry Pi tinkerer, Lego lover and retro gaming fan.

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