Manufacturers do their best to ensure that the user, when photographing, resorts to the help of a PC as little as possible. Modern cameras not only shoot well, but also process frames without the participation of a computer. Including apply various effects, work with the format RAW , stitch panoramas and even make HDR ! And some photo gadgets can connect to the Internet and upload footage to popular online resources. It would seem that most amateur photographers do not need a computer at all. But in some cases it is more convenient to use a camera (regardless of its additional features) in conjunction with a PC.

For example, you need to see a picture on the screen of a laptop or desktop PC in a matter of seconds after the shutter is released - this way it is easier to evaluate the result or demonstrate it to a wide audience. But that is not all. By linking the camera to a computer, you can configure it directly on your PC. This is useful if you do not want to move the camera to change shooting settings, or if you are shooting in a place where only the camera or the photographer can fit. Another interesting area of ​​application of such a bundle is photographing without human intervention, when shooting occurs automatically after a certain time or when an object appears in the frame.

In fairness, it must be said that a lot depends on the capabilities of the device and the software available specifically for it. In this article we will talk about the most common programs for popular models of SLR (and not only) cameras and some features of their use. Immediately make a reservation that we will talk about the simplest and most budgetary way to connect the camera - through a cord USB . We will talk about advanced wireless connection sometime next time.

For camerasCanon

SLR camera owners Canon luckiest. For them, the manufacturer has reserved a free programCanon EOS Utilitythat comes with the CD. Supported as entry-level models - from 1000 D , and professional type 1 cameras D , 1 Ds , 5 D etc. Despite its freeware, the utility can do almost everything that a photographer might need. Namely: automatically upload pictures from a memory card to a computer, configure the camera via a PC, and remotely set shooting parameters and take pictures via a computer.

Depending on the camera model, settings such as the owner's name, information about the author of pictures, and copyrights can be set via a computer. But it is much more interesting, for example, to set image processing profiles (using filters, sharpness levels, image saturation, etc.), personal white balance or image processing quality in JPEG . And then use the presets depending on the situation. Or, for example, the distortion compensation settings for the lenses you use (nothing complicated, just select the lenses you use from the list to take them into account when processing images RAW ). In a word, all those settings that you would hardly do directly in your camera, even if they were just as diverse in the camera itself.

But, of course, the most interesting feature of the program is remote control of the camera and taking pictures in the modeLive view. The settings of the camera itself in this mode are no different from what you can do on the camera itself. For example, in aperture priority mode, you can change the actual aperture, sensitivity, and exposure compensation. In full manual mode - shutter speed, aperture and sensitivity. You can also choose the format of the resulting pictures (for example, JPEG High Quality or RAW+JPEG ), the method of metering and focusing.

INEOS UtilityAll settings for shooting parameters are placed in a separate window. The main screen can be used for zooming, focusing and white balance

To see on the computer screen what the camera will shoot, you need to enable the function live view . Now by pressing Remote Live View shooting a window will appear showing the scene your camera sees. By the way, this window can be used not only for sighting, but also for accurate and thoughtful focusing on the image. By the way, unlike most supported DSLRs, in Canon 4D Mark II There is also an exposure simulation mode. This allows you to visually assess the illumination of the frame at different shooting parameters.

Most cameras support manual focus. To do this, hover over a fragment of the image using the Magnifier tool. Further, using the manual focus buttons, you can achieve perfect sharpness on the selected fragment in small and not very steps. Some camera models can focus automatically, including in the face detection mode in the frame, or by simply selecting a position on the screen to focus, just as if shooting was not done through a computer.

Also in Live View shooting You can fine-tune the white balance simply by selecting the part of the image in the frame that should be white. It is important to note that any frame can be viewed immediately after the snapshot using the button Quick Preview . Read more about the program here:

Canon EOS Utility

Developer: Canon

Website:

Price: for free

Grade:

Free

- only works with some camera models

Not a free alternative

If your camera is not supported by the manufacturer's official utilities, try a third party product. Unfortunately, there are very few of them, and these programs are far from free.

