Camera support for Macs

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Level 1

17 points

Camera support for Macs

In a world that is currently in lockdown, it would be great idea if Macs had a facility that would allow DSLR and Mirrorless cameras to be directly connected to Macs and be recognised as a webcam. Either through USB or as a HDMI in. At present Webcams are in short supply due to stay and work at home demands, by allowing people to use thier DSLR or Mirrorless cameras as webcams would not only give greater video quality, it would save the need to buy a webcam or Video capture device. OBS has a VirtualCam plugin to allow DSLR & Mirrorless cameras to be live viewed and captured as a virtualcam from screen grabs. However, this software is not available for OSX (and does not look likely to be). Whilst some laptops and iMacs may have built in Cameras, MacMinis and Mac pros do not. This would be really useful to have this functionality and utility, either through future hardware upgrades (i.e. HDMI in) or better still, through a software fix that would work with existing Macs.

Mac mini, macOS 10.15

Posted on Apr 1, 2020 2:15 PM

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Answer 1

mavgo

Level 1

13 points

Apr 10, 2020 9:09 AM in response to nermie

I didn't realize it was on for Canon - apologies.

Ecamm Live may be your only option for Sony.

Im connecting a Canon M50 directly via USB to the mackbook for video- no additional hardware besides a power adapter to keep the camera alive.

As an update I reverted to the prior version of Zoom and the camera live / Camtwist combination still works. I'm running on Catalina BTW

Link here for prior versions of Zoom

https://medium.com/@dkiesow/how-to-fix-the-virtual-camera-function-in-zoom-mac-only-9872a6d9ea5

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Answer 2

nermie Author

Level 1

17 points

Apr 1, 2020 5:01 PM in response to BDAqua

Thanks but I think you are missing the point. Webcams are usually recognised as usb Camera devices and are available as Skype or Zoom input devices. DSLRs and Mirrorless cameras are not recognised by the OSX, and HDMI input is not on most Macs, only output. So this software is unlikely to recognise a DSLR camera as the OSX will not see it, and if it did, it would still have to be able to allow the Videoconferencing software to recognise it as a Camera. At present I can use Sony Imaging Edge to capture a live feed from my camera, but I still can't use it for Skype or Zoom.

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Answer 3

nermie Author

Level 1

17 points

Apr 8, 2020 2:48 PM in response to mavgo

Thanks for this. It would seem (according to their website) that Camera Live only works with Canon cameras (not Sony). It is also unclear if Camtwist will work with Sony Imaging (instead of Camera Live). Reading their website, it implies Camtwist requires a capture card. Although the video link showa that using Camera Live gets around this.

I wonder if any sony users have got Camtwist to work with Sony Imaging Liveview software? I think I also read that Camtwist only works with 32bit systems, so I am not sure if it will work with Catalina.

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Answer 4

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Apr 1, 2020 2:50 PM in response to nermie

See if this can do it?

https://www.bensoftware.com/securityspy/

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Answer 5

Apr 19, 2020 7:04 PM in response to mavgo

Yes, I just reverted back to Zoom 4.6.8 and the CamTwist camera works again.

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Answer 6

nermie Author

Level 1

17 points

Apr 1, 2020 3:11 PM in response to BDAqua

Not really, this appears to be designed for IP based cameras used for security, not DSLR like cameras. The purpose I was seeking is to use such cameras as a webcam for Skype, Zoom etc type calls/communication. A common application that is covered reasonably well is Livestreaming to Youtube or for gaming, but not videoconferencing.

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Answer 7

Apr 19, 2020 4:32 PM in response to nermie

I have my Canon 5D MkII connected via USB to my Mac Pro desktop, and it worked great with Zoom until Friday April 10 when it suddenly stopped working. I've searched endlessly for some troubleshooting advice but can find nothing. My EOS utility sees a live image, CamTwist Preview sees a live image, but no other apps can detect a camera, including Zoom and FaceTime.

I'm using Camera Live Version 13 and CamTwist 3.4.3 on Mojave 10.14.6

The only thing I did on that day was participate in a Bluejeans videoconference; after that Zoom stopped recognizing a camera. I have no idea if these are related events.

Zoom has Privacy permissions enabled in my System Preferences

There are no webcams to be found on-line right now due to the Covid virus and I am working remote. This set-up worked perfectly until 4/10 and then it just stopped working.

Can anyone help? I'd appreciate it.

Also, given the current world-wide crisis going on maybe Apple could step in and help enable webcams on ALL their products.

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Answer 8

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Apr 1, 2020 4:25 PM in response to nermie

It also works on a USB Webcam here, though I've not used it for Video conferencing...

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Answer 9

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Apr 1, 2020 5:27 PM in response to nermie

Yeah, it was along shot, I think it might see any USB connected Cam, wasn't sure if it did if it could be coerced into Web sharing... like I said long shot. :)

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Answer 10

nermie Author

Level 1

17 points

Apr 1, 2020 5:45 PM in response to BDAqua

Thanks for trying

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Answer 11

Apr 19, 2020 5:53 PM in response to JohnnyFromSoCal

Perhaps your bluejeans conference required the download of software that conflicts with the general use of the camera. I would try un-installing that and see if camera function returns to "normal"

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Answer 12

mavgo

Level 1

13 points

Apr 8, 2020 8:07 AM in response to nermie

I have been using a combination of the below - all free.... HOWEVER it looks like Zoom recent security updates have just killed the option of doing this as I updated this morning and it I no longer get the option to choose Camtwist in the video setting in the Zoom pereferences - LMK if you get it working

Camera Live https://github.com/v002/v002-Camera-Live/releases

CamTwist http://camtwiststudio.com

how to is here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kQJXQ25SmQ&t=318s

the other paid option is Ecamm Live

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Answer 13

mavgo

Level 1

13 points

Apr 19, 2020 6:24 PM in response to JohnnyFromSoCal

Just do a double check that zoom didn’t download an update also, I think 4.6.8 is the last camtwist compatible version .

also check in your system prefs permissions for anything zoom or camtwist unchecked.

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Camera support for Macs

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