Sony Cameras Can Now Be Used as Webcams for Macs

[moneypants]

Well now that’s interesting. Are any other cameras able to do this, besides a GoPro?

Olympus Cameras have been able to do this for several months now. Not to mention a host of other features (live composite, live ND filter, live time, hand held hires, pro capture) that no other cameras come close to).

 

[RoSche]

Following the Sony description I did get the link to work, but only with Zoom and Teams.

It does not work in my case with GotoMeeting, Google Meet, nor Facetime. In fact my old webcam does not show up in Facetime anymore (although still connected) so that I don't have any picture there anymore.

Is that a behavior that others are seeing too?

 

[reggoboy]

I can't wait to see someone crazy glue their DSLR to the top of their monitor

 

[Vldmr]

How is it "way better" than using HDMI to USB capture device? I've been using my Sony RX100 IV and a CamLink 4K since April and it's been flawless. No software to install, just appears as a USB device to all my video apps, Skype, Zoom, FaceTime. Hundreds of hours of use without a single issue.

Not sure a buggy software solution that apparently isn't working for many, and hasn't even been available until now, can be called "better". But I'm glad it's working for someone. Obviously the "free" aspect is nice, but I have zero temptation to try it from all the reports. Sony's about 5 months too late.

As far as poor camera quality in the Mac laptops, I have to agree but it goes beyond that. I use an external 27" monitor with my 15" MB Pro and keep the main Zoom gallery on the bigger screen. An external camera was more about being able to face that screen when conversing, than the quality of the MB Pro camera. But it's definitely nice to have the Zeiss glass and higher res as a bonus.

Great info, thanks.
I’ll spring for the Camlink or one of the cheaper ones from Amazon, listed elsewhere in this thread. Looking forward to surprise my buddy in Thailand with the quality from my a7riii.

 

[nlsbrln]

"The resolution is 1,024 × 576 pixels." - Is this a (very bad) joke? @sony you are professional underperformers, are you?

 

[GlassFingers]

This software works great for me using Sony a6400 and MacBook 2019 16". USB cable to connect them together. And the MacBook has been keeping my a6400 charged while it's connected, so it can keep on chugging for hours. Like others have stated, you need to follow those 2 key instructions that Sony gave: disabling remote control of camera option and putting the USB function into the right mode. Two commenters before have already stated exactly how to do this... in addition to Sony's instructions.

Works fine for me with Zoom and OBS for live streaming.

 

[radbuddha]

All of this would be pointless if Apple would just release a simple driver in Mac OS that allows user to use the iPhone as a webcam.

3rd party apps that aim to do this mainly suck and none supports FaceTime.

This would have been 10000% easier to do and more useful to the public than the 20 second hand wash software on the Apple Watch (SMH).

yes, yes, yes....

 

[jyyz]

I tried this software with a Sony ZV-1 and a MBP 16in. Meh resolution. Anyone with a ZV-1 using the Cam Link 4K capture card: can you have the ZV-1 connected to the MBP via the HDMI out on the camera, and have the camera Micro USB connected concurrently so you are powering the camera at the same time? Anyone doing this having overheating issues, or does it work well?