How to Use a Sony Camcorder as a Webcam Through a USB Connection

Your Sony camcorder's ability to moonlight as a webcam not only allows you to stay in contact with friends and family, it also saves you money on purchasing a standalone webcam. With the help of Sony's Streaming USB driver, your computer will recognize your Sony camcorder as a webcam--and it'll function as one too.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Sony streaming USB driver
• USB cable

1. Open your Sony camcorder's tape door, allow the tape mechanism to eject and remove the tape if one is inserted. Close the tape mechanism, allow it to retract and then close the tape door.

2. Switch the camcorder's Camera/Playback switch to the "Camera" position. Press your camcorder's "Menu" button. Open the "USB Streaming" menu (Settings > Camera > USB Streaming), and turn USB Streaming on.

3. Launch your computer's web browser and navigate to the Sony's Support page (see Resources). Download a copy of Sony's Streaming USB driver to your computer.

4. Install the Streaming USB driver and then allow your computer to restart--reboot the computer manually if the software does not reboot it.

5. Plug the "Mini USB" end of your Sony camcorder's USB cable into the USB port on the camcorder; then plug the larger :"A" end of the cable into a free USB port on your computer.

6. Give your computer a minute to recognize the camcorder and install any additional drivers or updates--then launch your webcam software.

References

• Sony eSupport

Resources

• Sony USB Streaming Driver
• Yawcam - Webcam Software
• ImageSalsa™ - Webcam Software