Let’s face it, most built-in webcams on laptops and PCs are not very good. Just adding a large sensor camera makes a huge difference, and these days it can’t be any easier with more cameras offering video streaming over USB. Canon brought the option to several cameras but only with Windows PC. Now it fully supports Mac OSX. The Webcam Utility turns Canon EOS and Rebel cameras into a high-quality webcam with a simple software install. It’s easy to use and will up your streaming quality a lot.
Before the USB option was available, we would use a capture card device like the Elgato Cam Link 4K. Recently these types of devices were exclusive to Elgato but not anymore as you can pick up one for under $20 that works extremely well.
Kit for EOS M50, M50 Mark II & M200 
Kit for EOS Rebel T3, T5, T6 & T7 
Kit for EOS RP
For those that want to get up and running quickly, Canon has three EOS Webcam Accessories Kits. You really only need the software and a USB cable to get connected; however, an AC dummy battery and power supply will power the camera without worrying if the battery will die in the middle of the stream. Kits are available for EOS RP and select EOS Rebel Cameras and EOS M.
For the EOS R, it can’t be powered via the USB-C input and use the video out feature simultaneously. You can power and charge the internal battery
by using the $149 USB Power Adapter PD-E1 or an external battery, but you cant use the webcam feature and power the camera from the USB-C at the same time.
Canon doesn’t have an EOS R webcam kit, unfortunately, but the camera is fully compatible with its USB-C IO. Powering the EOS R is a different story. If you need a long run time or don’t want to worry about a battery running out, you will have to get an LP-E6 dummy battery that has a power supply or uses an external battery with the dummy LP-E6. This goes a little more into the DIY category and not plug and play.
Canon AC Adapter AC-E6N with DC Coupler DR-E6
The EOS R uses the LP-E6 type battery and the Canon AC-E6N with DC Coupler DR-E6 will power the camera so you can use the USB-C to stream.
Compatible USB and AC Accessories
Compatible EOS Models
(#) Recently added camera (**) USB not included with the camera
- EOS-1D C #
- EOS-1D X #
- EOS-1D X Mark II
- EOS-1D X Mark III
- EOS 5D Mark III #
- EOS 5D Mark IV
- EOS 5DS
- EOS 5DS R
- EOS 6D #
- EOS 6D Mark II **
- EOS 60D #
- EOS 7D #
- EOS 7D Mark II
- EOS 70D #
- EOS 77D **
- EOS 80D **
- EOS 90D **
- EOS M200 **
- EOS M50 **
- EOS M50 Mark II # **
- EOS M6 Mark II **
- EOS R
- EOS R5 #
- EOS R6 # **
- EOS Ra #
- EOS Rebel SL1 #
- EOS Rebel SL2 **
- EOS Rebel SL3 **
- EOS Rebel T3 #
- EOS Rebel T3i #
- EOS Rebel T5 #
- EOS Rebel T5i #
- EOS Rebel T6
- EOS Rebel T6i
- EOS Rebel T6s #
- EOS Rebel T7 **
- EOS Rebel T7i **
- EOS Rebel T8i # **
- EOS Rebel T100 **
- EOS RP **
Compatible Applications
Mac OS Compatibility
It looks like High Sierra is more compatible with applications. A big one for me is Microsoft Teams doesn’t work with the App but does with a browser.
How to Download and Install
On Mac OSX, the software doesn’t have a GUI. It’s more like a driver that is installed. You don’t open the EOS Webcam Utility once installed. The option to choose the EOS camera is now in the hands of the program you are using, such as Zoom, Facebook Live or SKYPE.
Here are the instructions on how to install and use the Webcam Utility with Mac OS.
NOTE: Optimal settings are a resolution of [Full-HD] and a frame rate of 29.97P. If your camera doesn’t have a 29.97P setting, selecting 23.98P.
- Download “EOSWebcamUtility-MAC1.0.pkg.zip” from the download page. Save the “EOSWebcamUtility-MAC1.0.pkg.zip” file to a folder of your preference on your computer.
- When the “EOSWebcamUtility-MAC1.0.pkg.zip” folder saved to the computer is extracted, the “EOSWebcamUtility-MAC1.0” will be generated so double-click “Setup.exe” in the extracted folder. Installation of EOS Webcam Utility will begin. (If the User Account Control Window appears, follow the on-screen instructions to proceed.)
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
- After the installation is complete, you must restart your computer to apply these changes. If the installation is completed properly, the downloaded file and the “EOSWebcamUtility-MAC1.0.pkg.zip” file will no longer be necessary.
If you are starting from scratch without a camera, Canon has the EOS RP Webcam Starter + power supply Kit that comes with the EOS RP camera and RF 35mm lens, plus all the accessories necessary to go live in the living room. The kit retails for $1529
I like the simplicity of a USB cable without having to add an HDMI to USB capture card device; however, the R5 might be a better option since you can use an external USB-C power source to charge and extend the battery life of the camera and use the HDMI out for streaming. It’s actually cheaper to pick up an inexpensive USB capture device these days for under $20.
Canon has the AC-E6N AC Adapter and DC Coupler DR-E6 Kit that retails for $143, also available adapters from 3rd party vendors are available for around $30, however, genuine Canon accessories are recommended by Canon. Whichever way you go, it’s a win-win to get high-quality live streams with a Canon camera.
