Using dvd camera as a web cam.

[CraigFisher]

i have a Sony 105 mni-dvd cam thats going to be replaced. Was thinking about using it as a web cam. Has anyone done this, what extra stuff i.e. cables, format, is involved?

[Ben Prusia]

I use my old MiniDV Camcorder as a webcam/camera for VORTEXpursuit.com Live. I had an old USB TV Tuner sitting around in my house so I might as well put it to good use.

The camcorder has an AV out port where I hooked a mini plug to a 3 RCA composite cable. The cable goes into my USB TV Tuner and in any webcam software, I select the webcam as "TV Tuner", set it to composite video, and the video from the camcorder shows up on the computer screen.

Pretty much, you will need a video capture device to get the video from the camcorder to the computer, and a cable to go from the AV Out on your camcorder to the video capture device.

[Tim Shriver]

I agree with Ben on using the MiniDv or some sort of video camera as a webcam.

Webcams tend to be lower resolution and poor or no zoom ability.

With a camcorder you can use it for normal filming and if it has S-Video out or Composite video out or even FireWire you can connect it to a laptop with an USB capture device.

I purchased the one below. It has RCA composite video for the camera and
USB 2.0 into the laptop. I connect it to a Sony Handycam. Works well so far.

KWorld Xpert DVD Maker USB 2.0 Video Capture Device

You can burn directly to DVD, store it on the hard drive or with
some streaming webcam software you can put your live video
out on the Internet.

The cost is right also. Works well. I use the mpeg format. Less CPU intensive
then WMV.

Tim

[CraigFisher]

Hey thanks for the respons guys.
Looked into the device you listed Tim. I have a older, well cared for JVC VHS-c camera. Might have use for it now.

[Tim Shriver]

I used a VHS-C for a long time. Worked fine.
The VHS-C is now used for a full time weather webcam aimed
outside a window at the house.

The KWorld capture device seems to work well. I use it on an older
Dell D600 with a Pentium M 1.6 with a gig of ram.

Windows Movie Maker did ok, but the recorded video was jerky. I use
the software that came with the capture card and it works great.

Tim

[CraigFisher]

Thanks again Tim, just ordered it.