How To Use Camcorder As A Webcam (Simple Steps)

Camcorders are not necessarily considered hot technology nowadays, as they have certainly had their heyday years ago. Most people had one, including you. In fact, they were very popular when phones were analogue and could not shoot and record videos.

Still, these handheld devices can record clear and detailed videos, especially since the lens and sensors are top quality. This is why they were convenient to have, and you will most likely have one lying around at home.

Webcams, on the other hand, are really used for video calls or streams. Their quality usually is low compared to camcorders and cellphone cameras. For their purpose, though, the quality is enough.

However, they do not have their power source and instead need to be connected to your computer. In addition to the camera lens, some models may have a microphone. Because they do not have excellent quality, they cannot record any videos.

But when you think about it, both devices have the same primary feature, the camera itself. Thus, can you use your camcorder as a webcam and enjoy better video quality?

The Basics

It may be possible to use your camcorder, but you need to figure out some things first. For example, you will need a few things:

The Right Cable

Camcorder models are different, and you need to find the appropriate cable for it. A firewire camcorder needs a firewire card and cable, while an analogue one requires a video capture card and a USB or HDMI cable. Lastly, a digital camcorder needs a USB or HDMI cable.

Software

The next thing you would need is the webcam software. It's a good thing most of them are still free to download, although if you want premium features, you might want to consider investing a few dollars. They do not usually cost more than $50.

Steps On Using Your Camcorder As A Webcam

Identify the Type of Camcorder

This step should have already been done before you identify the right cable and software for the setup. If you are in doubt, look at the manual to see what is compatible with your gadget.

Needless to say, this is the most important step if you want it to work out.

Charge The Battery Or Connect It To A Power Source

Because your camcorder cannot draw electricity from the computer, you need to make sure it is fully charged or plugged to a power source. The power source is the better choice because the batteries might not last longer than 5 minutes, especially if it's on idle.

If you have not been using your camcorder for a while, make sure you do a test run first.

Connect The Camcorder

After you check whether your camcorder is working normally, you can start connecting it to your computer. Connect either the video capture card or the firewire card to the hard disk of the computer.

This is incredibly important because it will make it possible to transfer the video output into your computer's processor.

Afterwards, you need to connect the firewire or the USB cable from the camcorder to the computer where these cards have been installed.

However, if you are using a digital camcorder, you do not need to do any of these steps. Typically, they only need an HDMI cable, and it will take care of everything. The most important thing is that your camcorder has an HDMI port.

Set Up the Software

After you have set up the connection between your camcorder and the computer, go back to the software. Make sure you download (if needed) and install everything necessary. The instructions and processes should be easy enough to follow and apply.

Try It Out

Once you have done all the setting up, you should be able to use your camcorder as a webcam! Try it out and check out if it works. If not, check the connections and the software again.

Once it does, you can enjoy the better video quality compared to the old-style webcam. If you want to use it for videos, then you can directly create them on your computer.

Pros and Cons of Using Your Camcorder As A Webcam

Beyond the obvious reason that using your unused camcorder at home makes more sense than buying a new one (which can be expensive if you want one with better quality), you will enjoy the definitive HD quality of a camcorder.

This makes a big difference if you're going to create videos for upload.

The disadvantages include the higher electricity use of the camcorder compared to a webcam. Another issue is the automatic shutoff feature common with many camcorders.

They are usually there to prevent the battery from draining or the components from wearing off. This feature can be inconvenient if you need to use it for a more extended period of time. Lastly, they can be bulkier and heavier than the ordinary webcam.

Conclusion

Your camcorder can be an excellent solution to a lack of a webcam or if you need a video capture device with good quality. Still, it was not designed to be used this way, so you need to figure out how to install it and make sure it does not auto-shutdown while using it.