Trash that Webcam, Mount a Camcorder

Quality Comparisons

For the quality tests, we used the same conditions as in the Webcam Shootout Article. Ambient light for the bright light conditions came from two banks of overhead fluorescent lights that simulated an office environment. The low-light conditions were simulated by turning off the lights and only having the ambient glow come from a laptop screen and a 17" LCD screen.

A raw snapshot was first taken with DV Rack, a product made by Serious Magic. This gave us the best possible capture from the camcorder. Captures taken while using the free USB driver and the WebcamDV product were then compared to see if there were any quality differences.

You can easily see that the USB driver produces horrible pictures compared to the WebcamDV software. In addition, the USB driver had a max resolution of 352x244, while WebcamDV could go up to 640x480.

The only visible difference between the raw capture and the capture with WebcamDV was the difference in resolution. The raw picture was 720x480, which is the native MiniDV resolution, while the WebcamDV shot was done at its maximum resolution of 640x480.

We are not showing the low light shots because they were black. In low light, the Panasonic GS70 did not produce any picture. Do not use it for low light surveillance. Other camcorders may do better.

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Raw CaptureUsing DVRackFree USB DriverFrom PanasonicWebcamDV

Conclusion

With the right software, you can turn your surplus digital camcorder into a Webcam on steroids. OrangeWare's WebcamDV software appears to be the best way to trick the operating system into using a camcorder as a Webcam. As you can see from the picture quality comparisons, a camcorder paired up with WebcamDV produces excellent-quality images and video.

However, the free USB drivers are horrible and you might as well plunk down the money to buy a regular Webcam. The best solution is WebcamDV. At $20 WebcamDV is an affordable way to make your surplus digital camcorder into a great Webcam.

  • I wowuld like to try to use this but cant see how to hook my cam to computer I havew a JVC GZ-HD3 thanks Richard
    Reply
  • justchillinn
    thanks for the article. it proved to be quite useful. I even purchased the WebcamDV software.

    i'm having a problem with my Sony DCR-PC5 though. I have it connected via Firewire. the image I get on my computer is squished vertically, meaning everything looks fatter than it should be. It's not due to any settings on the camera, there are only a few anyways.

    do you know of any software or drivers or something that might help fix the problem I am having? thanks a lot for your help.
    Reply
  • PrinceMio
    I have a Sony DCR-TRV 103. I just went to Staples, bought the 1394 Fire Wire, and the Fire Wire PCI Card for about $32 each. Windows XP recognized it immediately and I am on board, see you on YouTube.
    Reply
  • gipsy
    I am looking fo info on how to use my sony ccdtr23 as a webcam.It has rca plugs.Thank you in advance
    Reply
  • I've recently tried the freeware program, SplitCam.

    Which is excellent! It not only converts my camcorder to a webcam, but even allows you to stream a playlist of video files to your webcam viewer. One tip, if you find tearing on fast movement, tick the option for Filter->Deinterlace which solves that perfectly.
    Reply
  • jdocop
    I, too, would like to use my camcorder, but I see a couple of problems. One, my Samsung SMX-F34BN/XAA does not have any drivers or software that allow it to be used as a camera by any computer (there is a mini AV jack that allows connection directly to a TV, and another cable that connects to USB on my PC; the USB allows the PC to copy whatever is in the camera's smart card, but there is no way to use the camera as a camera). And, two, my PC does not have any firewire connections available. So, two questions arise: Will this Orangeware program still work for my camera? And, could I purchase a card that will create Firewire connections out of a PCI Express X1 slot?
    Reply
  • jdocop
    Have to wonder whether anyone is paying attention to this article. Since no response was forthcoming from you all, I have tried to contact the Orangware web site, and guess what? email to them gets bounced. So, now I have to ask: what is the value of posting your article, if you can't back it up?
    Reply
  • I have an older Cannon MV920 which uses a tape and firewire. I tried usinfg it to vido conference inn Skype. Skype would not recognize my camera ?
    Reply
  • jdocop
    I, too, have a Canon that will connect to my PC via Firewire. Try Eagleton's TrackerCam software.........(google it).
    Reply
  • Hi..what camcorder can I use that is out now to do this?
    Reply