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I have a mirrorless laying around, so I only had to buy a cable and a $12 HDMI to USB capture card off of ebay. The image quality is fantastic. My colleagues fr

I have a mirrorless laying around, so I only had to buy a cable and a $12 HDMI to USB capture card off of ebay. The image quality is fantastic. My colleagues frequently comment on how clear my video quality is. If you have a mirrorless that has a clean HDMI out signal, I highly recommend it.

jimmies 6y ago
Yeah, if you have an expensive mirrorless camera in a fixed setup then it's not bad, but it's quite a hassle if have to carry it around and expensive to buy.
- sudosysgen 6y ago
  IME, a cheap a6000 with the kit lens is very light and easy to carry around, and it's one of those things you keep for a very long time. Then again, I'm the type of person to lug around an A7ii with a 135 2.8 and a 28-75 2.8 everywhere I go!
  - Jaruzel 6y ago
    I wouldn't call ~450 GBP, 'cheap'... https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-ILCE6000LB-Compact-SELP1650-Electronic/dp/B00IE9XHE0 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-ILCE6000LB-Compact-SELP1650-El...
    - sudosysgen 6y ago
      That indeed isn't cheap. They sell on local classifieds for around ~250 CAD here. It's not a production model so buying it from Amazon doesn't make sense.
      - Jaruzel 6y ago
        I've been looking for a DSLR/DSLM on eBay for a while now to hook up to my Elgato Cam Link, and prices there aren't any better. It's like every youtuber has worked out the DLSR + HDMI output = Webcam trick, and it's inflating used camera prices.
        sudosysgen 6y ago
        That is unfortunate. In my local classifieds I can find them for around 300 USD before any haggling, maybe you will have more fortune there? But yes, the prices did indeed rise. It's quite how remarkable how well cameras conserve their value compared to other electronics.
samatman 6y ago
The capture card is actually optional if you're using a Mac, at least for some cameras. I run my mirrorless via microUSB using two apps, Camera Live[0] and CamTwist[1], both free. [0]: https://github.com/v002/v002-Camera-Live https://github.com/v002/v002-Camera-Live [1]: https://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/24275/camtwist https://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/24275/camtwist Camera Live claims to only support Canon, but I can tell you that Sony ASP-Cs work fine. The details of how exactly to get it working vary by camera, but a search for "$your-camera webcam CamTwist" will turn something up.
- sudosysgen 6y ago
  Sony has their own software for using your mirrorless camera as a webcam, whether APS-C or Full-Frame. But the quality is inevitably lesser to an HDMI adapter. A version for MacOS is being developped, according to their website It's called "Imaging Edge Webcam" : https://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/app/webcam/en/ https://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/app/webcam/en/ I'm personally using an A7ii with a Tamron 28-75 for Canon EF, and it works much better resolution and quality wise with the HDMI, just because of the limitation to 1024x768 of the USB camera mode, which was really meant for tethering. Coupled with a 4$ phantom battery, it's awesome! I can get a clear image in the very low light conditions of my room at night, too. No need to turn the lights on, even :)
- morsch 6y ago
  Is that using the tethering feed? I wasn't wild about the quality, ymmv, seemed lower res than my webcam. Here's how to do it using gphoto2 in Linux: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23407365 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23407365
  - samatman 6y ago
    Yeah, it uses the tethering feed, and I had to tweak some setting in CamTwist to get 1080p. Starting to think some kind of capture card might be worth the investment though.
    - morsch 6y ago
sudosysgen 6y ago
No need for a mirrorless camera, most DSLRs can do it, if they support clean HDMI out/external recording.
- m463 6y ago
  I thought the older ones weren't designed for it - they weren't designed to hold the shutter open, or use the sensor for long periods of time. I assume that has changed.
  - KineticLensman 6y ago
    Not sure that was ever the case. My Nikon from ten years ago had the 'bulb' exposure mode that would stay open until a remote trigger was released.
  - sudosysgen 6y ago
    People have been doing hour long exposures with these cameras for years. Let alone Live View mode! It's really moreso an excuse to up sell you on a video camera.
- gambiting 6y ago
  I'm actually really upset that my Lumix LX100 doesn't support live hdmi output, I was hoping to use it as a webcam replacement but apparently Panasonic never implemented this feature, which is a shame because the picture quality would blow any webcam out of the water.
  - michaelt 6y ago
    If you're on Linux and don't mind an unreliable hack where your video sometimes freezes, I was able to bodge the mobile app preview stream from my Lumix GX80 to appear as a v4l2 camera [1] [1] https://www.mjt.me.uk/posts/wifi-streaming-video-lumix-gx80/ https://www.mjt.me.uk/posts/wifi-streaming-video-lumix-gx80/
- vsto 6y ago
  I was thinking about using a Nikon D7100 with a capture card, since it has "clean output" HDMI (no menus or info ovelayed), but it has a 30 minutes maximum recording time according to https://www.atomos.com/cameras/nikon-d7100 https://www.atomos.com/cameras/nikon-d7100. Any ideas how to overcome that?
morsch 6y ago
There are $12 capture cards? Any recommendations?
- kalleboo 6y ago
  I have this and it works fine. When I bought it it was only $8 though https://www.amazon.com/Capture-Camcorder-Support-Broadcast-Streaming/dp/B0882XY5Q4 https://www.amazon.com/Capture-Camcorder-Support-Broadcast-S...
- michaelt 6y ago
  For $12 you can get a HDMI-to-USB2 capture card on ebay - it's based on the Macrosilicon 2109. You can also find $18 fake "USB 3" devices that are the same chip, but a higher price, a different case, and a blue plug. As it's USB2, you'll find it will only do uncompressed 1080p at 5fps, although it'll do 30fps if you use mjpeg. At either framerate, I noticed several frames of video lag, putting my lips and voice slightly out of sync (although how much is the camera vs the capture card is hard to say). I'm fairly certain the capture card also introduces some colour distortion compared to the camera's preview screen - perhaps brightening? You'll need a way to convince your camera to autofocus continuously, which might mean running in video-recording mode at all times. And of course you'll need a camera support that's the right height for where you're making calls from. You'll need mains power, or at least enough batteries to run the camera all day. And of course, no taking calls in different rooms for you!
- jonahhorowitz 6y ago
  I bought this one: https://www.ebay.com/itm/HDMI-to-USB-2-0-Video-Capture-Card-Recorder-Game-Video-Live-Streaming-1080P-HD/224151472567?hash=item34307809b7:g:hPMAAOSwy7pfWZkZ https://www.ebay.com/itm/HDMI-to-USB-2-0-Video-Capture-Card-... Works great. Haven't had any framerate issues when paired with a Panasonic GH3.
  - morsch 6y ago
    Thanks for the advice! I bought the adapter (or a device that looks just like it) and it does work great. Sony A6300, tested on both Linux and OS X. Plug and play. 1080p -- or whatever the resolution is that it's delivering -- is easily enough for Google/Jitsi meet. Quality is much better than the MacBook Pro internal webcam.

