camera as webcam??

[EdmondDantes]

Anyone know how to set up your digital camera as a webcam for video conferencing?

I have a canon S50 -

The remote capture feature works - but how would I integrate it with netmeeting or any other video meeting software?

thank you

[robertwgross]

I think you'll find that it might be technically possible to do this, but it may be very impractical. There are dedicated videoconference-type cameras that do a very good job at it.

---Bob Gross---

[EdmondDantes]

I know - but I will be traveling and would rather just use my digi cam with my laptop ---

any way to do it?

thanks

[RichardtheSane]

I don't believe it can be done.

I had a G5 and the only way I could use it's features as a webcam was using the AV output into an AV in on my PC. Picture quality was rubbish though.

You can get some reasonable and very small webcams these days...

[robertwgross]

For a presentable videoconference, you need to have a frame rate of at least 10 per second, ideally. You can squint and watch a frame rate of a few per second. However, finding a digital still camera that can shoot and deliver at that rate is demanding. Some Canons will do that until the frame buffer fills once, and then they are done.

I used to have to do videoconferencing between San Jose, CA and Tokyo. And it was always either very early in the morning or very late at night for both parties. We used to adjust the frame rate of the motion video cameras so that we could see the heads of the Tokyo guys hitting the table when they fell asleep.

Even if you do get the frame rate cranked up high enough, you have to solve the problem of shoving it out over the pipe, and keeping audio synchronized with video. It is not a simple task.

---Bob Gross---

[EdmondDantes]

thanks - i guess I'll forget that idea!

[shiningstardv]

Good book, eh Edmond?