The most famous solutions for Canon and Nikon are perhaps the products of the company Breeze Systems (). A distinctive feature is the support for a very wide list of cameras. For Canon in general, there are two programs - DSLR Remote Pro (from $129) and PSRemote ($95), for SLR cameras and advanced compacts powershot respectively. A large number of cameras Nikon , however, only mirror ones, supported by the utility NKRemote ($175).

The DSLR Remote Pro interface does not shine with beauty and convenience, but it provides access to all camera settings in one window

Other interesting features of the DSLR Remote Pro include the ability to take photos and videos remotely for most cameras, view in live view both full frame and 100% image fragment, bracketing and creating HDR - pictures from 15 consecutive frames. The program also has a function photo booth - automatic creation of a series of pictures, their layout in one photo and printing. Learn more about the capabilities and experience of using the program ().

The only thing that upsets in the programs Breeze Systems , - archaic application interface and high price.

For camerasNikon

Nikon has also taken care of a utility for remote control with their reflex cameras. Is it true, Camera Control Pro 2 is far from free. The utility supports almost all modern "DSLRs" Nikon (from D 5100 and above) and allows you to connect them to your computer both via a wire and wirelessly through a special adapter.

The utility allows you to remotely control most of the camera settings through a computer, take pictures and transfer captured images to a PC. Notably, images in the camera buffer may be confirmed or deleted before being transferred to a computer. Remote shooting from a computer is possible in two modes - Hand-held and Tripod. The latter differs in that it allows you to remotely select the AF point.

The utility also lets you manage your pictures, including selecting and adjusting pictures on your computer, creating custom curves (key change information), and saving them to your camera.

camera control Pro2 allows you to create control over all camera settings, including settings for exposure, focus, flash timing, and more.

cameracontrolPro 2

Developer: Nikon

Website: http://nikon. ru / ru _ RU / product / software / camera - control - pro -2

Price: from $129.95

Grade:

The program supports all the necessary functions

Wired and wireless connection

- high price

For camerasPentax

With Pentax cameras in general an interesting situation. There is an official free utility for platforms Windows and Mac OS X , but it is rarely updated and does not work with all modern cameras. Its capabilities are generally standard - remote control of the camera and uploading photos to a computer. That is why many fans of these cameras prefer a third-party camera management utility - PK_Tether from Polish programmer enthusiast Tomasz Kos.

The program works with cameras Pentax k-x, K7, K5, k-r, K20D, K10D, K200. The utility can configure all shooting parameters, take pictures remotely and upload the taken photos to a PC. In addition, the program can take pictures at a given time interval. What else does a photographer need to be completely happy? By the way, according to users, this program also works great with SLR cameras. samsung.

In addition to all the camera settings in one window, the PK_Tether program boasts the function of viewing pictures saved in the camera buffer

PK_ Tether

Developer: Tomasz Kos

Website: http://www.pktether.com

Price: for free

Grade:

The program supports all the necessary functions

Free

Small but remote

Although these small programs will not be able to become a full-fledged replacement for official utilities, they will certainly please you with their unique features.

Photos of the documents

The name of the program speaks for itself. But besides fine-tuning the camera via a PC and composing pictures using templates of given sizes (passport photos, visas for different consulates, etc.), depending on the version (express, standard, pro), the utility can do much more. For example, quickly change the background or even a person's clothing based on templates and import new clothing options from Canon

DCamCapture

This small free program does not know how to configure the camera through a computer. All it does is take pictures at predetermined time intervals (you can set the date and time when shooting starts, the number of shots and the interval between shutter releases) and save them on your PC's hard drive. The program has a function live view . The utility is useful for background photography and video surveillance, as well as shooting videos like “how the grass grows” or “24 hours of big city life”.

Developer: Bernd Peretzke

Website: www.bernd-peretzke.de

Price: free

Grade:

Fine-Tuning Interval Shooting

Free

- support for DSLRs only Nikon

DIYPhotobits Camera Control

Free utility for managing SLR cameras Nikon . The distribution package of the program takes less than 200 Kb, and all camera settings are made in the web interface. At the same time, the program can control the connected camera as well as commercial analogues.

