Sony was one of the few remaining photography brands to launch its own solution to turn its cameras into The best webcam for video conferencing and streaming. Now finally do it, Imaging Edge Webcam is the application that allows you to use more than 35 different Sony cameras as Webcam. Although there is an option to use other non-compatible models. We show you how to do all this and without having to resort to the use of a video capture device.
Turn your Sony camera into the best webcam
If you want to use your camera as a webcam, watch out. Imaging Edge Webcam is the new Sony application with which you can make video conferences and streaming of high quality with a great variety of its cameras, from the popular alpha to the latest models such as the Sony ZV-1 or the most recent Sony a7S III. This app is available for download from the official Sony website and allows you to use them without having to buy a video capture device. An option that has logical advantages, but the great drawback of assuming an extra expense.
So let’s see how this new application works and what you should keep in mind .
Supported operating systems
In order to use Imaging Edge Webcam, the first thing is to have one of the two compatible operating systems : Windows 10 in its 64 – bit version or macOS 10.13 or higher .
Therefore, not only users who stream games from their PCs will benefit, but also all other users who use a Mac for video conferencing, trực tuyến courses, etc. The quality of their video will improve, and that will be a significant benefit to them and to those who view them .
Does Imaging Edge Webcam work with Rossetta 2 ?
Regarding compatibility with Apple Silicon processors, Sony has updated its software and is now compatible with Apple M1 and M2 processors, now that it is more than clear that the Cupertino company is making a complete transition of its range of computers to this architecture. The same does not happen on PC, since there is still no version of this software for Windows ARM, although this is obvious, since this version of Windows has not had the deployment that Microsoft expected in its beginnings.
Software compatibility as such is not native. It is necessary to make use of the Rossetta 2 program to make a ‘ translation ‘ of the original language of the program to the ARM architecture of the new processors that make up Apple computers. The wait has been long, but at least there is already an official compatibility. Therefore, if you already have a computer with Apple Silicon architecture, you don’t have to do anything special to be able to use your Sony camera as a webcam on your Mac .
Sony cameras compatible with Imaging Edge Webcam
Continuing with the theme, the cameras supported by Imaging Edge Webcam are 35 models in total. These range from the models included in the Sony alpha series to others somewhat older or from the family of compacts offered by the manufacturer. He complete list of compatible cameras you have it below:
Sony E-mount cameras
- Sony a7II
- sony a7 III
- Sony A7IV
- Sony A7R
- sony a7r II
- sony a7r III
- sony a7r IV
- sony a7s
- sony a7s II
- sony a7s III
- sony a7c
- Sony a9
- Sony a9II
- Sony a5100
- Sony a6100
- Sony a6300
- Sony a6400
- Sony a6500
- Sony a6600
Sony A-mount
- Sony 77II
- Sony 99II
- Sony 68
Sony compact cameras （ DSC )
- SonyDSC-HX95
- SonyDSC-HX99
- Sony DSC-RX0
- Sony DSC-RX0II
- Sony DSC-RX100IV
- Sony DSC-RX100V
- Sony DSC-RX100VI
- Sony DSC-RX100 VII
- Sony DSC-RX10II
- Sony DSC-RX10III
- Sony DSC-RX10IV
- Sony DSC-RX1R II
- Sony DSC-WX700
- Sony DSC-WX800
- Sony zv-1
- Sony ZV-E10
- Sony Z1-VF
How to use Imaging Edge Webcam
To use Imaging Edge Webcam the first and logical thing is to tải về the application. To do this you just have to go to the Sony website and follow the following steps :
- Access the page of Download Imaging Edge Webcam
- Select the model of your camera by checking its corresponding box
- The download button is activated and you can press it to get the application
- Next, install the app on your Windows PC
- Start the application
Now that you have the application downloaded and installed, the next step is to prepare your Sony camera. What you have to do next is enable the option that allows remote control through the computer. Depending on the camera Model, this option will be in one menu or another. Basically, the different options that you can find are the following .
Sony a9 II and a7R IV cameras
In these chambers you will have to go to the menu and then to the page network settings. There you have to look for the Control options with Smartphone and deactivate. Then Remote PC settings activate them and set the connection method as USB.
Sony ZV-1 cameras
On Sony’s small vlogging camera the process is very similar, although there are only two steps involved. The first is within Menu > Network > Ctrl with Smartphone activate the function and then in Network > Remote PC re-enable control.
Rest of Sony cameras
For the rest of the Sony cameras compatible with the application, the process is as follows:
- Open the menu
- Access the network settings
- Activate Control with Smartphone
- Then go to the USB Connection settings page and enable remote pc option
Done, you already have everything configured on your Sony camera, whatever Mã Sản Phẩm it is among all the compatible ones to start using the application. So the next step is to connect the camera to the PC through the included USB cable or another one that you have available .
Before doing it puts the camera in Auto mode. Once it has been connected and with the application started, you can switch to video mode, but at first there are cameras that need this to be detected correctly.
From this moment you will be ready to use your Sony camera as the best possible webcam when making video conferences or streaming, being able to take advantage of technologies such as its autofocus system, color profiles, etc .
The only thing you will have to do is select the camera in the application you are going to use. For example, if you use OBS for streaming, you will have to go to its source settings and choose the Imaging Edge Webcam source under Video Capture (this is how it will appear). In the same way if you want to use it in other tools such as Zoom, Google Meets, Microsoft Teams or Skype.
It is also important and interesting that you take into account some advice that Sony gives for its use. And it is that they recommend not connecting any other USB devices while the camera is being used and that it be deactivated in automatic sleep mode of the PC. And finally, if the camera supports the charging via USB activate the option. Thus, while you are using it together with the PC, the battery will not discharge, cutting the signal in the middle of the broadcast.