jimmies 6y ago

Yeah, if you have an expensive mirrorless camera in a fixed setup then it's not bad, but it's quite a hassle if have to carry it around and expensive to buy.

sudosysgen 6y ago
IME, a cheap a6000 with the kit lens is very light and easy to carry around, and it's one of those things you keep for a very long time. Then again, I'm the type of person to lug around an A7ii with a 135 2.8 and a 28-75 2.8 everywhere I go!
- Jaruzel 6y ago
  I wouldn't call ~450 GBP, 'cheap'... https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-ILCE6000LB-Compact-SELP1650-Electronic/dp/B00IE9XHE0 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-ILCE6000LB-Compact-SELP1650-El...
  - sudosysgen 6y ago
    That indeed isn't cheap. They sell on local classifieds for around ~250 CAD here. It's not a production model so buying it from Amazon doesn't make sense.
    - Jaruzel 6y ago
      I've been looking for a DSLR/DSLM on eBay for a while now to hook up to my Elgato Cam Link, and prices there aren't any better. It's like every youtuber has worked out the DLSR + HDMI output = Webcam trick, and it's inflating used camera prices.
      - sudosysgen 6y ago
        That is unfortunate. In my local classifieds I can find them for around 300 USD before any haggling, maybe you will have more fortune there? But yes, the prices did indeed rise. It's quite how remarkable how well cameras conserve their value compared to other electronics.

samatman 6y ago

The capture card is actually optional if you're using a Mac, at least for some cameras. I run my mirrorless via microUSB using two apps, Camera Live[0] and CamTwist[1], both free. [0]: https://github.com/v002/v002-Camera-Live https://github.com/v002/v002-Camera-Live [1]: https://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/24275/camtwist https://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/24275/camtwist Camera Live claims to only support Canon, but I can tell you that Sony ASP-Cs work fine. The details of how exactly to get it working vary by camera, but a search for "$your-camera webcam CamTwist" will turn something up.

