Greetings to blog readers!
Today I would like to consider one interesting question, which has already been asked several times by subscribers and readers of the blog. So, can you use camera as web camera?
How to use your camera as a webcam?
The question is relevant for those who do not have a webcam on their computer, but want, for example, to chat with friends on Skype. The answer is ambiguous - maybe, but there are a number of conditions for this. Firstly, many modern models are already equipped with a similar operating mode. In order to activate it, you just need to install the drivers, connect the camera with a USB cable to the computer and activate the camera mode.
But in most cases, things are much more complicated. first of all, you need to check if your camera has the ability to broadcast streaming video. To do this, we take from the kit that came with your model, a cable with tulips for connecting to a TV - at one end it usually has 3 tulips, and on the other the connector that is intended for audio-video output on the fotik - it can be usb, miniJack or whatever.
As a rule, a yellow tulip is responsible for the video - we connect it to the video input on the TV and select the AV input as the image source in the TV menu - the fotik, of course, must be turned on. If there is no picture, then you will not be able to use this camera as a web camera, since it cannot transmit streaming video.
If a picture from the camera appears on the screen, then you can proceed to the next step and connect it to the computer.
But first you need to make sure that it has a video capture device with a tulip video input, which will transmit video to the program. It can be a video card or a TV tuner. If there is no tuner, and the video card is not equipped with the necessary video input, then you can purchase a separate video capture device - there are a lot of all kinds of inexpensive models in Chinese online stores.
We connect this device to USB computer, and the tulip connector we insert the tulip from the cable that came with the camera, which is inserted into the turned on camera.
For Canon cameras there is a separate similar special proprietary utility called PSRemote.
As you can see from the screenshot, you can also select a video file, picture or broadcast your desktop to play it on the Internet. In addition, the program allows you to add various cool effects to your video.
After that, in Skype or another application for video communication, for example ooVoo, select our application as the outgoing video ("Tools> Settings> Video settings> Select webcam> SplitCam Capture")
The MoneyCam program works in a similar way, in which there are even more all kinds of overlay effects for online videos and detailed settings displaying video pictures. To start the image from the camera, go to the "Sources" tab and select our camera.
In Skype, as well as in the case of SplitCamer, go to the source selection section and activate the ManyCam application as it.
Or, for example, you can use the program on Facebook:
That's all for today - I hope the question of how to use a camera as a webcam has become not so insoluble for you - go for it!
Modern Android smartphones are equipped with a very quality cameras often superior in quality to budget webcams. So the Android phone camera can be used as a webcam for a PC or as a video surveillance camera! You can use it to communicate in video chats or any other needs: the smartphone will be detected by the computer as a real webcam.
How to use your smartphone as a webcam over Wi-Fi or the Internet using IP Webcam
For all operations, we need the IP Webcam application, this is free program allows you to create online broadcasts directly from your Android device. But there is a limitation, only members of one network will be able to view the online broadcast. In other words, your computer and phone must be connected to the same router via wi-fi, but you can also access the broadcast simply via the Internet, for this you need the Ivideon program.
How to use a smartphone as a webcam for a computer via a USB cable
Sometimes, it happens that there is no way to connect a smartphone and a PC via the Internet, so only the good old one remains USB cable... To connect your smartphone as a webcam using USB, you will have to use the DroidCamX application. What is noteworthy, it will be possible to connect via Wi-Fi, and the application is more convenient than the previous one.
Troubleshooting and correct settings
- Long delay or video lags far behind
You need to reduce the resolution of the video stream in the application settings, or change the FPS.
- Poor quality video or too dark / blown out
Look in the settings of the IP Webcam program - "White balance", and in DroidCamX - everything is done in the PC client of the program.
Almost from the moment the first mobile phone With cameras, some users have thought about using them as webcams. Even then, there were various software solutions, allowing to turn the well-worn SonyEricsson or Nokia into a kind of video communication device, the quality of which, unfortunately, leaves much to be desired.
Now, when camera resolutions and hardware capabilities of smartphones have increased many times over, even the most budget devices are not inferior in their capabilities to full-fledged webcams. It remains only to choose the right software, which, on the one hand, should have the maximum set of functions, and on the other, it should be quite simple to configure. And the optimal balance of these two qualities was collected by the IP Webcam application from the Russian developer Pavel Khlebovich.
Connecting the phone to a computer via IP Webcam
The main difficulty in using IP Webcam is the need to configure it not only on the phone, but also on a computer or laptop. But this is quite a feasible price to pay for the impressive functionality that this application provides.To connect your phone as a webcam, you need to do the following:
1. Find and install the IP Webcam application on your smartphone using the Google app store.
2. On your computer, go to the official website http://ip-webcam.appspot.com/ and download the desktop driver for the extension to work properly.
