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Sony recently added support for webcam-over-usb to a lot of their cameras, apparently. And they are known for video quality and good lenses. So that’s $700-800 for a very good camera (new) that also works as webcam.

https://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/app/webcam/en/download/



Sadly, the software is quite terrible. Last I checked, it only did 720p. Even an entry-level Sony at that $700-800 price range outclasses what the software can do by a long shot.

So there's no way to make use of high-end Sony gear for mind-blowing webcam quality, since the software is a huge bottle neck. Very disappointing and a missed opportunity (not to mention Sony was months behind Canikon and others with their software release).


Canon's software has the same limitation in my case, people say it's because of the USB 2.0 port on the camera (750D).


Worse than that, actually—720p is 1280×720, but this gets you 1024×576. (I have an α6100.)


So close, but annoyingly my older ICLE-6000 didn't make the cut. Thanks for the information.


Yes, my 5100 (which is basically a more compact and software-limited 6000) also not included, but it seems to be a hardware limitation -- e.g. live view over USB is also ont supported on these cameras, and live view over wifi is rather crappy.


I know they are getting long in the tooth but I wish Sony would do something with the NEX cameras. Latest firmware release was v1.03 released a year or two after they released the camera. Feels like Sony has completely abandoned them.


Nobody updates their old products nowadays. At least they haven’t abandoned the app support for those cameras and continue to expand the APS-C line.


Same for Nikon and Canon, works reasonably well. None of the software supports audio, so you need a different mic (e.g. built into your laptop, external USB or on headphones).




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