At the beginning of this year, everybody began working from home due to the pandemic. Offices were shut, and moving out of your house was forbidden. Therefore, there couldn’t be any possible method to continue your work than conducting virtual meetings online.
Video calling became a part of the new routine to communicate and connect with people. On the other hand, many people faced an issue because of the unavailability of external webcams or poor-quality cameras.
Seeking this opportunity, developers began issuing software that could convert your phones or camera into a webcam. Doesn’t that sound great converting your old spare phones into webcams that could help you video call? Not only this, but these webcams can also be used for the security purpose of your house. Think of the money you saved by following the new method of using webcams.
Are you unfamiliar with the methods to turn your phone or camera into a webcam? We’ve got your back! Below is a guide on doing the same, so read along to learn more.
How to Use Your Android and iOS Device as a Webcam?
Converting Android Device Into a Webcam
There are many options offered by Play Store that help you convert your Android device into a webcam. One of the most convenient application is DroidCam, and below mentioned are the steps to use the same:
Install and launch the DroidCam app on your phone.
Download the desktop client by Dev47Apps on your Windows PC or Linux.
Note: Make sure that you download the 6.2 version.
Run the desktop app and allow the app to install audio drivers.
Unmark the checkbox for ‘Always trust software from DEV47APPS,’ if you wish.
Once the app is running on your PC, connect your phone wirelessly or using USB.
You’ll be prompted to enter the IP Address of your Android device in the given space on your PC. At this point, launch the DroidCam app on your phone, and it’ll view the IP Address. Therefore, enter the same address.
Make sure that you’ve marked the checkboxes for ‘Audio’ and ‘Video.’
Tap on the Ellipsis icon on the top-right corner of the screen in the app, and you’ll be headed to the settings window. You can opt to use the front-facing or back-facing camera.
After you’ve checked all the settings, hit the ‘Start’ button in the desktop app.
Finally, open any preferential video-calling app like Skype, Zoom, etc. and select the default camera as ‘DroidCam Source 2’ or ‘DroidCame Source 3’ in the app you use.
Converting iPhone/iPad Into a Webcam
To convert an iPhone/iPad into a webcam, the most recommended application is EpocCam, and the steps to use the same are:
Download and launch the EpocCam app from the App Store.
Note: Make sure you have the iOS version 10.3 on your device.
Use your Windows PC or Mac to download the desktop driver for the app from Kinoni.com.
Once the desktop drivers are installed, make sure that your computer and iOS device are connected to the same Wi-Fi or LAN.
Launch the video-calling app on your phone and navigate to EpocCam in the camera settings.
Once you’ve selected the default camera settings, a confirmation pop-up menu will appear on your computer screen.
Note: If you use a browser for video-calling instead of an app, make sure to give permission to the webcam.
How to Use a DSLR or a Mirrorless Camera as a Webcam?
Using a DSLR or a mirrorless camera can be as easy as installing software and using a USB cable to connect your camera to the computer. However, most people choose to get extra hardware that turns a camera’s HDMI output into a USB input.
You also require an HDMI cable that can be linked to the camera. Once the camera gets connected, enable the ‘clean HDMI’ output, that’ll discard the camera exposure info and give you an undisturbed video feed. You’ll be required to turn your camera into a video mode or to select an alternative option in the settings menu, depending on the camera model you own.
Software by Camera Manufacturers
A few software that can turn your device into a webcam are listed below:
Canon Camera
If you own a Canon mirrorless, DSLR, or PowerShot camera, using it as a webcam is no rocket science. A beta of EOS Webcam utility has been released by the company for a Windows 10 PC, alongside a beta version for macOS, enabling you to connect any supported cameras using a USB cable and make it work as a PC webcam.
Fujifilm Camera
A software introduced by Fujifilm enables you to use X-series and GFX-series mirrorless cameras as high-quality webcams. The app ‘Fujifilm X Webcam’ works with a USB cable.
GoPro Hero Cameras
GoPro is enabling people to use Hero 8 Action Camera as a Webcam on a Windows PC. A beta version is available for now, and webcam functionality is expected to be released for macOS anytime soon. Isn’t that great that now you can use a DIY webcam without spending an extra penny? The instructions mentioned above and software enable you to convert your device into a webcam that can be used for video-calling and security purposes. Can’t wait to try it on? Go ahead and amaze your friends and family.
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