Remote Capture = webcam?

[kirktalon]

I'm sure not the first one to think about this and does or could Remote Capture work as a webcam for S30 or S40, other canon cameras?

[Rustle]

Our cameras won't function as webcams out of the box. The problem is the driver. A basic webcam is a TWAIN source that sends imaging data via its driver. You can then use a program such as Microsoft Netmeeting to pick up the TWAIN data.

From what I've seen, Canon's drivers will only function that way for Remote Capture, which has absolutely no online chat functionality. And there's no way that I can see to push the data to Netmeeting. If you want that to happen, we'll all have to petition Canon to build an all-purpose video-output driver. It's not impossible, because other camera companies do it.

There is, however, an alternative. If your computer has video inputs (usually through the video card or a tv tuner module), you can connect the video out port on a digital camera or video camera to them. Then, you should be able to fire up Netmeeting and tell it to use the video inputs as the video source (which is the video coming from the camera).

I haven't tried this process with my S30, but my dad uses his Kodak digital camera and ATI video card as a Webcam. This sounds like a lot to go though, but would you rather buy a cheap webcam or a USB tv tuner? I'd rather have the latter, simply because it has more functionality (I love having a tv on my computer).

If anyone's thinking about pursuing this, I can test out the process with my S30. I don't really need to, since I have a webcam, so I'd like to know that a few people will benefit before I spend the time.

Russ

[kirktalon]

Thanks for the reply Russ. I hope you do and can find a way of using the S30 as a webcam although I have to say I don't really use chatrooms so would I really need it? Are there other applications besides chat rooms? Can it be used in instant messaging? Also keep in mind that I am a Apple computer user and what you do will have to have some universality to it.

[Rustle]

Chat applications aren't quite the same as chat rooms. Netmeeting is an online collaboration tool (free from MS) that enables people to share video, documents, and even desktops over the Internet. That's pretty much all that I use my Webcam for (and sporadically at best). I guess video conferencing is a better description than chat application.

The only uses I can think of for Webcams are video conferencing and posting images to a Website (like a security camera). You could probably find other people on the Web doing funky things with their Webcams.

I'm pretty sure that Netmeeting exists for Mac, but I've never used it and don't have access to a Mac right now. So, anything I did on my PC wouldn't clearly apply to you. I have done video editing on a high-end Mac workstation, so I know the parts exist to capture video. Problem is, I don't know how you'd go about connecting everything together. Bottom line: if you really need a Webcam, you might just want to buy one.

Russ

[kirktalon]

Well, you seem like a well informed person. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and good luck in what I will assume is your new young career.

I don't think I really need a webcam right now. It was/is fun to think of it as a bonus with the S30.

[Rustle]

Thanks for the compliment. I'm 25 (having spent seven years in school), so I don't feel young. But it's all relative, right? ;)

Russ

[Tom Brown]

I can remember when 25 seemed old. No, wait... that was when 35 seemed old. No...

I think I'm with Rustle on this one. If you need a web cam, you need a web cam. Pekka has some software for doing remote capture with a D30 that I'm pretty sure works with my S110 and probably works with your S30 too. You may be able to use that to capture frames for displaying on the web.

[kirktalon]

So Pekka is the person who oversees this message board or whatever it is we are using????

[dreamstudios]

Has there been any development on this matter?

It would be quite cool to use the S30 as a webcam.. Sounds like all we need is for someone to hack together a TWAIN driver.

Chris.

[Rustle]

No development. I didn't think there was much interest in the video-capture solution. That, and I found my Webcam.

Russ

[saphir]

I hope there will be developpement in near futur of a "video capture driver".

I think that the breeze developper can do this ... but i don't know if he want to.

perhaps if we are a lot ...

[catod6]

Rustle wrote:

There is, however, an alternative. If your computer has video inputs (usually through the video card or a tv tuner module), you can connect the video out port on a digital camera or video camera to them. Then, you should be able to fire up Netmeeting and tell it to use the video inputs as the video source (which is the video coming from the camera)...
Russ

I tried connecting my S30 camera video out to my TV card, and it works well !!
I now can use my S30 for MS-Messenger video calls.
The connection is very simple: just connect your S30 video out to the video in of your tv card.
The only limitation I noticed is that once in several minutes the camera is auto turning off, since I don't use it for shooting. I someone has a solution for that, I will be glad to hear...

Ori.

[carl.h]

Hi
Please see my other post in this forum "Reply from Canon". I sent an email to canon and asked them just this question that you have here.

[stopbath]

You should be able to turn off the power saving feature in one of the menus.

Check your camera's menus, or your manual.

[lcfred]

Hi there.. .I was looking for something about it and I found a prog: Cam4you http://www.jpegclub.org/cam4you/)

I didn't test yet but It seems top work... at least is a freeware and there are some good functions on it (including a webcam mode... that I'm goig to test! ;-)
)

Let's see!!

[LoneShadow]

do not use your camera as a webcam!!!

I dont remember which newsboard we discussed about this.

But someone did speak to canon support.

The reason given was, the camera is not designed to run in a continous capturing mode for longer time. Aparantly, if you do manage to get your camera to run as a webcam, it will heat up the camera and ruin it.

There were specific reasons mentioned in that discussion. I do not recall either the specifics or the message board name, either it was in groups.google.com or anandtech's forums. But it mentioned reason something as I said above.

If you need to drive on a dirt road, why would you take your porsche, get yourself a jeep :p

LS

[carl.h]

You are totally right. It was me that talked to canon, and they mean that the camera would be overheated. You can get a cheap web cam, so do that instead.


LoneShadow wrote:
do not use your camera as a webcam!!!

I dont remember which newsboard we discussed about this.

But someone did speak to canon support.

The reason given was, the camera is not designed to run in a continous capturing mode for longer time. Aparantly, if you do manage to get your camera to run as a webcam, it will heat up the camera and ruin it.

There were specific reasons mentioned in that discussion. I do not recall either the specifics or the message board name, either it was in groups.google.com or anandtech's forums. But it mentioned reason something as I said above.

If you need to drive on a dirt road, why would you take your porsche, get yourself a jeep :p

LS

[cA70]

Does this mean extended use of remote-capture is bad for your camera and if you leave your LCD on for a long time when out somewhere, will it effect your camera?

And as for the porsche comment, they did actualy make a 4x4 version for offroad. But the money u'd pay to get it u'd be crazy to.

[lcfred]

All right everybody!

But the point is: you don't need to work with the LCD on, and of course it's for occasional use only... we're discussing IF it's possible and how, not if it's worth or not.