Tired of using the low-res 720p FaceTime camera built-in to your MacBook Air, Pro, or iMac? Canon just expanded its beta software to macOS today that lets you use an EOS or PowerShot camera as your webcam for much-improved video quality.
Enable Camera and Microphone on my Mac (for Chrome) Print Modified on: Sat, 7 Mar, 2020 at 1:08 PM First, click the apple icon on top left corner Select System Preferences. How to Take a Photo With Continuity Camera Open one of the apps mentioned above on your Mac. Right-click (Ctrl-click) in the document or window where you want your photo to appear, or click the. I connect a larger Apple monitor via the Mini DisplayPort on my MacBook. The monitor displys just fine, but I want to use the camera on the external monitor so I can keep the macBook lid closed. The MacBook will only recognize the built in camera and not the camera built-in to the external monitor. Click on the grayed-out camera icon, and it will turn red to let you know this function is active again. Click on the gray filmstrip icon to the left of the camera icon. The camera icon will turn into a video camcorder icon. Click this icon to begin shooting video with the iSight camera.
Apple has taken a lot of criticism for sticking with just a 720p resolution for its MacBook and iMac built-in FaceTime cameras. The iMac Pro does have a 1080p resolution, but the majority of Mac users — including those with the 16-inch MacBook Pro and new 13-inch Pro and Air — are stuck with 720p that often produces grainy video, especially in low-light conditions.
Outside of buying an external webcam, what else is there to do? Well if you have a compatible Canon EOS or PowerShot camera, you can now use it for high-quality webcam video with your Mac.
Canon announced the news in a press release today and created a tutorial video on getting set up.
Unfortunately, there are some limitations since the EOS Webcam Utility is in beta, like no support for FaceTime or Safari, and you need to use the web versions of Zoom, Skype, etc. It’s also only available for users in the US at the moment. But if that’s not a dealbreaker, it’s definitely worth checking out!
If you don’t have a Canon camera (or your Canon model isn’t compatible) there are some other ways to use your DSLR or mirrorless camera as your Mac webcam.
Cascable Pro Webcam is a good alternative that works with most Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, and Sony cameras over WiFi and Canon EOS and Nikon cameras over USB. Cascable offers a free trial then runs $30 as a one-time purchase (this still is in beta).
Another option includes using two pieces of software, Camera Live and CamTwist. How download google chrome for mac. Read more about how to get going with this option here.
Finally, Camo is a sharp-looking app that allows you to use your iPhone as your webcam. It’s not fully launched yet but signups for early access are open.
How to use a Canon EOS camera as a high-quality Mac webcam
Download the EOS Webcam Utility Beta from Canon (check that your specific EOS or PowerShot camera is supported here)
After installing you’ll need to restart your Mac
Now you can turn on your Canon camera and set it to movie mode
Dial-in your exposure, then plug in the USB cable to your camera, followed by your Mac
Close out the EOS Utility if it auto opens
Now when picking a camera in a video call app/service (needs to be web-based, Chrome recommended) choose “EOS Webcam Utility Beta”
As mentioned above, at this time, FaceTime and Safari are not supported. And Mac apps like Zoom and Skype aren’t either, so you’ll need to use the web versions to make use of this beta utility for now.
Check out the full video walkthrough below:
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Your MacBook Pro comes equipped with many different functions and features that make it a really great computer to have.
All of the high-end tech that is built into these computers can allow you to accomplish many different tasks quickly and Apple products are well-known for their intuitive interface and ease of use. If you just got your hands on a new MacBook Pro, congratulations and welcome to the club!
One basic function and piece of equipment that every MacBook Pro comes with is a camera.
The quality of these cameras seems to improve with every new generation that Apple puts out and they are very functional and easy to use. These built-in cameras come in handy during a number of different circumstances and are simple to operate once you are familiar with the basic functions of your computer.
Reasons for Using Your MacBook Pro Camera
The camera on your MacBook Pro can be used for a variety of different reasons.
It is typically not used in the same way as a common camera on your phone or other devices. It would look pretty hilarious if you help up your computer for a family photo, wouldn’t it?!
I suppose it would work for this, but most people use the built-in camera on their computer for other reasons than taking photos.
1. Video Calls & Chats
One of the most common uses for the built-in camera on your MacBook Pro is for video calls and chats.
Well known apps such as Facetime and Skype and utilize the camera to record your image in real-time and show it to whoever you are calling with. Since the camera on your laptop is located above your screen, it is easy to adjust the angle to center it on your face or body to make these calls happen. These cameras work really well for these calls and chats.
2. Photo Booth
Although it’s not very common to use your laptop in a similar fashion as a regular camera, that doesn’t mean it can’t be done.
With the Photo Booth app on your MacBook Pro, you can take fun and creative photos easily from your computer. The app operates similar to an old-school photo booth where you hit a button, hear a countdown, and then a photo or two are taken. Photo Booth can be really fun and I’ve had a bunch of laughs using the program.
3. Live Streams
Another thing you can use your built-in camera for is live streaming.
You won’t have the best high-quality using your computer’s camera but you can easily live stream any talking or informative content if you have a YouTube channel or are currently a video blogger or interested in learning how to do so.
Using the camera on your MacBook is an easy way to learn the basics of how to live-stream and video blog and a lot of people use it for this reason.
How To Use Camera On Macbook Air
How to Turn Your Camera On
In order to operate your camera and utilize it for any of the above purposes or whatever other reason you might want it for, you need to turn it on. It’s actually really easy to do and pretty self-explanatory so once you learn how to turn it on, you’ll probably never forget how.
The first step to turning on your camera is to open whatever app you want to use your camera for. This could be any of the apps mentioned above including Facetime, Skype, or Photo Booth. There are other apps that use the camera feature and those can work for turning your camera on too.
When some of these apps are opened, such as Photo Booth, the camera will come on automatically. For the other apps, like Facetime and Skype, you might need to click on the video icon to turn the camera on. You’ll know that your camera is on because there will be a small green light that comes on right next to the camera lens.
You’ll also see the image that the camera is capturing displayed within the window of the app you are using.
If Your Camera Doesn’t Turn On
Sometimes you might open up one of these apps and your camera will not turn on. There are a few troubleshooting tips you can use to try and fix the problem.
First, make sure that you only have one app that uses the camera open at a time. If you have two apps open and both are trying to use the camera, chances are only one will have access and the other won’t work. Close any programs that might be trying to use your camera except the one you want to use.
You can also try restarting your computer and then opening up an app that uses the camera. This usually fixes the problem if you don’t know why your camera is not turning on. If the restart doesn’t work, you might need to update your operating system or the photo/video app you are trying to use.
How To Use Camera On Mac Monitor
Also Read: How to Turn off Camera On MacBook Pro
Final Thoughts
Using the camera on your MacBook Pro is easy and can also be a lot of fun.
How To Use Camera On Macbook Air
Turning your camera on really is as simple as opening up one of the apps that use the camera or video function. It’s rare that this doesn’t turn your camera on but if so, just follow the troubleshooting steps and you should be good to go with a quick restart or update.
If you’ve never used your computer’s camera before, give it a shot and you’ll see how nice it is!
How To Use Camera On Mac Air
What do you use your built-in camera for most often?