3. Launch the application on your phone and select the "Run" option at the very bottom. After these steps, IP Webcam should activate the camera on the smartphone.
4. Open in the browser on the computer the local address specified in the running application on the phone, which will provide access to the web-based management interface with a wide range of functions.
5. We will not dwell on the desktop IP Webcam settings in detail, except for one main point. We only note that you can accept and test the quality of video and audio streams right away in this web interface. All you need to do is select the appropriate option for the "View Mode" and "Listening Mode" options. To start broadcasting audio, do not forget to activate the "Receive Audio" switch.
6. Now you need to run the IP Webcam Adapter utility, which was installed on your computer a little earlier. Setting it up is simple: just enter the camera's web address (where the web interface is located) into the already prepared template.
In this case, you should not delete part of the / videofeed template, since in this case the adapter will not work. Finally, press the "Autodetect" button and confirm the changes.
7. This completes the procedure for connecting the smartphone as a webcam. It remains only to configure the programs through which the video broadcasting will go. This is also not difficult to do. For example, for Skype, just go to "Settings and video" and select the appropriate device in the drop-down list. In this example, WebCam SC-0311139N is a built-in camera for a laptop, MJPEG Camera is a smartphone that works through the IP Webcam application.
At the end it is worth telling about a small detail. The quality of audio broadcasting through the built-in speakers of the phone leaves much to be desired: there are delays and strong echoes. Therefore, it is recommended to pass only the video stream through IP WebCam, and leave the plug-in or built-in microphone on the laptop for audio. For those who nevertheless decide to use the capabilities of the application, it is recommended to choose Flash or HTML5 Opus, as they give the most acceptable quality.
Also, in most cases, to work with sound, you need to go to the unprotected web interface address (hhtps version), which will be notified by a pop-up window with a corresponding message.
Now there are a huge number of applications for USB connection cameras. Not all of them are equally comfortable and work well. Therefore, I will review a few of the most worthy ones. 
Before starting, it is important to note that the last Android version and the firmware of new webcams makes our life much easier. Developers have learned to negotiate compatibility. As a result, to connect new camera in 80% of cases, it is enough to do the following:
Branded Webcam Applications
For broader functionality and use of camera capabilities, it is best to choose applications from camera manufacturers. For example, there are now apps from GoPro and Yi Action Camera. Such applications make it possible to simplify work with cameras at times. They also make it possible to use Wi-Fi wireless connection.
USB camera connection
The most convenient and reliable connection application is
... It now has over a million downloads and is generally a good rating for an application of this kind. In addition, the developers approached the project thoroughly and made a whole site dedicated to it. The site itself is in English, but contains all explanatory materials on the application and cameras.
Connecting with CameraFI
To work with WEB camera via CameraFI, just connect the camera to your smartphone or tablet and launch the app. In the window that appears, allow the application to access the items it will ask for. After that, you can already use the camera. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that when setting the resolution in the settings more than the camera can give, the image may disappear.
The CameraFi app has four main benefits:
- No need to root your device
Some camera connection apps require Root access, which will void your phone's warranty, and improper use of it may result in critical errors operating system Android.
- Connection of both wireless and USB cameras
The application works with a wide range of cameras connected via USB OTG cable... It also allows you to connect cameras through other connectors; there is a corresponding adapter.
- Support for a large number of cameras
CameraFI is compatible with a huge variety of cameras from almost any manufacturer. The application works with action cameras, professional photo and video cameras, WEB cameras and camcorders.
- Fast speed
The app supports high speed data transmission. The transfer can be carried out by wireless network at speeds up to 30 frames per second at FullHD resolution.
- Simple and intuitive interface
There is also a Russian-language version. The app itself is constantly being updated to support more and more new cameras and recording devices. Latest Versions also work well with drone cameras, medical cameras and built-in action cameras. 
The CameraFi app has both a free and a paid version of CameraFi Pro.
Problems connecting the camera via USB
The most common connection problem is that the smartphone simply does not see the camera or does not recognize it correctly. The application is suitable for solving this problem. Stickmount
... It allows the system to correctly identify the device and connect to it. The application itself for correct work requires superuser rights on the smartphone.
Stickmount analyzes the connected device and allows it to be recognized as a USB camera. In addition to the camera, the application allows you to work with drives and other devices connected via a USB interface.
UsbWeb カ メ ラ
Application UsbWeb カ メ ラ- is another way to connect an external USB camera to a smartphone. It also has free and PRO version... You can download UsbWeb カ メ ラ in Google play Store.
The application itself has a simple interface and not as wide functionality as CameraFi, but at the same time it has wide compatibility with cameras different manufacturers... The application allows you to take photos and record videos in different resolutions. The camera is fully configurable via a smartphone.