Today I want to talk to you about how shooting from a computer is carried out, to consider in detail what is required for this, and what settings need to be made.

Benefits of shooting from a computer

Before proceeding with the consideration of the process of photography, let's figure out why it is needed at all. When taking product photography, I always connect the camera to the computer via a USB port. As a result, the resulting picture is displayed on a large screen, which is very convenient, as it makes it easier to control the quality of the resulting picture on the fly, as well as conveniently demonstrate the received frames to other participants in photography. At a high magnification (the photograph is much smaller on the camera's liquid crystal display), you can examine the resulting image in detail, evaluate the quality of the exposed lighting and make the right decision about the need to make certain changes. In addition, the pictures taken are directly copied to HDD computer and do not clog the camera's memory card, which saves us from subsequent cleaning.

Do you work on the road and do not have the opportunity to connect the camera to a desktop computer? Perhaps the option to connect the camera to the tablet is suitable for you.

Using this method of shooting, you will not miss small details that you would not notice under normal conditions. The connection scheme is extremely simple: one connector of the USB cable is connected to the computer, and the other to the camera. But for this method of shooting, you will need the appropriate software. If you use a Canon camera, you already have one. Each camera of this company comes with a CD with the EOS Viewer program (it is available completely free of charge on the official website of the company). Users of Nikon cameras will need the Nikon Camera Control Pro software, with which they can save the pictures they have taken on the computer's hard drive, bypassing the camera's memory card. On the official website of the company, you can download a trial version of the program with a 30-day period of operation.

Warning: once you try to take pictures connected to a computer, you will quickly get used to viewing large images, after which it will be difficult for you to return to working with the camera's LCD screen. You get used to good things quickly, don't you?

What is required to connect?

You will need:

1. Camera
2. Computer
3. USB cable

The standard cable for connecting to a computer does not exceed 1.8 meters in length, this is clearly not enough for comfortable work, so it will have to be lengthened. In principle, this is not a problem, in any computer store you will be offered such an extension cable (1, 3, 5 and 10 m). The first three work without any additional devices, but a 10-meter cable will already require additional signal amplification.

UPD: After several years of working with a cable 5 meters long, problems arose: when transferring a picture to a computer, the latter loses connection. I bought a 5 meter USB-3 cable and everything worked again.

The second, exactly related to Nikon cameras, the PTP connection mode must be enabled on the camera, in Russian - PTP, not Mass Storage - Data storage device, in the latter mode you are doomed to always see the camera as a USB flash drive. On Canon cameras, the situation may differ, for example, 5D MkII is always detected in the mode that suits us. So, if everything is connected, but there is no camera in the program, first of all, you should open the instructions and read about the connection modes.

Software setup

To get started, open Lightroom. Next, in the File menu, select File > Tethered Capture > Start Tethered Capture:

A dialog box will appear on the screen:

In this window, you can set the name of the photo shoot, specify the path to save the received photos, and add metadata and keywords. After the OK button is pressed, the program is ready to work. This is what Tether Capturing looks like in Lightroom:

As you can see, the program has determined the model of the camera and the settings set on it. Unfortunately, it is not possible to set the camera settings directly in the Lightroom program, but you can shoot remotely, which is already important, especially when you need to avoid "stirring".

Another nice bonus is that in the Lightroom program in the control panel you can select a preset that will be automatically applied to the newly taken photo:

After everything is set up, you can take a picture:

And we immediately see the result. Here you can check the focus and make the necessary image settings.

As already mentioned, this connection method does not allow changing camera settings from a computer, which is not very convenient. You can solve this problem using Canon's native program - EOS Utility.

Let's start it up first. In the window that appears, select the item “Camera settings / Remote shooting”.

After that, the control panel will open, where you can change almost all camera settings. Move the mouse over the parameter you need, click and select the desired value. After you have set the necessary settings, take a picture. Damn convenient!

