You Can Now Turn Olympus Mirrorless cameras into webcams, here's how
I've underestimated the fact of how anyone can turn their DSLR and mirror-less camera into webcams. But with the right application and little tweaks here and there, you now have yourself a high-quality webcam. I say all of this because Olympus becomes the latest camera company to release an app that will allow anyone to use mirror-less cameras as webcams with a new OM-D Webcam Beta app, which you can download at PetaPixel website.
Currently, the OM-D Webcam Beta only supports Windows systems, functioning with five Olympus mirror-less cameras, which goes as follows: OM-D E-M1X, OM-D E-M1, OM-D E-M1 Mark-2, OM-D E-M1 Mark 3, and OM-D E-M5 Mark 2.
The setup process is straightforward, install the app on the computer, connect the camera via USB-C port and turn it on, and begin using the software. After installation, the Olympus camera will appear as an option in your videoconferencing app of choice, much like any USB webcam. Below this paragraph is a quick detailed video tutorial on how to turn the Olympus mirrorless camera into a webcam.
You must know the OM-D Webcam Beta software will not output sound from the camera, using an external USB microphone is the only option. An intentional move by Olympus, stating this allows users to place the camera in the proper location for quality voice pick up.
Olympus now joins Fujifilm, Canon, and Panasonic in releasing software that makes it simple for the mirror-less camera to function as a webcam. Unlike Olympus, Fujifilm and Canon are further ahead regarding how both companies’ software is compatible with both Macs and Windows-based systems.
On a quick note, if you didn’t know by now, Olympus recently announced they would no longer manufacture cameras, leaving the business entirely. They’re are planning on selling off the entire imaging processing division to Japan Industrial Partners, citing a significant decline in the camera market.