sudosysgen 6y ago
Sony has their own software for using your mirrorless camera as a webcam, whether APS-C or Full-Frame. But the quality is inevitably lesser to an HDMI adapter. A version for MacOS is being developped, according to their website It's called "Imaging Edge Webcam" : https://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/app/webcam/en/ https://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/app/webcam/en/ I'm personally using an A7ii with a Tamron 28-75 for Canon EF, and it works much better resolution and quality wise with the HDMI, just because of the limitation to 1024x768 of the USB camera mode, which was really meant for tethering. Coupled with a 4$ phantom battery, it's awesome! I can get a clear image in the very low light conditions of my room at night, too. No need to turn the lights on, even :)
morsch 6y ago
Is that using the tethering feed? I wasn't wild about the quality, ymmv, seemed lower res than my webcam. Here's how to do it using gphoto2 in Linux: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23407365 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23407365
- samatman 6y ago
  Yeah, it uses the tethering feed, and I had to tweak some setting in CamTwist to get 1080p. Starting to think some kind of capture card might be worth the investment though.
  - morsch 6y ago

sudosysgen 6y ago

No need for a mirrorless camera, most DSLRs can do it, if they support clean HDMI out/external recording.

m463 6y ago
I thought the older ones weren't designed for it - they weren't designed to hold the shutter open, or use the sensor for long periods of time. I assume that has changed.
- KineticLensman 6y ago
  Not sure that was ever the case. My Nikon from ten years ago had the 'bulb' exposure mode that would stay open until a remote trigger was released.
- sudosysgen 6y ago
  People have been doing hour long exposures with these cameras for years. Let alone Live View mode! It's really moreso an excuse to up sell you on a video camera.
gambiting 6y ago
I'm actually really upset that my Lumix LX100 doesn't support live hdmi output, I was hoping to use it as a webcam replacement but apparently Panasonic never implemented this feature, which is a shame because the picture quality would blow any webcam out of the water.
- michaelt 6y ago
  If you're on Linux and don't mind an unreliable hack where your video sometimes freezes, I was able to bodge the mobile app preview stream from my Lumix GX80 to appear as a v4l2 camera [1] [1] https://www.mjt.me.uk/posts/wifi-streaming-video-lumix-gx80/ https://www.mjt.me.uk/posts/wifi-streaming-video-lumix-gx80/
vsto 6y ago
I was thinking about using a Nikon D7100 with a capture card, since it has "clean output" HDMI (no menus or info ovelayed), but it has a 30 minutes maximum recording time according to https://www.atomos.com/cameras/nikon-d7100 https://www.atomos.com/cameras/nikon-d7100. Any ideas how to overcome that?

morsch 6y ago

There are $12 capture cards? Any recommendations?

kalleboo 6y ago
I have this and it works fine. When I bought it it was only $8 though https://www.amazon.com/Capture-Camcorder-Support-Broadcast-Streaming/dp/B0882XY5Q4 https://www.amazon.com/Capture-Camcorder-Support-Broadcast-S...
michaelt 6y ago
For $12 you can get a HDMI-to-USB2 capture card on ebay - it's based on the Macrosilicon 2109. You can also find $18 fake "USB 3" devices that are the same chip, but a higher price, a different case, and a blue plug. As it's USB2, you'll find it will only do uncompressed 1080p at 5fps, although it'll do 30fps if you use mjpeg. At either framerate, I noticed several frames of video lag, putting my lips and voice slightly out of sync (although how much is the camera vs the capture card is hard to say). I'm fairly certain the capture card also introduces some colour distortion compared to the camera's preview screen - perhaps brightening? You'll need a way to convince your camera to autofocus continuously, which might mean running in video-recording mode at all times. And of course you'll need a camera support that's the right height for where you're making calls from. You'll need mains power, or at least enough batteries to run the camera all day. And of course, no taking calls in different rooms for you!
jonahhorowitz 6y ago
I bought this one: https://www.ebay.com/itm/HDMI-to-USB-2-0-Video-Capture-Card-Recorder-Game-Video-Live-Streaming-1080P-HD/224151472567?hash=item34307809b7:g:hPMAAOSwy7pfWZkZ https://www.ebay.com/itm/HDMI-to-USB-2-0-Video-Capture-Card-... Works great. Haven't had any framerate issues when paired with a Panasonic GH3.
- morsch 6y ago
  Thanks for the advice! I bought the adapter (or a device that looks just like it) and it does work great. Sony A6300, tested on both Linux and OS X. Plug and play. 1080p -- or whatever the resolution is that it's delivering -- is easily enough for Google/Jitsi meet. Quality is much better than the MacBook Pro internal webcam.