Connect External Camera to MacBook Pro

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Level 1

10 points

Connect External Camera to MacBook Pro

I want to use my mirrorless camera as a web cam. My first choice would be Nikon's Web Cam software, but it doesn't work with Mac's Sonoma OS. So, to get around that and to create higher quality video, I've gotten an external video card that connects from camera to MacBook Pro via HDMI, but when I go to FaceTime to use the camera as the input device, the only two choices I'm given are the laptop's camera and my iPhone, and FaceTime's "Automatic" video setting fails to recognize the external camera as well. I'd appreciate feedback and advice from anyone who's come up against this issue. Thanks!

MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 14.5

Posted on Jul 23, 2024 3:31 PM

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Answer 1

MartinR

Level 7

24,131 points

Jul 23, 2024 6:57 PM in response to Jaymate

Have you tried connecting directly from the camera to your MBP via USB? Nikon indicates this is an option. See How to Live Stream Using a Nikon Camera. Facetime, etc. may "see" it that way.

Did you install the OBS software that the EVGA appears to require for streaming?

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Answer 2

MartinR

Level 7

24,131 points

Jul 23, 2024 5:49 PM in response to Jaymate

Jaymate wrote:

I want to use my mirrorless camera as a web cam. I've gotten an external video card that connects from camera to MacBook Pro via HDMI,

The HDMI port on the Mac is output only, not input. It's for connecting displays and other HDMI devices that receive the HDMI signal from your Mac. That's why your MBP doesn't "see" the camera connected to your "external video card" connected to your MBP via HDMI.

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Answer 3

MartinR

Level 7

24,131 points

Jul 23, 2024 5:51 PM in response to Jaymate

What are the Nikon camera & the "external video card" you are using? (specific models) Also what specific model MBP?

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Answer 4

Jul 24, 2024 7:45 AM in response to Jaymate

I think you need to talk to the video card capture folks.

(You did allow it in privacy settings, I assume)

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Answer 5

Jaymate Author

Level 1

10 points

Jul 23, 2024 5:49 PM in response to MartinR

Thank you! But, even when I go via HDMI to the video card and USB to the Mac, I get nothing ... and FaceTime, for example, doesn't "see" the camera either for me to designate it as my video input. Nikon has also told me that their WebCam utility doesn't work with Sonoma, but they're working on it. Suggestions?

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Answer 6

Jaymate Author

Level 1

10 points

Jul 23, 2024 8:48 PM in response to MartinR

Yes, I did try a direct USB connection from camera to MBP ... it works with Nikon's Capture Pro software for stills and Lightroom's tethered settings, but the Nikon web cam product is incompatible with Sonoma. OBS does allow me to choose it in FaceTime's video options, but I then get an OBS message of "no video."

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