How to Use Your Digital Camera as a Webcam

You must have looked at the title and wondered, 'how to use your digital camera as a webcam?' Today social sites have become a part of many people’s lives to get in touch with distant relatives and friends. Because of this, webcams have become important as they make communication more real and personal.  Even though all the new laptop models now come with in-built webcams, many people still use the old laptops. So, if your laptop doesn’t have a webcam or you have a desktop and a digital camera, we are going to change it into a webcam.

There are two ways to do this. The first way is for digital cameras that come with compatibility to be used as webcams and the other for those that don’t come compatible.

To know whether a camera is compatible, check the user’s guide. It is normally indicated clearly if it is compatible. Those that are compatible come with a video input/output cord and software CDs that need to be installed in your computer. 

Set-up
The set-up is very easy; just connect the camera to power, (most of them can’t act as webcams while on battery) connect the input/output cord to the computer and camera respectively and then install the software. After the software is installed, you will need to turn your digital camera to the webcam mode and that’s done. You can now use your new webcam.

When it comes to a camera that is not compatible, you will need a video capture card. This will help to process video. Though you will have to spend to acquire it, you will spend far much less compared to what you would to purchase a quality webcam as video capture cards can be got for less than $20. Most of them even come with tuners so you could use it to watch TV as well.

Set-up
1.    Fit the card into your computer. Most cards come with fitting instructions but if it doesn’t have it, look for instructions online. –It’s a simple procedure so don’t worry.
2.    Then, install the necessary drivers needed.
3.    Use the manual to connect the cords to their respective ports then open the software. If you got a TV tuner card, you will need to open the TV program then from the settings, switch from TV to video.
4.    You are good to go now, all you have to do is open any webcam program and video chat.
That is how simple and easy it is to use your camera as a webcam. In case it doesn’t work, restart your PC and every thing will be fine.