But to be really good, we need to make a little adjustment, as a result of which we can take pictures using EOS Utility, and the result is automatically transferred to Lightroom. To do this, go to the settings of the EOS Utility program, open the "Destination Folder" tab and specify the folder into which the captured frames will be moved.

Next, go to the Lightroom program, go to the menu File>Auto Import>Auto Import Settings. In the window that opens, specify the folder that Lightroom will monitor and pick up all the files that appear from it. We also choose the folder where Lightroom will save these files.

Important point! Do not forget to check the box next to "Enable Auto Import", otherwise auto-import will not occur.

If you did everything right, then when you press the shutter button, after a few seconds, the photo you took will appear in Lightroom.

That's all for today. And if you're interested, I can later show you how to capture from a computer using the Capture One software. Good luck!

User Reviews

Excellent program for printing photos on documents! Very convenient photo markup, beautiful interface - everything you need. Replacing the clothes in the photo works just fine.

Nikolai Biryukov, Moscow

I tried various photo preparation programs for documents, but settled on the development of AMS Software. Why? Firstly, the program is very affordable, even the staff does not need special training. Secondly, there are all the necessary features. Thirdly, excellent user support.

Arkady Mikhailov, Novosibirsk city

Virtual remote remote control Canon from AMS Software allows you to solve a number of topical tasks of automating the photo business, including the preparation of photos for documents. Canon camera control software from a computer allows you to:

• Photograph, by pressing a button in the program. In this case, the operator can be with his back to the client or even in another room. The snapshot will be immediately saved to the computer and displayed in the program window.
• Take pictures in the usual way by pressing the shutter button of the camera. However, made the picture is instantly transferred to the computer and opens in the program. Thus, you can significantly save time - immediately after photographing, start processing the image.
• Open photo for processing in any graphic editor. Immediately after taking a photo, you can open the photo for editing in an external program such as Adobe Photoshop.
• Automate the process of preparing a photo for documents. The Canon Camera Control Module from a Computer is included in full version programs .

The program works in operating systems Windows 2000, XP, Vista, Windows 7,8,10. Can also be used on laptops.

Canon Virtual Camera Remote supports the following camera models.

Canon DSLRs:

• EOS-1D Mark II
• EOS 20D
• EOS-1Ds Mark II
• EOS 350D (Kiss Digital N/REBEL XT)
• EOS Mark II
• EOS-1D Mark II N
• EOS 30D
• EOS 400D (Kiss Digital X//REBEL XTi)
• EOS-1D Mark III
• EOS40D
• EOS-1Ds Mark III
• EOS 450D (DIGITAL REBEL Xsi/Kiss X2)
• EOS 1000D (DIGITAL REBEL XS/KISS F)
• EOS 50D
• EOS Mark III
• EOS EOS 500D (Kiss X3/EOS REBEL T1i)
• EOS 7D
• EOS-1D Mark IV
• EOS EOS 550D (Kiss X4/EOS REBEL T2i)
• EOS EOS 60D
• EOS EOS 1100D
• EOS EOS 600D

Breeze Systems Limited, founded by Chris Breeze, has been developing software for controlling digital cameras and various applications for organizing and processing digital photos for over 17 years. Recently, one of the most popular programs released by this company has been updated - DSLR Remote Pro has been released under the number 2.2.1. This program allows full control of Canon DSLRs from a computer (Mac and Win versions available) connected via USB or FireWire cable. For owners of Nikon cameras, an analogue of NKRemote v2.2 has been developed (only supports Windows), there is also a PSRemote program for Canon PowerShot compacts. Since the author of these lines has a Canon SLR camera, and Windows is installed on the laptop, therefore, this article will consider working in the program for Win. Owners of Nikon cameras will be able to get a general impression of this program, and all additional information about compatibility with their equipment can always be found on the Breeze Systems official website.

