If you’d like to turn your Canon DSLR or mirrorless into a webcam, it’s been possible for quite a while now. But to make it even easier, Canon has just launched starter kits that you need to connect your camera to the computer and use as an (overkill) webcam.
The Sony ZV-1 now acts as a webcam without any extra software on PC or Mac
Sony first announced back in June 2020 that the Sony ZV-1 vlogging camera would soon be able to act as a USB webcam. Just two months later, they delivered, adding support for not only the ZV-1 but 34 other Sony cameras as well. Now, though, a new firmware update lets you use the ZV-1 as a USB webcam without any other software at all.
The new update means all one has to do is connect their ZV-1 camera to a computer’s USB port and it gets detected as a video capture device just like any other webcam, allowing you to use it natively in applications like OBS, Skype, Zoom or… well, anything that uses a webcam, really. Taht means you won’t need to use Imaging Edge Webcam software anymore.
The OM-D Webcam Beta software is back for Windows and Mac
The Olympus OM-D Webcam Beta software that mysteriously stopped working on January 1st, just as the company completed transitioning its imaging business over to Japan Industrial Partners, has now returned with a new version, hosted on the Olympus Imaging website.
A reader on 43Rumors says that it’s the same download link as before, although the version’s been bumped up to v1.0.11 and has confirmed that it works with his E-M1 Mark II. As to whether or not there are any changes other than perhaps setting a new expiry date is unknown.
Olympus OM-D Webcam Beta software stopped working on January 1st – Fix coming soon
This is a strange one. Apparently, the Olympus OM-D Webcam Beta software that Olympus released to allow you to use your Olympus OM-D mirrorless camera as a USB webcam has ceased to function. As of January 1st, 2021, it just quit working without warning. And, sure, you can change your computer’s clock to trick it, but then that can potentially cause other issues if you want to actually use it.
Olympus has acknowledged the issue and says that their R&D team have identified the problem, with a new and fixed version of the software on the way “as soon as possible”. With the transition of “OM-D” from Olympus to Japan Industrial Partners (JIP), though, who knows how long this may take. And who even owns the rights to the software anymore?
You can now use the Blackmagic Video Assist as a USB webcam for live streaming
Well, this is interesting. With all the talk of cameras getting firmware updates this year in order to give them the capability to be used as a webcam, we’ve forgotten all about the other devices into which you can plug them. Devices like monitor recorders.
Blackmagic has released a new firmware update for its Video Assist monitors allowing you to use them as regular USB capture devices (like a webcam) over its Type-C connection. So, if you’ve got a Blackmagic Video Assist monitor, it doesn’t matter whether your camera has this feature or not anymore.
Full version of Canon’s webcam software is now available for Windows and macOS
Full Nikon Webcam Utility software is now out for Windows and Mac
Back in August, Nikon introduced its Webcam Utility software that lets you use your DSLR or mirrorless as a fancy web camera. It was in beta and for Windows only, but the full version is now here. And yes, you can use it on both Windows and Mac. Just in time for the second round of lockdowns.
Sony Imaging Edge Webcam software finally lets you use your Sony cameras on a Mac
Sony has now released the Mac version of its Imaging Edge Webcam software, which allows you to use thirty six of Sony’s A & E mount interchangeable lens cameras and fixed lens cameras as webcams on your computer.
Sony first released the software back in August, but it was only available for Windows at that time. The list of compatible cameras hasn’t changed since the initial Windows release, but offers benefits for both newer as well as older (you hear that, Panasonic?) cameras.
Panasonic releases new software that actually turns your camera into a USB webcam this time
Panasonic recently released its new LUMIX Webcam Software for Mac and Windows to replace the hacky workaround they initially announced back in June where you had to use some desktop capture software to fake a webcam. It also replaces the same hacky workaround for the Mac using LUMIX Streaming Beta.
The new LUMIX Webcam Software is also in beta, although this one actually makes your Panasonic camera visible to your Windows PC or Mac as an actual webcam device. Richard Wong took it for a spin and put together a video showing us how it all works.
You can now use the Insta360 ONE R as a USB webcam and live stream 360° video
Insta360 has posted a massive feature update today for the Insta360 ONE R. It expands the camera’s capabilities with several new features to offer new shooting modes, speed up your workflow and improve image quality and colour. Today’s update also comes with two very big (constantly asked for) features, too. You can now use the Insta360 ONE R as a USB webcam, and you can also live stream 360° video to YouTube and Facebook.
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