Canon has released EOS Webcam Utility Beta software that allows you to use your existing DSLR, Mirrorless, or Power Shot camera as a high quality live streaming source through USB.
Due to the Coronavirus outbreak, a lot of meetings, interviews and presentations have moved online. People are using software such as Zoom and Skype in record numbers. With this increase in online live streaming, there is a real need for higher quality images and audio. Most webcams or in-built cameras on computers are pretty bad quality, but they are convenient and easy to use.
By releasing this new EOS Webcam Utility, Canon has made it a lot easier to fastly improve your image quality by using a camera you might already own.
Windows Only
Now, there is a big catch. This only looks like it works with Windows. There is no option for Mac OS X. While this is a beta release, it may also be due to limitations in OS X and a similar reason to why there is no NDI Virtual Input on Mac.
So how does it work?
The EOS Webcam Utility Beta software solution is easy to use. Iy only requires one single USB plug to connect the camera to a Windows operating systems computer. Once the software is downloaded and the camera is configured within a video conferencing application, the user will be ready to go.
“In unprecedented times, it’s imperative for Canon to provide our customers with useful, simple and accessible solutions to assist them in whatever imaging needs they have. Our goal is that the EOS Webcam Utility Beta software can help reduce some of the remote workday stress for employees who are tasked with video conferencing and virtual meetings.”
Tatsuro “Tony” Kano, executive vice president of the Canon U.S.A., Inc. Imaging Technologies & Communications Group
Compatible cameras
Below is a list of all the compatible Canon cameras that can be used.
- EOS-1D X Mark II
- EOS-1D X Mark III
- EOS 5D Mark IV
- EOS 5DS
- EOS 5DS R
- EOS 6D Mark II
- EOS 7D Mark II
- EOS 77D
- EOS 80D
- EOS 90D
- EOS Rebel SL2
- EOS Rebel SL3
- EOS Rebel T6
- EOS Rebel T6i
- EOS Rebel T7
- EOS Rebel T7i
- EOS Rebel T100
- EOS Mirrorless Cameras
- EOS M6 Mark II
- EOS M50
- EOS M200
- EOS R
- EOS RP
- PowerShot G5X Mark II
- PowerShot G7X Mark III
- PowerShot SX70 HS
Download Instructions
Select your camera model. Once you arrive at the product support page follow these instructions:
- Select the “Drivers & Downloads” tab
- Select the “Software” tab
- Select Windows 10 (x64), if not already detected, from the Operating System list.
- Find “EOS Webcam Utility Beta” and click the “SELECT” button.
- Click the download button to start downloading.
Now, what is strange is that on Canon’s site it says that, This Software is for use in the U.S. and will not be supported outside that area.
I am not exactly sure what this means. Maybe if you are outside of the US you need to go to a different Canon site to download the software.
What do you think about this new software from Canon? Let us know in the comments section or on our new forum.