To connect an external USB camera via UsbWeb カ メ ラ follow the instructions:
- Connect the camera to your smartphone or tablet via OTG cable.
- Launch the app, go to settings and run connection diagnostics.
- As required by the application, disconnect the camera from the smartphone and click OK.
- When prompted by the app, connect the camera to your smartphone and click OK.
- Then the camera will connect to the application, which will take up to 20 seconds.
- After that, the application will ask you for permission to transfer data about the camera to the server. Here it is better to choose yes, since it is on the basis of such data that the base of video cameras and methods of connection with them is formed. All this helps to improve the application.
- After that, you can use the camera. If the application does not detect it, try again.
- In case of connection problems, select Stock in the USB Host Diagnostics window.
Other applications in the Google Play Market for working with USB cameras
Now on Google Play Market there are over a hundred connection applications external cameras via USB to a smartphone or tablet. But, the problem is that there are a huge number of cameras from different manufacturers. They have different matrices, chips and firmware, so the connection procedure can be completely different. Therefore, even best apps with millions of downloads have low ratings due to the fact that someone found a camera from an unknown manufacturer that was simply not recognized. But by using the more popular applications, you increase the chance that the camera will work. In addition, today's cameras are better optimized and standardized than 10-year-old models.
Many applications require Root access on the smartphone to connect the camera via USB, which is not at all required for top-end applications.
Outcomes
In order to connect a USB camera to a smartphone, you need to use special applications. The most common and versatile is CameraFi. It supports work with a large number of cameras, has a user-friendly interface and is easy to configure. Plus, CameraFi has both a free and a paid PRO version.
UsbWeb カ メ ラ is also a great camera app. It has a simple interface, supports a large number of cameras, and is constantly updated. Unlike this application is more difficult to use.
Very often, when connected, the camera is simply not recognized. To solve this problem, it is recommended to use Stickmount
, but it requires superuser access, which has subsequent negative effects. 
The best option is to purchase a Wi-Fi camera manufactured in 2015 and later. These cameras have more standardized software, which makes it easier to connect to a smartphone and get better videos and pictures.
An IP camera is a useful thing, but you can only pay a few hundred dollars for a video surveillance system if you definitely know that you need it. In all other cases, especially when it comes to the simplest tasks of organizing video broadcasting, any Android smartphone can handle this. As a temporary solution, this is the most the best option, which will require the smartphone itself and special application... Let's take a look at the best ones.
The most popular application that turns a smartphone or tablet into a security camera. Its main advantage is a huge number of settings that can confuse the average owner of an Android gadget, but they will certainly be appreciated by advanced users. IP Webcam, in fact, does not have an interface familiar to this kind of programs. Instead of an intuitive screen at startup, the settings menu is immediately offered, scrolling down to the very bottom, you can find the main option to start the video broadcast.
After that, the application switches to shooting mode, and the screen displays the address for viewing the broadcast and remote control of the device's camera. This can be done in any convenient way: through the browser, third party programs for video surveillance and even through the VLC media player. This method is valid only within local network.
Possibilities fine tuning IP Webcam is so limitless that the app is worthy of a separate review. In the program, you can customize almost everything, from the resolution of the video, its bit rate and recording format, and ending with the creation user interface cameras. Sophisticated users will be pleased with the functions of controlling the sensors of a mobile device to trigger on movement and sound. In addition, the application has integration with the Tasker utility (assigning actions to specific events), but this function is only available in paid version.
Remote control camera is carried out on any device with Internet access: on a smartphone, tablet or computer. You can watch broadcasts, record video and sound, take pictures. By the way, all records are saved in the device's memory, there is support for loop recording - when the specified threshold is reached, the program will automatically overwrite old videos.
IP Webcam supports live streaming via Ivideon. To do this, you need to register with the video surveillance service and connect your account in the IP Webcam application.
Here, depending on tariff plan, you can configure the camera to automatically save all events to the cloud.
Alfred is perfect for novice users. The application has a basic set of functions and a simple interface. At the same time, it is universal, that is, it can act as both a camera and a monitor, switching between these two modes is carried out at any time.
You need a Google account to sync your camera and monitor. Alfred allows you to connect and remotely control multiple devices at once. The app equally supports broadcasts over Wi-Fi and Mobile Internet automatically choosing the best connection.
The functionality of the program depends on the mode of using the smartphone. If the device is selected as a camera, then here you can select several options regarding its camera and activate a motion sensor with three levels of sensitivity.
In monitor mode, all these functions are available remotely, plus it is possible to set up notifications for events, view the archive of records in the cloud and request some service information from a remote device (battery level, Wi-Fi, number of disconnections over the last 7 days). While watching the broadcast, the user can record a video (up to 30 seconds), send an audio message, switch the camera, turn on the flash and rotate the picture clockwise.
