Hello there,

I wonder if Sony (or Canon etc) offer camcorders with the capability of using these as PC Webcams (albeit with zoom and manual controls), suitable for streaming in events without necessitating a hardware capture system or a WiFi router?

It seems that in the past Sony offered a USB streaming mode, but I haven't been able to find more in a cursory search.

Cheers,
N.F.

Sony has the instructions online. Now to find a Sony camera with USB streaming port.
https://www.sony.com.my/electronics/support/articles/00129676

If you click on the right for Applicable Cameras they're all old Sony DV cameras.

Wouldn't it be cheaper just to use an HDMI to USB3 convertor?
They range in price from just under $100US to about $300.
https://www.amazon.com/MYPIN-Capture-Compatible-Camcorder-Streaming/dp/B07GND72ZJ//din02c-20
At $75 the only cameras you'd find in that price range are webcams themselves. If you already have the camera using a device like this makes sense.

You could use something as a simple Elgato hd60 just connect your HDMI. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Elgato-Gaming-HD60-Game-Capture/292917671583?hash=item443340f69f:g:nzoAAOSwOShcO0Ov:rk:3:pf:1&frcectupt=true

Hello everybody,

I have already a Hauppauge Rocket, but my colleague has a hard time operating it reliably.

So, I thought that a camcorder masquerading as a Webcam would be easier.

I see that models like the CX-440 offer Live streaming via WiFi, but:
- in a crowded conference hall with lots of people using their phones is a recipe for problems
- the streaming system is Ustream only, and we prefer YouTube

Any ideas?

N.F.

For YouTube, I tried this only to see if I could. Sony X70 and Samsung Galaxy s7edge. https://youtu.be/Im3oNDsy9yg

Yes, I know that WiFi can be used, but I want to avoid it.
Being in a conference room with hundreds of attendees, many with active WiFi in their phones, means very low bandwidth in the WiFi spectrum available.
Hence my interest in a USB solution.

N.F.

How do you intend to get it to youtube? Can you get an ethernet connection?
I have also tried my Elgato hd60 into my laptop using Xsplt to name one of many then out through the ethernet.

Yes, Ethernet to the ADSL modem router is the preferred method.
Using the phone and 4G isn't usually reliable enough in such situations (and transmitting video for hours isn't guaranteed to work reliably)

At worst, avoiding a wireless connection to the camcorder reduces the congestion in the shared WiFi spectrum.

N.F.

Then I would go for a similar setup of which I posted above.

We stream almost every day and use a Teradek encoder to do the job ..HDMI from camera to the encoder hardware unit (camera mounted) and then ethernet cable out to the router. Works every time and the last thing you want is a wifi fail in the middle of an important event!! The Teradek Vidui Pro encoder has access direct to YouTube.