Convert Your Canon DSLR Into a Webcam With This Free App
If you’re a professional photographer with a Canon DSLR (or just happen to have one), you can now use your camera as a webcam thanks to the recently launched EOS Webcam Utility Beta app.
This is great news for anyone looking to improve their webcam video quality. The quarantine life has sparked a spike in remote meetings, group video chats, and downloads from burgeoning content creators on YouTube, Twitch and others. A good webcam is essential at this stage, and while many of us are equipped with laptops and smartphones with decent built-in cameras, a DSLR can seriously improve video quality.
In all fairness, using a DSLR as a webcam isn’t entirely new, and some newer Canon cameras even have an HDMI output that can capture clear video and audio straight from the camera. But even on these newer models, capturing and streaming live video from your DSLR camera requires additional paid software and, in some cases, additional hardware such as capture cards. Meanwhile, the beta version of Canon’s EOS Webcam Utility could do it all … for some Canon owners at least.
As the name suggests, the Canon EOS Webcam Beta software is still in beta testing and only select select Canon DSLRs are currently supported:
Likewise, the app is only compatible with Windows 10 right now, but Canon says it may support additional operating systems in the future. It is also limited to US users for now.
Admittedly, this is a whole list of limitations, so at the end of this guide, we have included a small overview of other applications that allow you to use your DSLR as a webcam for Mac and Windows users. Until then, let’s discuss how to get up and running the new Canon webcam app.
How to Install and Use Canon EOS Webcam Utility
In addition to a supported camera and Windows 10 PC, you will also need a USB cable that is compatible with your camera in order for you to connect to your computer. The exact USB connection type differs depending on the model, but you can check which cable you need on the Canon support page. If you have met these requirements, you can now set up the EOS Webcam Utility software.
- Download the beta version of the Canon EOS Webcam . You may need to provide your camera’s serial code in order to access the download. You can find it at the bottom of the camera’s battery compartment or in its original packaging / custom materials.
- Run the installer and follow the onscreen instructions to complete the installation.
- Connect your Canon DSLR camera via USB.
- Launch Canon EOS Webcam Utility and follow the on-screen instructions to connect your camera.
- You should now be able to select the camera as your webcam or video source in programs such as Zoom, OBS, Facebook Messenger, and more. ( Note: EOS Webcam Utility must be running in the background to maintain a connection, so do not close it until you finish using the camera).
Other ways to use your DSLR as a webcam
If your camera or computer is not supported by Canon EOS Webcam Utility, there are other ways to use your DSLR as a webcam:
- Sparkocam for Windows is free to download, but an annoying watermark will remain on your video. You can remove the watermark by purchasing a license: $ 70 for an annual license or $ 100 for lifetime access.
- Mac users can try the free CamTwist Studio program.
- Another option is to use external hardware with a camera capture card such as Elgato CamLink .
These alternatives are admittedly more difficult to set up and more expensive than the plug-and-play EOS Webcam Utility, but they still have to get the job done.
[ Petapixel ]