Intro

If you've been in a lot of video conference meetings, or yous live stream regularly, you've probably realized that the webcam mounted inside your laptop has poor image quality. If you want better video for your live streams, video chats, and webinars, and so y'all need a improve photographic camera. Rather than buying a new webcam, why not turn the DSLR camera you already have into a webcam?

Since the 2020 pandemic and the soaring numbers of live streamers and video conference meetings that resulted, information technology's become easier than ever to use your DSLR as a webcam. In this guide, nosotros'll walk you through the various options for setting upwards your DSLR camera as a webcam.

🤔 What is the difference betwixt DSLR and web cameras?

Before we dive into how to employ a DSLR photographic camera every bit a webcam, you should know the difference between the two. DSLR stands for "digital single-lens reflex," and it'south a common type of digital camera. It combines the mechanisms of a single-lens reflex camera with a digital imaging sensor.

A web photographic camera or webcam is a video camera that records or streams video in real time over the internet. They are less powerful than DSLR cameras and much smaller, commonly sitting on a desk-bound, attached to the top of a computer monitor, or built into laptops.

Although webcams are smaller and less powerful than DSLR cameras, they are less expensive. DSLR cameras also must exist recharged when their batteries die down, whereas webcams are powered by the laptop or computer they're plugged or congenital into.

Webcams are popular among live streamers, and there are loftier-quality webcams available that volition enhance the quality of your alive video. However, if you desire even better quality or already ain a DSLR photographic camera and don't want to buy a new webcam, and then a DSLR camera is an excellent pick.

👉 Why would you utilise a DSLR camera instead of a webcam?

Some employ cases for DSLR cameras every bit webcams include:

  • Live streaming: You lot tin easily use a DSLR camera equally a source with your favorite live streaming software. A DSLR likewise enhances the video quality, enticing more viewers to spotter your stream.
  • VOD content creation: For prerecorded videos and VOD content, a DSLR photographic camera is easy to use and gives your videos a professional look.
  • Video conferencing: If y'all're in a lot of meetings or notice yourself presenting webinars frequently, it would be worthwhile to apply a DSLR instead of a webcam, so the mediocre quality of your video doesn't distract from your presentation.
  • Taking photos: If you employ your webcam to take profile photos or selfies, swap out your DSLR instead. Webcams aren't meant to capture photos, but DSLR cameras are. You'll end up with a high-quality, professional photograph you tin can use on your social media profiles, including LinkedIn.

👀 What do you need to use a DSLR as a webcam?

There are three ways to set upwards a DSLR every bit a webcam. 1 involves the camera manufacturer's software, ane requires a capture bill of fare, and the concluding one uses dissemination software.

i. USB connection

Several photographic camera manufacturers, such as Panasonic, Canon, and Sony, have developed software that allows you to use their DSLR cameras for live video chatting and streaming on your reckoner. For this method, all you lot demand is the USB cable that came with your camera and the software. Several brands have their ain software available to download:

  • Canon: EOS Webcam Utility (Mac and PC)
  • Fujifilm: FUJIFILM X Webcam (Mac and PC)
  • Sony: Imaging Border Webcam (PC)
  • Panasonic: LUMIX Tether for Streaming (Beta) (PC)

To use the manufacturer's DSLR webcam software, download the software and follow the instructions for calibrating the settings. Annotation that for each software, only certain models of cameras are supported.

If the Canon, Fujifilm, Sony, or Panasonic webcam apps don't piece of work with your camera, y'all can try a webcam app such equally Ecamm Live. All it takes is connecting your photographic camera to your figurer via USB cable. In one case you take the webcam software up and running, you tin change the camera settings.

2. HDMI connexion

A second option is connecting your photographic camera to a capture card. Before 2020 made all of us more concerned about webcam software, this method was the number-i way live streamers turned DSLRs into webcams. A capture bill of fare takes the video your DSLR records and converts it for digital streaming.

To set it up, connect your DSLR camera to your capture bill of fare with an HDMI cablevision. Then, stick the USB stop of your capture carte into your computer. If you lot're planning to apply a video conferencing tool with this setup, such every bit Zoom or Microsoft Teams, then y'all don't need to download any other software.

3. Circulate software

If y'all're planning to live stream with your DSLR camera, you'll need broadcasting software such as OBS or Restream. You'll use the HDMI and capture bill of fare method to a higher place, and so download your broadcasting software and add your DSLR photographic camera as a source.

When y'all connect your DSLR camera to Restream Studio, you can customize how the video appears to your viewers. Restream easily lets you lot add together overlays, graphics, and backgrounds to your live stream. In add-on to photographic camera settings, in that location'due south a centralized chat hub where you tin encounter letters from beyond multiple alive streaming platforms. You can also bring guests onto your alive testify past simply sending them a link.

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🤩 How to get the best quality with a DSLR photographic camera equally a webcam

A DSLR camera commonly has improve video quality than a webcam, but you can enhance your alive stream or video conversation even more with a few unproblematic tips.

1. Employ accessories for better image quality

A few accessories volition brand your DSLR camera much easier to employ equally a webcam. A tripod can keep information technology steady and at the right height throughout your alive session or conference call.

When it comes to alive video, never underestimate lighting. Just one lite strategically placed behind your photographic camera tin add together so much depth to your video quality that you'll wait like a professional. Read our video lighting guide to learn more almost lighting and why you need it.

Another accessory that could make a difference to the image quality of your alive stream is an ethernet cablevision. When live streaming, connect to the internet with an ethernet cable rather than over Wi-Fi. The connection volition be faster and create a smoother viewing experience.

2. Apply an external microphone

The internal microphone on your DSLR camera is probably improve than the internal microphone on your laptop, merely an external mic is better than both of them. Visual quality is important, but if the sound on your live stream or video telephone call is scratchy, nobody volition desire to keep listening to you. Cheque out our guides to the top streaming microphones and summit lavalier mics for streaming to learn more about external microphones.

iii. Mute your microphone when you are not speaking

If you've been in several video conferences, y'all've learned proper video conferencing etiquette by now and know to mute your microphone when you're not speaking. "You're on mute" was probably the most used phrase of 2020. When you mute yourself, the others on your phone call won't hear any random background noise coming from your terminate, and your abrupt sneeze won't disrupt the meeting.

iv. Check audio levels on your computer

The layout of the room you're in tin can touch the sound quality of your live stream or video call. Rooms with hard floor and non much furniture create an echo. To make your audio more than precise, check the audio levels on your reckoner, and always run a few tests before live streaming or starting a conference call.

Let's wrap upward

Swapping out your webcam for a DSLR photographic camera is piece of cake if you have the right tools and software. It can too enhance the quality of your alive streams and video calls. Once y'all offset using a DSLR camera for live streaming, you'll never want to switch back to a webcam!