Using Digital Camera as a Webcam

[NewSilkTurtle]

I have the Polaroid PhotoMAX PDC 3035 and have had no problems using it to shoot and upload still pics and video clips, but when I tried to use it as a webcam, I ran into some difficulties. The same issues occur in every videoconferencing program I have tried (PalTalk, NetMeeting, Yahoo Messenger, etc.).

With the camera plugged in via USB and set to the webcam setting, the party on the receiving waits for the picture to start coming through but it never does. I see "PC CAMERA" on the LCD screen on the back of the camera so I know it is correctly hooked up.

The camera manufacturer's tech support line has no idea what is wrong. Some folks in the PalTalk Tech group said they've never heard of a digital camera that's supposed to also function as a webcam actually do the job without going through a capture device, but they could not explain how to make it function with my Dazzle DVC 80, which I use to view and capture video from the camcorder to my HD. The camcorder connects to Dazzle via a cord which is also used to watch the video on a television.

There is a "TV-OUT" jack on the side of the digital camera, and that cord from the camcorder fits into it perfectly but I have no idea what will happen if I hook the camera to the Dazzle. I don't want to risk goofing up the camera or anything else.

I'm hoping someone here has had a similar experience and will be able to explain how to make this digital camera useful for videoconferencing. I didn't buy it for that purpose but since the capability is there I would like to find a way to take advantage of it.

Thanks in advance for any info/suggestions.

 

[Baldeagle76]

when I bought my kodak easy share camera, webcam was listed on a feature on the box. Since my mother nor father use IM's, and the main purpose of the webcam would be to see my 16month old boy, I haven't ever bothered to attempt this. I don't use IM at all either. Is there third party software you would need to make this work, rather than using the IM software? Maybe it is software the camera maker sells ? I am not sure but would be interested if anyone else knows as well NewSilkTurtle.

 

[Janie56]

Are you sure you installed all the drivers and software? have you checked your hardware devices to see if there are any conflicts

 

[NewSilkTurtle]

Are you sure you installed all the drivers and software? have you checked your hardware devices to see if there are any conflicts

I have installed all the drivers. No hardware conflicts. Perhaps it would be a good idea to uninstall the Dazzle device AND the camera, then try that camera alone (no drivers) then if that doesn't fix it, reinstall the camera drivers. The Polaroid manual advises to be on the lookout for conflicts with other camera drivers, and the Dazzle device is somewhat like a camera in that it's a video input device, right?

Does this sound like a good idea?

 

[montag451]

uninstall or disable what you can