You can also watch what is happening through the web interface of the service. In this case, two additional functions- the ability to scale the picture and take pictures from a remote device.
The video is mainly broadcast at a frequency of no more than 10 frames per second, the quality can be called acceptable only at the moment when the picture is static. When moving in the frame, the video quality deteriorates greatly. Unfortunately, the situation can only be improved by paid subscription.
An uncomplicated program that turns a mobile gadget into a hidden video surveillance camera. TrackView is universal utility, which combines the ability to conduct surveillance on one device and manage this process on another. At the same time, the functionality of the application is absolutely the same, regardless of the mode of its use.
A prerequisite for organizing video surveillance is registration in the service, authorization through Google is supported. The image quality in the application is excellent, the delays are minimal. From the functions available video recording, two-way audio transmission Push to Talk, switching cameras, flash activation. One of the most strengths TrackView is a motion and sound detection function. It works properly, when the sensor is triggered, a 15-second video starts recording, remote device a corresponding notification is received.
In addition, TrackView tracks GPS location. The advantages of the program also include automatic copying of all records in cloud storage Google Drive.
AtHome Video Streamer works in conjunction with AtHome Camera. The first application acts as a client (streamer), the second as a server that controls the camera on a remote device. Moreover, in the capacity of both, not only a mobile device on iOS and Android can be used, but also a computer under Windows control.
The client part, as often happens, does not contain any essential settings. You just install AtHome Video Streamer on the device that will be filming. The only thing that can and even needs to be configured is to switch the video codec from software to hardware. Next, the utility automatically assigns the name, password and broadcast name to the gadget, which will be needed for remote connection to the camera.
AtHome Camera has significantly more functions. First of all, you will have to register here. The program allows you to add several cameras at once and monitor them simultaneously. This is done by manually entering data or by scanning a QR code. There is also an autosearch for devices in the local network. AtHome Camera can connect to a remote camera via the Internet, whether it's 3G / 4G or Wi-Fi. Picture - acceptable, maximum video stream resolution in free version service is 640 × 480 pixels.
In addition to basic camera control functions, the application has a schedule recording at two time intervals and a recording when motion is detected. All videos and photos are saved locally on the device. You can tell the program to send alert notifications to email... AtHome Camera can save recordings in the cloud, but only after subscribing. In general, the application can be used for free, if you do not need additional functions and are not confused by the abundance of advertising. By the way, ads are removed separately for $ 2.
Another easy-to-use utility for organizing video surveillance using two mobile devices. A standout feature of WardenCam is the fact that it only uses cloud storage (Google or Dropbox). That is, all recordings are not saved on the device itself. The rest of the application is in its own functionality and the principle of operation is similar to Alfred. Here you can also choose the type of smartphone use - a camera or a monitor, while the role of the gadget can be changed at any time. Synchronization between devices is carried out using account Google.
In monitor mode, the user has access to functions such as continuous recording, switching cameras, rotating the screen, turning on the flash, Push to Talk and activating the motion sensor. Here you can also configure the camera of the remote device (video resolution and quality, exposure, power saving, etc.). Among the most important options It is worth noting the sensitivity of the motion sensor and the activation of the schedule recording when motion is detected.
By the way, even without special settings, the motion sensor works perfectly, events are automatically recorded and sent to the cloud, the corresponding notifications come to the remote device. The broadcast quality also did not disappoint - the picture is decent, the maximum resolution in my case was 864 × 480 pixels, although in the settings you can set it up to Full HD.
The only significant disadvantage of WardenCam is the recording limit for a total of up to 48 hours in the free version of the application. The pro version without ads and video recording time limits will cost about $ 7.5 in one-time payment.
Telephoto is a program of a slightly different plan with an interesting idea for organizing video surveillance via Telegram. In fact, this is just a service that connects to a pre-created bot that acts as a security system. The application is placed on a smartphone or tablet under Android, and on the other device only Telegram is needed. Management is carried out in the messenger itself, where, first of all, you need to create a bot and activate it in Telephoto. All this is done very simply - the application contains detailed instructions on setting up the program.
After launching the service, go to the bot. He knows how to send photos from both cameras on request or on a schedule at any time interval, warn about motion detection, send event notifications to remote smartphone, receive GPS data and record sound. One more interesting function Telephoto is an integration with Tasker, thanks to which the user can send any control commands through the bot mobile device.
For all its merits, Telephoto still has several drawbacks. For example, when motion is detected, the program sends a series of several images in the form of GIF animation, where it is often difficult to see a person in the frame. Also, taking a photo in high definition and change the camera for the motion sensor (active by default front-camera) are only available in the paid Pro version. In general, the application is quite interesting and promising.