Compatible with camera models

Of course, in order to control the camera from a computer, you need to be the owner of a camera that supports the "live view" mode, that is, Live View. And all the latest models of Canon DSLRs are provided with this function: it Canon EOS 7D, 60D, 50D, 5D Mark II, 550D, 500D, 1000D, 450D, 40D as well as professional models. All of these cameras are fully compatible with the DSLR Remote Pro software, and the software will allow you to use all of its features. However, older cameras that do not support Live View, such as my Canon EOS 30D, can also be controlled using the program, only many functions will not be available. For a complete list of compatible cameras, see the official website of the program developer.

The DSLR Remote Pro for Windows will run Win 7 (only 32bit with some models), Vista (only 32bit, and then not with all models), XP or 2000, while the Mac version will require OS X 10.4 (Tiger), OS X 10.5 (Leopard) or OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard).

Screenshot 1. DSLR Remote Pro Main Window

Key Features of DSLR Remote Pro

• Controlling Canon Digital SLR Cameras Using a Computer. In the screenshot, 1 panel to the left of the photo allows you to change shutter speed, aperture, ISO, white balance and other parameters
• Recording Movies on a Camera Memory Card (Canon EOS-1D Mark IV, 5D Mark II, 7D, 60D, 600D, 550D, 500D and 1100D)
• Displaying an image on a computer screen in real time and 1000D)
• Autofocus, as well as manual focus adjustment from a computer (Canon EOS-1D Mark IV, Canon EOS-1D Mark III, EOS-1Ds Mark III, 5D Mark II, 7D, 40D, 50D, 60D, 600D, 550D, 500D, 450D, 1100D and 1000D)
• Camera control in movie mode, including focusing, capturing movies, and downloading clips to a computer (Canon EOS-1D Mark IV, 5D Mark II, 7D, 60D, 600D, 550D, 500D, and 1100D)
• Photobooth mode: automatic shooting of a series of photos at specified intervals with specified parameters, followed by automatic printing on a printer (both several photos per sheet, and one photo per sheet, which is also configurable) - an excellent solution for reporting from corporate parties, weddings and other celebrations. The mode works only with JPEG format.
• View photos in high resolution in full screen immediately after taking a picture
• Ability to view footage while the camera continues to take pictures
• Tools for lovers of automatic shooting through preset intervals time (Time Lapse), such as shooting a sunset or a flower blooming
• View photos in color or black and white
• Automatic HDR shooting with bracketing - up to 15 frames in a series with a variation in shutter speed or aperture
• Integration with Photomatix Pro for automatic merging of captured HDR
• Record photos directly to your computer's hard drive

On big screen can be displayed:

• Flashing overexposure zones
• A grid over the image, and the grid parameters can be configured by the user
• B/W mode
• Focus point image overlay

Practice with DSLR Remote Pro

I repeat - since I have a Canon 30D DSLR, which is only partially supported by the program, some of the functions for me will remain “behind the scenes”, not implemented. Of course, managing the process of taking pictures from a computer will first of all be convenient in order to view the future frame not on the tiny screen of the camera, but on the large display of a laptop or desktop. This way you can ideally align the future frame along the grid, notice the flare in time, foreign objects in the frame, etc. Surely every amateur photographer wondered: why is my screen so small, if it were bigger! My camera does not have a Live View mode, and it is not trained to shoot video, so I focused on the few program functions that are available to me.

Setting program options

Before you start working with the program, you need to configure some of its options. Oddly enough, but the default values, which are shown in screenshot 2, completely suited me, and there are not so many settings themselves. I only changed the folder where the program will put the photo files. By the way, I did not find the checkbox "Write photos to the camera's memory card", that is, all photos are automatically copied immediately to the computer's hard drive, bypassing the camera's memory card.

HDR shooting

Since I love experimenting with HDR shooting, the first thing I did was explore this option. Everything is simple here: you need to set the camera mode to M, RAW, AWB, ISO 100 for minimal noise, select the correct shutter speed for the desired aperture, the value of which is selected from the estimated depth of field, I chose F11. Next, focus (you can use half-press autofocus, you can use manual mode), then turn off autofocus with the switch on the lens and connect the camera to the computer. This completes the camera setup.

