Camcorder as a Webcam Help
Hello ladies,
I was wondering what your experience is with using camcorders to cam on. It seems that nowadays most girls do not use camcorders, presumably because HD webcams are so high quality, however, I sell my clips and like to record my camshows in high quality video, and I also love (and miss) a remote control. Mouse-controlled zoom just doesn't cut it.
Since upgrading to Windows 7, my old, DV tape IEEE based camcorder will not be detected. I have a fancy HD Sony camcorder and it IS detected on both camsites I use (iFriends and Streamate) but the problem is complicated and annoying, if I set it in widescreen mode, I appear either narrow or fat, I can't recall which, and it is the opposite if I set it in regular mode (4:3 I believe). This happens on both sites, and I did try messing around with the details in the encoder. I heard from iFriends tech support that it is due to false letterboxing, which just crops a widescreen image instead of affording true 4:3 which is the ratio the camsites deal with.
Now even if I do find a camcorder with DV capabilities (so it will have IEEE connections and be able to work as a webcam- USB provides a shoddy image) there is no guarantee that that new camcorder will not also "false-letterbox"- that isn't something they advertise or mention in their specs or manuals.
There must be a simpler work-around! What kinds of camcorders do you ladies use? What kind of system do you have?
I know I could use a webcam capture software but it just captures broadcast quality not HD or even decent video quality.
So frustrating, right now I have 2 HD camcorders with 2 HD Logitech webcams perched on top of them with sticky putty! Works but it is very annoying and inconvenient, not to say unprofessional ;)
Re: Camcorder as a Webcam Help
I'd love to know this also. I have a Sony HD camcorder and can't figure out how to make it work...never seems to get recognized by the site or the encorder :S Thinking I should just upgrade my webcam instead. Are all of you cams 1080p?
Re: Camcorder as a Webcam Help
I have always used a camcorder there is a couple of ways to connect it to your computer. one of I use the dazzle video capture device and other is to install a video capture device in your desktop, also dlink use to make a great video capture device but its no longer on the market if you can find one on ebay get it
Re: Camcorder as a Webcam Help
how old of a camcorder is it, and what system are you on? I'm using a Logitech 920
Re: Camcorder as a Webcam Help
thanks for the recs, I may try it and see if I can tolerate the quality, but I like DVD quality or true HD!
Re: Camcorder as a Webcam Help
I used dazzle for years and my old one broke, I got a new model and it totally didn't work for me, perhaps not with windows 7? what system are you using? Thanks :)
Re: Camcorder as a Webcam Help
There is also a few threads on here that discuss this
I do find the older models of dazzle video creative better the 80 and 90. the 100 I don't like so much
Now I am considering getting a desktop computer with a built in video capture device I remember one of the webcam sites recommended one but I don't remember which model they suggested I will have to do some digging in old post.
Re: Camcorder as a Webcam Help
found it Osprey 100 it was recommended by scores live. surprised their site is still around. it could be that I am currently working on a laptop i've noticed a drop in quality that I do not get when I was working on a desktop.
Re: Camcorder as a Webcam Help
Re: Camcorder as a Webcam Help
Minnie, are you using windows? If so, what version? That panasonic seems good, you connect it with a dazzle or firewire? I saw that cam has firewire. The Osprey capture cards seem to deal exclusively in analog. I don't think dazzle works on windows 7. You don't get stretched at all with that Panasonic? I'd love to use a pan/tilt video head and a remote again!
Re: Camcorder as a Webcam Help
I use windows 7 with my dazzle video capture version 100. and my current camcorder is a sony hc62. but i am looking for a different one and also will changing from using a laptop to desktop. and I have the ebenk pan and tilt remote head got that on ebay as well. I am hoping once I get a desktop I won't need to change my camera. but in the past I have used the JVC-290 and the sharp-DL100 they came with remote controls and I was working on a desktop when I Started out camming. Since about 2007 I switched to a laptop and I am not too happy with the quality.
so I Am definitely working towards getting back my old set up too bad I Am learning now nothing was wrong with it.
Re: Camcorder as a Webcam Help
I use windows 7 with my dazzle video capture version 100. and my current camcorder is a sony hc62. but i am looking for a different one and also will changing from using a laptop to desktop. and I have the ebenk pan and tilt remote head got that on ebay as well. I am hoping once I get a desktop I won't need to change my camera. but in the past I have used the JVC-290 and the sharp-DL100 they came with remote controls and I was working on a desktop when I Started out camming. Since about 2007 I switched to a laptop and I am not too happy with the quality.
so I Am definitely working towards getting back my old set up too bad I Am learning now nothing was wrong with it.