How to use other Sony cameras as a webcam
This official solution is compatible with a good number of cameras from the manufacturer. Even so, there may be unsupported models. So how could we use them as a webcam? The solution is to use remote management software Imaging Edge Desktop. An application that is compatible with both Windows and Mac, but when it comes to using it in streaming and video conferencing applications it offers some differences depending on the platform.
Our recommendation is that you follow the steps that we have established at the beginning of this post. Even if your camera is not listed, please go to Sony website to make sure your camera is not compatible with the first method. If you can’t use Imaging Edge Webcam, then follow these steps to use the camera with the program Imaging Edge Desktop, which is the alternative:
Step 1 : Install Imaging Edge Desktop
The first step is to install Imaging Edge Desktop. This is the không tính tiền application that Sony offers for desktop management of its cameras. It is available for both Windows and Mac and you can tải về from the official website. To tải về it, it is not necessary to select any type of camera Model. Simply choose the appropriate button to tải về the software compatible with your operating system .
Once you have it, install it and depending on the operating system you use, accept and give the pertinent permissions it needs for it to function correctly. This particular one is mainly for macOS users, who will have to go to System Preferences and give it access from the Security và Privacy panel. If the panel appears blocked, remember that you have to click on the closed padlock that appears in the lower left corner of the System Preferences màn hình hiển thị and add your password. With this step, the panel will be unlocked so that you can make the necessary changes as requested by the Sony Imaging Edge Desktop software .
Step 2 : Install OBS
OBS, the popular streaming application It will be the other fundamental element of this equation that will allow us to use Sony cameras as a webcam without the need for a capture device. As you already know, if we don’t tell you again, this is also a free utility and you can download from obsproject. Once you have it installed on your computer, the next step will be to configure your camera so that you can use all this set of programs easily.
Step 3 : Sony Camera Settings
With both applications already installed, the next step is to configure the camera you are going to use to allow remote access and control from the PC. This is valid for a large number of cameras. To do this, you must take into account the following :
- That access and control from the mobile phone is disabled
- That the USB Connection is configured as Remote PC. To do this, go to the camera settings menu and on the fourth screen of Settings menu four (toolbox icon) locate USB Connection. That’s where you can change this value
- Done, we have everything
Step 4 : Configuring the applications
Now that everything is installed and the Sony camera settings perfectly established, it’s time to configure everything to be able to use the camera as a webcam and be able to record or broadcast live without the need for a capture device .
So let’s get to it, these are now the steps to follow :
- Connect the camera to the computer via the USB to micro USB cable and turn it on
- Start Imaging Edge and select the option to Remote
- A window will appear with the detected cameras, double click on the one you will use
- At that moment a new window will appear where you can control all aspects of the camera, from aperture to iso, etc.
- Now start OBS and create a new canvas for the stream
- In Fonts, add a new font from a Window capture
- In the new window that will open select Remote, which is the one that corresponds to the video that the Sony application is capturing
- Now, make the necessary adjustments by pressing the ALT key and adjusting the selection square with the mouse to eliminate the elements that do not interest you and keep only the video
Done, as you need to show more or less elements you can adjust the size of your image, add other video sources, etc. The video quality will not be the highest that the camera can offer if we use a capture card like the one in the elgato camlink 4K or the official application, but better than the one offered by many webcams on the market .
Using OBS as a virtual webcam
Finally, if you want to take advantage of all this OBS configuration as a webcam in other applications such as Skype, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, etc., you must install obs virtualcam. Until recently, this software was only available for Windows, but since January 2021, VirtualCam is natively integrated into OBS, so you won’t have to download the plugin separately. In case you have any doubts, the add-on has been integrated into OBS for macOS since version 26.1.
Once you download and install VirtualCam, go back to OBS and in the tools menu activate VirtualCam. All you have to do is go to your video call application that you use and in its settings select this video source.
As you can see, you no longer lack options to improve the quality when carrying out both live broadcasts and video conferences. Choose which one is the most interesting or optimal for you and that’s it .
Is it worth using the camera as a webcam ?
Well, the answer to this question is more than obvious: yes. The improvement in the quality that offers a camera with the ability to be used as a webcam, no matter how basic it is, it will always be better than the webcams integrated into the equipment and even more so in those of Apple, although the new ones with M1 improved the sensors.
Professional camera ? For specific uses only
It should be noted that the use as a webcam will affect the life of the camera. Therefore, unless you are clear about that small, but ultimately wear and tear on your camera and its sensor, our recommendation is that you use it for those moments where it is really worth it.
For example, to perform streams on Twitch, online training where your students go to see you, etc. That is, moments where that extra quality adds to you as something positive. For other specific moments such as calls between friends or family, it is better to continue using the integrated camera or even that of your smartphone or tablet.
A tool designed for compact and mid-range
Therefore, here it already depends on your priorities. In mid-range cameras, the use of Imaging Edge Webcam may be more than recommended. However, in more expensive and advanced cameras such as the A7 R IV or the Sony A9, this functionality may not be as worthwhile. Are you willing to reduce the useful life of the sensor of a camera of several thousand euros by making a direct on Twitch or a video call? Definitely, it is more interesting to use a more affordable Sony camera for these cases, since most of the time, we will not notice the difference between a camera of 6.000 euros and one of 900 due to the compression of the video.
However, it is still interesting to use this tool with the most advanced cameras. Sony compact, as is the case with the Z1-VF. These machines are more prepared for longer use, so it may be interesting to give Imaging Edge a little more cane if we have one of these machines.