Now you can move on to setting up the program. Screenshots 3 and 4 show the bracketing settings for HDR shooting. In the first list, you can select the number of frames (I usually did 3 or 5, I just don’t need more for shooting in nature), and in the second - the exposure shift step (I chose 1 stop). After that, be sure to select the option to change exactly the shutter speed (Shutter speed), so that the aperture is always constant to achieve the best depth of field. Who wants to experiment - try changing the aperture ... something tells me that little good will come of this, although who knows!

Photo 5. A simple scheme for connecting a computer to a camera.
Filmed on the phone, as the camera is busy at the moment :-)

The camera is mounted on a tripod, configured and connected to a computer, hit the F8 button and enjoy the result. Photos are taken with a delay of about 3 seconds, after a couple of seconds they already appear on the computer display. Photo 5 was taken on a phone, and against the sun, so only the reflection of the assistant (Sasha, hello!) was displayed on the computer screen, and not the workspace of the program, as I had hoped.

I could not resist, and immediately decided to glue HDR in Photoshop CS5 on the spot. The laptop battery ran out immediately, as soon as I managed to save my work :-) I believe that the technical side of the work is now clear. The question remains - and who will come to mind on a clear, fine day, you can take a tripod, a camera and a computer with you for a walk, and even strain your companion with requests for help ... One can cope with such a pile of equipment, there is nothing complicated here, but it's inconvenient! The USB cord is short, so you have to hold the computer in your hands.

But the camera remains completely still during HDR shooting, which is very important for accurate gluing of exposures. Such a scheme of work is more suitable for shooting interiors of premises where there is no hurry, where it is possible to put a laptop on some chair or stool. And the accuracy inside the premises will be amazing - the camera is stationary. Comfortable! And the result on the screen of the laptop will be visible, plus everything inside the premises will certainly be 220 volts.

Another such scheme is suitable for shooting a series of photographs at intervals, for example, for editing a video of equipment assembly, sunset, how a flower blooms, in order to protect the store at night :-). Surely everyone has seen such videos, and they are filmed in this way, it's called Time Lapse. The only problem is that you need a very powerful laptop battery (or a 220V generator?) to shoot something like this in nature. There is a special cable for the camera that allows you to do this operation without a computer, besides, no one has canceled a simple stopwatch! It would be a wish, wouldn't it?

One thing I can say for sure - such an action attracts the general attention of passing vacationers. And getting a blessing to fuss with a laptop and a tripod inside the temple will be almost unrealistic, I tried: - (And what a piercing photo I missed looking at the rays of the sun, which created stunningly beautiful lighting inside the church of St. John Chrysostom in the Nikolsky Monastery in Staraya Ladoga! I love this beauty with all my heart, but I'm forbidden to take a photo...

Integration with Photomatix Pro

If someone decides to shoot HDR using a computer, it will be extremely convenient for him to integrate the DSLR Remote Pro program with another program created specifically for merging HDR - Photomatix Pro. I like everything in this program, except for the most important thing - today Photomatix Pro does not know how to work correctly with moving objects in frames, which I have repeatedly noted in my articles on the topic of HDR. And Photoshop CS5 can do it with amazing accuracy.

By the way, almost nowhere in the help for the DSLR Remote Pro program does it say anything about how to set up this very integration. Google and the forums helped me sort out this problem. Pay attention to screenshots 3 and 4 - there is a checkmark at the bottom and a bat file is registered. If you have Photomatix Pro installed, do the same and it will work.

As a result, we get a glued HDR with default settings and an *.hdr file that can be later opened in Photomatix Pro and edited as you wish. Who is interested in fiddling with scripts - you are welcome: by editing the bat file, you can also fine-tune the gluing parameters.

Photo booth mode

This tool works only with JPEG format and is intended for automatic shooting and subsequent gluing of contact lists and collages. Here are the tool settings options:

I could think of only one practical use for this feature - if you put the camera on a tripod in the corner somewhere at a corporate party, you can get prints of fun collages from the photos that the camera takes with this program.

