Which Cameras 'Stream' ?

[arthur_brogard]

<p> I want a camera I can connect to the computer and view what the camera is viewing - on the computer. I will then use the computer software to take pictures or videos. <br>

Or use the camera itself to take pictures or videos.</p>

<p> The reason for this is that the camera will be mounted on a microscope and I will be seeing what it sees and will have a much better ability to photo and video than I do with a camera that does not 'stream' (if that's the right word) to the computer.<br>

Because when it does not stream I can only judge the picture by looking at the small screen on the back of the camera - which is pretty poor.</p>

<p>I have a finepix av250 and a cannon a520 and they're both great little cameras. But neither of them can do this.<br>

What is this feature called so I can vet cameras online and see which have it and which don't?<br>

And if anyone has a suggestion on a good camera for this job I'd like to hear it.</p>

<p>:)</p>

<p> </p>

[AJG]

<p>The word you're looking for is "tethered" and a lot of recent Canon and Nikon DSLRs will do this through current Lightroom software on your PC. There are other options as well.</p>

[arthur_brogard]

<p>Okay, thank you. So I look in the specs for the word 'tethered' or a whole sentence 'capable of being tethered' or something? <br>

A DSLR is out of my price range right now and would be a bit heavy for the microscope, too, I think. <br>

What I'm looking for is only the functionality of a webcam, actually. Pretty low tech and very ordinary. You'd think every camera would have it as a matter of course.<br>

So why not a webcam?<br>

Well HD is the point. But HD webcams are not easy to find and begin to cost a bit more than their LD cousins so I'm thinking might as well buy a camera if I'm going to spend that much. See? That's the logic behind it all.</p>

 

[Wouter Willemse]

<p>If it's mainly for capturing video, it's not tethering to look for, to be honest - tethered shooting is for still images. I'm not sure if you need to capture the video, though? It's not entirely clear from the question.<br>

If you need to capture video, it's really probably better to look at videocameras rather than still cameras that can do video. HD Webcams are more reasonable priced than most cameras, or for more versatility a video capture card for your PC and something like a GoPro.</p>

[arthur_brogard]

<p>It is mainly for capturing video. But not to the exclusion of stills. I much like video of living pond life doing its thing but stills of more inanimate subjects are still wanted.<br>

A video camera would be quite huge to try to mount on the eyepiece of a microscope.<br>

An acceptable thing is something like my present cameras - the finepix and the cannon - made for it or not, doesn't matter, the produce a video that is adequate, that is fine. I have hand held them at the eyepiece and taken some good videos.<br>

If I can fasten them up there and have them streaming to the computer I can view the image on the computer - with, for instance, yawcam - and adjust focus and objective lens and move the stage - and see the result immediately and clearly. That's why I want what I want.<br>

So it just boils down to which cameras will do it?</p>

[MichaelChang]

<p>If you're on a budget, I'd suggest buying a used DSLR, something like a Nikon D5100 which is now quite inexpensive and widely available, for instance a number of them at <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=D5100&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&usedSearch=1&Top+Nav-Search=">B&H's used department</a>. </p>

<p>There are several reasons why this is advantageous: </p>

<ol>

<li>You can shoot video and stills while tethered to the computer and see its "Live View" either on the computer screen via USB or an external monitor via its HDMI output port. </li>

<li>It can capture video at 1920x1080 (1080p) which is considerably higher resolution than the 640x480 of your current cameras. </li>

<li>You can (optionally) use a third party firmware from <a href="https://nikonhacker.com/">https://nikonhacker.com/</a> to extend/enhance its video and stills performance.</li>

<li>Freeware tethering software is available from <a href="http://digicamcontrol.com/">http://digicamcontrol.com/</a> which means no need to buy Nikon's software. </li>

<li>You can record/shoot to the camera's SD card, computer, or both.</li>

</ol>

<p>There must be a Canon equivalent as well but you'll have to research that yourself as I'm a Nikon user. </p>

<p>I bought a used D5100 for similar reasons - to use as a second video camera for microscopy, astronomy, and general video work with a long list of available accessories. </p>

<p> </p>

[andylynn]

What equipment do you have for recording? Do you want streaming as in hdmi live output so you can record on a

dedicated recorder or do you want to connect to a computer so you can preview what's going on on screen while

recording to SD cards or will a camera with wifi and a live view phone app do the trick? Many current models have wifi

and a phone app that will give you a live view and trigger recording. I use the Fuji one all the time, it's very convenient for

decreasing camera shake (by not touching the camera) while using a tripod.

[Ed_Ingold]

<p>Cameras with Wi-Fi capability can usually be "tethered" to a smart phone or pad in that manner. A Sony A7, for example, has built-in software that connects to an iPhone (and others) allowing remote live view as well as capture. For the A7, capture at the camera is in RAW, JPEG or both, and a JPEG is stored in the phone at the same time. Saved images can also be pushed or pulled to a remote device or network.</p>

<p>Remote operation is natural for mirrorless cameras because the live view is the normal mode, not something special. In the absence of live view, cameras may allow remote operation, but the image can only be viewed after it is taken. DSLRs and medium format cameras usually operate in this manner.</p>

[timothy_eleccion]

<blockquote>

<p>If you're on a budget, I'd suggest buying a used DSLR, something like a Nikon D5100 which is now quite inexpensive and widely available, for instance a number of them at <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=D5100&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&usedSearch=1&Top+Nav-Search=&BI=11" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">B&H's used department</a>.<br>

