Use Your DSLR to Look Better on Video
VIDEO FROM HOME OR WORK: USING YOUR DSLR TO LOOK MORE PROFESSIONAL WHEN YOU LIVE STREAM
A social media post I made recently entitled, “Video from Home: How to Look Better On Camera” received a lot of attention. That post outlined different ways you can all look better on camera.
It’s time to take it to the next level. Use your DSLR camera as your online video source instead of your computer’s webcam for live streaming.
As a Minneapolis commercial photographer, I take business portraits of professional including headshots of attorneys, accountants, engineers, and more. I also take architectural photography images for many firms involved in architectural design, construction, and development. Additionally, I shoot for landscape designers and engineering firms.
Live streaming image using a DSLR camera
In 1997, I lived in Grand Forks, North Dakota. That year, the area was devastated by a flood resulting in the evacuation of the entire population of 60,000 people. It’s hard to believe but, at that time, cell phones were commonplace but still took a back seat to the hard wired telephone. The flood changed all that. Because we all fled in every direction, the only way we could possibly connect with each other was with our cell phones. Telephones in our homes and businesses were left behind. That change was permanent.
As this crisis drags on, it’s clear that many of the ways we have communicated in the past have changed. By the time the worst of this pandemic is over, we will be accustomed to using live streaming services like Zoom, Skype, WebEx, and Microsoft Teams.
Not only are people within companies meeting this way but as time goes on, sales presentations, committee meetings, project interviews, board meetings, and job interviews will take place this way. Meetings between lawyers, accountants, bankers, engineers, and their clients will be live streamed.
Just like every other tool you use to establish your company's value and credibility, the quality of the video and audio feed you use will be important.
Look at it this way: you wouldn’t attend an important meeting wearing the clothes you wore to clean out the garage. Why should you present yourself on video if what people see of you is fuzzy, out of focus, and unattractively tinted green, blue, or red?
At the beginning of this crisis, most people were focused on just connecting with others. We wanted to make sure everyone was ok. This new adventure allowed us to peak into each other's homes. We enjoyed hearing the dog bark or seeing our colleague's kids run by the camera. Using our computer's webcam, for better or worse, made the experience more organic.
We've discovered that the webcam quality varies drastically based on the type of computer and its age.
I am the only person using a DSLR for streaming in this screen grab.
Furthermore, a webcam ultimately can't come close to delivering the quality that even a modest camera can.
The newest computers have good webcams. Not all of us are using new computers, however. My desktop iMac from 2012 is still chugging along quite well. It does a great job processing photos and video. I've upgraded it to the highest level and fastest speed possible. But, the webcam was made from and runs on 2012 technology. As a result, you'll see some pretty awful webcam video from many people on our live streaming meetings and even on national television.
Laptop webcam image
Enter the DSLR.
Most people own a DSLR. Like many people, as smartphone photo/video technology has improved, your DSLR may be gathering some dust. Here's a chance to leverage its high quality output to help you look more professional when you are live streaming.
You may not be familiar with the term DSLR. It stands for Digital Single Lens Reflex Camera. It is typically larger and more robust than a point-and-shoot camera or small pocket camera. Digital means that the camera operates with a fixed, digital sensor. Single-lens means the camera uses the same lens for framing, focusing, and taking the photograph. And, the lenses are usually interchangeable.
Webcam video lags quality lags significantly behind video delivered by a DSLR camera. Most computer webcams deliver a quality level of 720p as opposed to the 1080p delivered by most DSLR's. This means the resolution of a DSLR is more than double that of a webcam. Besides the quality of the video feed itself, DSLR cameras give the operator much more control over exposure, focus, and color tone. In many cases, a computer’s camera offers little or no control over these functions.
How to Use Your DSLR Camera for Live Streaming
The following instructions are based on using a Canon camera with a Mac laptop or desktop computer. Resources for using other cameras, specifically Nikon and Sony will be provided at the end of this article. This post will also be updated as I have specifics about these camera/computer combinations.
Just announced 4/29/20: Canon's latest release of their EOS Utility includes beta software to allow you to directly connect your camera to your PC or window based computer. Click here for information and the download: click. I'm researching this announcement to find out more about a Mac application.
This post is broken into several major categories with links to help you dive deep into the details.
Camera Settings.