There is another feature of the Photobooth tool - shooting a portrait against a green screen. Hang a green screen, turn on this mode and grimacing in front of the lens. The program will automatically cut out the green background on the received images and replace it with any image of your choice. Autocollage!

It remains to be hoped that if serious programmers from a serious company have paid so much attention and time to this tool, then someone needs it and is in demand by someone. I didn't deal with him.

Some Conclusions

pros

• Light, fast and self-sufficient a program for controlling a camera from a computer, which is significantly superior in its functions to most known analogues.
• Stable bug-free work even on a weak laptop.
• Support for most modern DSLRs, there is also a version for PowerShot compacts.
• Integration with Photomatix Pro. You can set up automatic opening of photos after shooting in any other program, but HDR merging is only available in conjunction with Photomatix Pro.

Minuses

• No file browser. They filmed a series, closed the program - everything previously filmed in it will no longer be possible to watch.
• No thumbnail view, only rewind and fast forward within the current photo session. You also have to open a photo browser (for example, ACDSee Pro 4) in parallel with the program in order to navigate the footage.
• No zoom photo within the active window. Look pixel-by-pixel will not work.
• Price. The program is by no means free - the Windows version of DSLR Remote Pro costs $175. By the way, Canon releases its own programs that are completely free for owners of DSLRs (for example, ZoomBrowser EX); but these programs allow you to do only a small part of what the DSLR Remote Pro can do.

Summary

• I shoot a lot of objects, and it is extremely convenient for me to control the camera from a computer: I don’t have to constantly poke a flash drive back and forth, rewrite something, open it ... I took it off and immediately saw the result on a large (compared to the camera screen) laptop screen , and the files are already neatly folded into the correct folder. Beauty!
• Personally, I'm not prepared to pay $175 for this. I have Lightroom 3, which allows me to do pretty much everything except HDR shooting, of course.

© Compiling a review, all photos in the article, Konstantin Birzhakov, May 12, 2011
Based on materials from the Breeze Systems official website
The author of the review cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of information taken from open sources.
Any reprint only with the written permission of the author of the review.

There are two ways to use a digital camera as a webcam - using the built-in webcam mode or using the camera as a video capture device. Let's consider each of these options.

First of all, check the instructions for your camera to see if it can work as a webcam. A bunch of digital cameras have this feature. You just need to install proprietary software to use it as a webcam - most often it can be found on the website of the camera manufacturer. Install the necessary software before connecting the camera.

Procedure:

• Connect your camera to a computer - connection is possible both via a USB cable and (if necessary) using audio / video cables that can be supplied with the camera.
• Go to "My Computer" (when using Windows 7, 8 or 8.1) and click on the USB video capture device icon. Most likely, the captured video from the camera will appear. If this does not happen, check if the power supply is connected to the camera. Some cameras cannot function as webcams unless an external power supply is connected. Webcam mode requires more power and the built-in battery or batteries are not enough.
• Use a separate microphone if your camera is not transmitting sound.
• Find out the focal length of the camera. The minimum focal length of the lenses determines the minimum distance to the object. Generally, the shorter the focal length, the closer you can position your subject.
• Make sure that the cables are connected firmly to avoid breakage during the broadcast.
• You can select the required webcam in the program that you will use (Skype, etc.)

In the second case, if the camera does not have an operating mode as a webcam, but can broadcast an image via a video cable, you will need not only drivers, but also specialized software for redirecting video signals to the Internet (for example, ManyCam, Active WebCam, SplitCam programs). Standard video capture programs can save video recordings taken by the camera to a hard disk, but they cannot broadcast this signal to the network - therefore, you need to take care of choosing the necessary program in advance.

To organize the operation of the camera as a webcam, you must have a video capture device (Capture Video) on your computer. Such a device for capturing video can be a TV tuner, a video card, or a special adapter. The input usually uses a video input for video in the form of a "tulip" connector. Through it, the camera is connected.

The camera must be connected in the off state. With the help of the video capture program, you should see the video from the camera (make sure you specify the correct video input - composite "composite"). You can then configure programs to use your video capture device (your camera) as a webcam.