Can cameras be used as internet cameras

[Apple]

Can cameras like Canon PowerShot A40 (maybe all Canons or all digi cameras with USB or Video out) be used as
internet cameras via Video Out after conecting to AC/DC power suply? Is
signal continously transfered to AV out? Can DISPLAY be switched OFF while
transfering signal to computer? I have video IN at my video card. No
review comment it Maybe it is self evident but I'd rather hear (read)
it.
OR MAYBE signal is continously transfered to COMPUTER via USB?

Best Regards

--------------------------------
Leszek Olech
mailto:[email protected]
POLAND
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[MaveriX]

Can you watch TV on your computer via the 'Video In' on your video card? If you can, you should be able to use your Canon A40 as a webcam.

Connect the 'A/V Out' of your camera to the 'Video In' of your video card and choose it as the 'camera source' in your chat program.

[Apple]

Originally Posted by MaveriX

... and choose it as the 'camera source' in your chat program.

I hoped it would be possible. I gues it depends on camera's sleep funktion (will it go "sleep" or not). Obviously Canon will not.
Thank you ALL for an answer

[steve]

I get asked this question all the time and my answer is:

Buy a $45 dedicated USB web cam. Why wear out a high res digicam for something like low-res video conferencing?

Many of the Fuji digicams come with software that lets them act like a web cam but it certainly seems like a waste of a god camera. Those cheapie little CMOS web cams are made to be ON all the time, your CCD digicam isn't.

-Steve

[Apple]

Well, "accidently" I found Sony DSC-P7 and it has that function
It has good price as for Poland - 480 $. I read your review. What haven't found is :"could P7 work without battery after connecting to AC adapter or will it work afrter connecting via USB". I'm guesing it will transfer Video signal only via Video out to TV card in computer after connecting to AC adapter. I will have it today

BTW, I appreciate your work - great job. Many thanks.

[iodine]

Has anyone actually worn out their CCD?

What is the expected lifetime of a typical CCD in a digital camera.?

I've seen some data that suggests in the order of 35,000 hours.
That's 4 years continuous.

If this is typical, I don't think that occasional webcam use for chatting to friends is really going to wear it out.

[Mathilde uP]

Sorry for interrupting, but I see here a note of cheap cmos as better always on camera than expensive ccd camera. Some d-slr cameras use cmos and we tend indeed to consider a $999 pricelabel 'cheap' ;-)

What is the difference between ccd and cmos in lifelength, resistant to extreme light sources (welding), temperature performance (winter noise), or anything I did not name? Which sensor ccd/cmos is actually better, at what ?

[Mrjunky]

Originally Posted by Apple

I hoped it would be possible. I gues it depends on camera's sleep funktion (will it go "sleep" or not). Obviously Canon will not.
Thank you ALL for an answer

I just got a new Kodak CX6230 and it works perfectly as a webcam when it's plugged into my ATI All in Wonder card, the only problem is (big problem) that I cannot find a way so far to disable the auto power saver thingy which shuts the screen off after 60 seconds even if the camera is plugged into the AC Adaptor...

Any help would really be appreciate.. Please Email me.
I used to have an old Kodak DC220 and it had the same problem, but that camera used something called "script" and I found one which after installed, it had the option to disable the power saver feature which shuts off the LCD or "Video Out" which used to work so well for Webcam purposes.