This section will help you with various settings so you will get the best image quality when you use your DSLR to live stream. It will also help you avoid several pitfalls which will be barriers to getting your camera to work with your computer.
Tripod.
Attach your camera to a tripod. Position it slightly above your computer’s screen and just off to one side for the best composition. Based on your lens, you’ll have to experiment with the position to frame yourself properly.
Connecting Your Camera to Your Computer.
There are two methods which can be used to connect your Canon DSLR camera to your computer. It's important to go through this process and understand it before you connect your DSLR to your laptop or desktop computer.
The first method uses the camera's USB interface and one, two, or possibly three cables and adapters to tether or link the camera to the computer. Although there are some parts and pieces to this process, it's fairly straightforward. There's a good chance your camera came with at least one of these cables. You may have to purchase an extension cable to create some distance between you and the camera for framing and focus. The downside of this method is that you will need to use up to three different applications on your computer to live stream the video feed and use it on streaming platform. The applications are free, but each one requires some specific settings to enable it to work.
The second method utilizes the HDMI interface on your camera. This interface, available on most cameras, is usually meant to connect your camera to a television monitor. This enables you to stream whatever is on your camera (still photos or video) directly to your TV. Keep in mind that your television is a display unit while your computer is running on a different set of specifications. You will also need one to three cables to make this work along with a converter. However, once you are connected, you may not need any additional apps for your computer.
The downsides of this method are: expensive and converter availability. An HDMI to USB converter is required to make this work. They are expensive ($145 to almost $600). Because of the current crisis, none of them are currently available on any site I've checked. Some web sites list availability as June; others say to just check back.
Apps to Help You Stream Using Your DSLR.
If you use the camera's USB interface to connect to your computer, you must use two applications in conjunction with each other. You should also use a third app to fine tune your video image.
If you use the camera's HDMI interface, you won't need the first two applications but, again, I recommend you use the third app.
The good news: they're free.
IMPORTANT!
Before installing these apps, you must follow this procedure exactly or you will have trouble installing and setting up these applications. Subsequently, to live stream you must follow this same procedure in order.
- Camera is turned off.
- Connect cables from camera to computer.
- Turn camera on. You should be able to view the scene through Live View on your camera's LCD.
- Camera Live. Double click to open. Follow installation and set-up.
- CamTwist. Double click to open. Follow installation and set-up.
- OBS. Double click to open. Follow installation and set-up.
If you are comfortable installing these apps and intuitive about setting them up, click on the following links:
I've provided complete key stroke by key stroke instructions on installation and set-up.
Connecting to Live Stream Apps.
After all of this work, the final steps to connect your DSLR camera are straightforward. Once you've made these final adjustments you are ready to initiate or join live streaming apps with your colleagues, clients, prospects, and potential employers.
Microsoft Teams.
After you log into Teams, click on the icon in the top right corner of the interface. This will consist of either a circle with a human figure or a thumb nail of your picture, if you've uploaded one.
The box below will be revealed. Click on Settings.
Settings window. Scroll down to Devices and click.
When you click on Devices, you should automatically see that your DSLR image has been selected through CamTwist. If this is the case, you're ready for your Microsoft Teams meeting!
Your computer might default to your webcam. If this happens, click on the Camera dropdown and CamTwist should appear.
Skype.
When you open Skype, you'll be taken through a small number of set-up windows. After Test Your Audio, the next window is Test Your Video. Skype should default to your DSLR image through CamTwist. If this is the case, you're ready for your Skype meeting!
Your computer might default to your webcam. If this happens, click on the Camera dropdown and CamTwist should appear.
Zoom.
When you first open Zoom, you'll be brought to this window. Click on the gear icon in the upper right corner.
This will bring you to the Settings window. Scroll down to Video on the far left side of the window.
In this window, you'll have an opportunity to use the Camera dropdown to select your DSLR camera through CamTwist. NOTE: The last Zoom update deleted the feature allowing any camera options. This should be corrected in the next update. Stay tuned.
Other Resources.
If you are a Sony user, watch this helpful video. Click
If you are a Nikon user, watch this video. Click.
Since I am not a PC user, I can't warrant how well your DSLR camera will work with a PC. You'll have to purchase one or two applications in order to use your DSLR for live streaming. Information: Click.
More articles about photography: click here
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Steve Silverman
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steve@silvermanberemarkable.com