Macworld: DV-Cam as a webcam? ...

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5 Replies Last post: Jul 23, 2008 10:31 AM by mikronj

Nobody

58,347 posts since
Oct 18, 2007

May 6, 2002 4:04 PM

DV-Cam as a webcam?

Hi y'all, I have a question: I have so many family-members and friends that live in other countries, and we frequently speak via MSN. Now my sister in-law wants to buy a web-cam and asked us also to do so, so we could see her while we chat on MSN. The question I have is this: I have a very fine DV-cam (Panasonic MX3000) that I just bought, so I don't really want to spend about $150 (yes it costs that much here in The North Atlantic !)on a new webcam. Is there a software that I can get somewhere so I can use the DV-cam as a webcam with OS X? Or is there some other solution for this that I haven't seen.
Thanks in advance,
fozzie

Nobody

58,347 posts since
Oct 18, 2007

1. May 6, 2002 4:26 PM

in response to: Nobody

Re: DV-Cam as a webcam?

Try Oculus. $20 shareware (I think that's the right price), and I used it at Xmas with a Sony DV cam and captured a cool time lapse movie of the gift opening session. Every second, I sent a photo to the hard drive; every minute, I sent one to the website, and the DV tape was recording the whole thing in real time

-rob.

Nobody

58,347 posts since
Oct 18, 2007

2. May 7, 2002 4:10 AM

in response to: Nobody

Re: DV-Cam as a webcam?

Thanks griffman, did you have the camera hooked up to your mac via Firewire?
Does anyone know if there are any free applications for this?
fozzie

Nobody

58,347 posts since
Oct 18, 2007

3. May 7, 2002 9:08 AM

in response to: Nobody

Re: DV-Cam as a webcam?

Yup, via the Firewire cable. No idea on free versions, but $20 is sorta tough to beat for the functionality it provides. You can even take "movies" of your desktop. Kinda cool

-rob.

Nobody

58,347 posts since
Oct 18, 2007

4. May 8, 2002 1:33 AM

in response to: Nobody

Re: DV-Cam as a webcam?

Thanks griffman, I will probably buy this Oculus, but a few things first.
I'm totally new to this web-cam scene. What do I need, a homepage or url? Will my homepage at apple.com do (iTools)? Or do I need a new one? Is this Oculus 3.1 easy to learn? Does it have a tutorial, or is it just so simple to use that is is self-explanatory?
Thanks,
fozzie

mikronj

1 posts since
Jul 23, 2008

5. Jul 23, 2008 10:31 AM

in response to: Nobody

Re: DV-Cam as a webcam?

I am not sure how to put this so here it goes. If you have a DV cam with a firewire connection you dont need any additional drivers to use it as a web cam on your MAC. The only exception would be the HD DV cameras from JVC which do not allow you to stream. I use my Sony Hnady Cam Mini DV camera with Ichat, Yahoo, and Skype with no problems. Now if you are wanting to use MSN video chat , as far as I know, it will not work on a MAC. Besides, the video on IChat is stunning and the sound is crystal clear even when I chat with friend in Germany and I am in Colorado. Hope this helps.

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May 6, 2002 4:04 PM

DV-Cam as a webcam?

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