There are several reasons why this is advantageous:</p>

<ol>

<li>You can shoot video and stills while tethered to the computer and see its "Live View" either on the computer screen via USB or an external monitor via its HDMI output port.</li>

<li>It can capture video at 1920x1080 (1080p) which is considerably higher resolution than the 640x480 of your current cameras.</li>

<li>You can (optionally) use a third party firmware from <a href="https://nikonhacker.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://nikonhacker.com/</a> to extend/enhance its video and stills performance.</li>

<li>Freeware tethering software is available from <a href="http://digicamcontrol.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://digicamcontrol.com/</a> which means no need to buy Nikon's software.</li>

<li>You can record/shoot to the camera's SD card, computer, or both.</li>

</ol>

<p>There must be a Canon equivalent as well but you'll have to research that yourself as I'm a Nikon user.<br>

I bought a used D5100 for similar reasons - to use as a second video camera for microscopy, astronomy, and general video work with a long list of available accessories.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>This.<br>

I owned a Canon t3i and used the Canon specific software to tether to my MacBook for product photography. Just get a cheap prosumer Canikon slr. They record exceptional video and have the tethering function you need. Also, they make them pretty small these days. (i.e. canon SL1)</p>

[timothy_eleccion]

<p>^ I should clarify. "Cheap" as in price. Although I'm partial to mirrorless, these multifunction, prosumer slr's are definitely quality tools for boiler plate usage. Especially for those on a budget.</p>

[phule]

<p>Just buy a GoPro and be done with it. </p>

[MichaelChang]

<blockquote>

<p><em>"Just buy a GoPro and be done with it."</em></p>

</blockquote>

<p>Unfortunately, a GoPro won't do any of the things the OP wants to do. </p>

[Ed_Ingold]

<p>HD webcams are readily found and not particularly expensive. If 1080 x 1920 pixels (2 MP) is enough, you just need a cardboard tube and duct tape. However it's not hard to find a microscope video camera with the proper adapters and software either. I found this on a quick Google search...</p>

<p>http://www.microscope.com/microscope-cameras/</p>

<p>Edmund Scientific is another good source, and there are adapters for many conventional cameras (and iPhones) as well.</p>

[arthur_brogard]

<p>Yes, I've been to that link. Long time ago. The very first item, the KK2, is closet to what I'm looking for. Cheap, light, does the job. Doesn't bother trying to do anything else.<br>

Except it doesn't do the job. <br>

It fits into the eyepiece tube of the microscope. That means the eyepiece lens has to come out. That means I lose magnification. If I have a 40x objective and a 15x eyepiece I have a total of 600x magnification. If I take the eyepiece lens out I can only take pictures or stream video at 40x.<br>

See?<br>

The next best is the SK2-3.1 which takes the money up to $125. It seems to have exactly the same problem. They do not make anything very clear in their voluminous spiel about the specs and quality of the thing - they never come out and specifically state 'allows photography through the eyepiece' which I would have thought would be an essential first claim in dedicated microscope cameras.<br>

But they do say again and again that it has a 23.2mm adapter. Well that is the internal diameter of the eyepiece tube. So it seems definite to me that it slides in. And the eyepieces and their magnification multiplying effect, come out.<br>

So that's no good.<br>

The AM4023 seems the first that might work. It seems to have three adjusting/clamping screws. That indicates to me that it goes over the eyepiece which is what is wanted.<br>

However they want $250 for that. <br>

I am shopping for something cheaper.<br>

If a typical webcam can stream the video then it is not a high tech, difficult, expensive thing to provide.<br>

I have low definition webcams that I can mount on the eyepiece and get good pics at low res from.<br>

All I need is a HD webcam, seems to me.<br>

Or a low end digital camera (such as the cannon A520 or the Fuji AV250 that I have) that is capable of streaming the video.<br>

I got a HD webcam. A microsoft HD. But it has two faults.<br>

1. The construction is such that when mounted on the eyepiece it is too far back, too far distant, from the objective lens and the picture circle is too small. <br>

2. It does not have automatic brightness compensation as webcams usually have, it seems. For it is dazzled by the light shining up the tube.<br>

So it is a piece of junk. For this purpose. Okay as a webcam.<br>

So there is a problem.<br>

I, too, think there should be no problem. None at all. Seems easy to me. Surely there's a low end digital camera out there that streams? No? Ah, well, that's the problem.<br>

Surely there's a dedicated microscope camera available? Yes, but they all require removing the eyepiece lens. Ah, well, that's the problem.<br>

Surely any HD webcam would do? Try the Microsoft. Doesn't work. Ah, there's the problem.</p>

<p>:)</p>

<p> </p>

[arthur_brogard]

<p>Hmm, couldn't find a way to edit my post.<br>

Got a reply back from Amscope and I'm informed that digital cameras used in this way have a natural magnification which, for instance with their typical cameras, is about 40X.<br>

So they add in a reducer to knock it back down to 20X.<br>

Which is still more than the highest eyepiece magnification I currently use.<br>

So if all the other 'in tube' cameras are the same as this there's no problem.<br>

I would have edited/deleted my previous post but couldn't see how to do it.</p>

<p> </p>

[phule]

<p>[[unfortunately, a GoPro won't do any of the things the OP wants to do.]]<br>

<br>

I guess all the streaming people do directly to tablets, phones, and even PC's is just a figment of their imaginations? </p>