You may find, as I did, that the difference in image quality is pretty striking. I expected to have to open a dedicated Canon app to check compatibility, but you only need to open your videoconferencing app of choice, go to video settings and select 'EOS Webcam Utility Beta' from a dropdown list where your existing webcam lives. After you run the installer, you just restart your computer, power on your camera, set your desired exposure, white balance and autofocus settings (you can't control them from the computer), and then plug it in via USB. Still, in the end, I'm pleased to say the 1D worked pretty darn well. I happened to have Canon's EOS-1D X Mark III handy, although I'll be the first to admit it's not the most practical camera for this type of use (my personal M100 isn't supported, and as expected, didn't work when I tried it).
Since we're all stuck inside right now, and our laptops all have horrible built-in webcams (and no, not even a shiny new Apple Macbook Pro includes anything at all decent), we figured we'd take a quick look at the software to see if it's any good.
All you need is a USB cable and a PC running Microsoft Windows 10. But for your sake, I hope you have a smaller compatible EOS camera laying around.Ĭanon recently announced the EOS Webcam Utility beta: software that will convert several of its recent cameras into webcams. Yes, of course a Canon EOS-1D X Mark III will offer better image quality than the junk camera that's built-in on my laptop. What do you think about this new software from Canon? Let us know in the comments section or on our new forum.Looming. Maybe if you are outside of the US you need to go to a different Canon site to download the software. and will not be supported outside that area. Now, what is strange is that on Canon’s site it says that, This Software is for use in the U.S.
Select Windows 10 (圆4), if not already detected, from the Operating System list.Once you arrive at the product support page follow these instructions: Imaging Technologies & Communications Group Compatible camerasīelow is a list of all the compatible Canon cameras that can be used. Our goal is that the EOS Webcam Utility Beta software can help reduce some of the remote workday stress for employees who are tasked with video conferencing and virtual meetings.” Tatsuro “Tony” Kano, executive vice president of the Canon U.S.A., Inc. “In unprecedented times, it’s imperative for Canon to provide our customers with useful, simple and accessible solutions to assist them in whatever imaging needs they have. Once the software is downloaded and the camera is configured within a video conferencing application, the user will be ready to go.
Iy only requires one single USB plug to connect the camera to a Windows operating systems computer. The EOS Webcam Utility Beta software solution is easy to use. While this is a beta release, it may also be due to limitations in OS X and a similar reason to why there is no NDI Virtual Input on Mac. This only looks like it works with Windows.
Most webcams or in-built cameras on computers are pretty bad quality, but they are convenient and easy to use.īy releasing this new EOS Webcam Utility, Canon has made it a lot easier to fastly improve your image quality by using a camera you might already own. With this increase in online live streaming, there is a real need for higher quality images and audio. People are using software such as Zoom and Skype in record numbers. Canon has released EOS Webcam Utility Beta software that allows you to use your existing DSLR, Mirrorless, or Power Shot camera as a high quality live streaming source through USB.ĭue to the Coronavirus outbreak, a lot of meetings, interviews and presentations have moved online.