Record DLSR output to laptop

Record DLSR output to laptop

Author
Discussion

ReaderScars

Original Poster:

6,087 posts

175 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
quotequote all
I'd like to make up a DSLR-into-laptop CCTV. What I'm hoping to achieve is decent/good quality CCTV recorded directly into a laptop. The reason for doing this is to make use of good image quality as well as get more use out of existing hardware without buying new stuff.

I was thinking something along the lines of the following: taking the video out/firewire from the camera and streaming it into recording software on the laptop.

So do I need a DSLR with video capability or just a camera which can send whatever the lens sees, directly down the cable?

Can I use my 350D - will it duplicate whatever the lens picks up or does it send individual images to it's video out?


rottie102

3,993 posts

183 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
quotequote all
a) if it's Live View feed you're talking about, I think it switches off quickly to save battery. I don't think you can turn that off
b) if it's recording you will be limited by maximum length of a clip and by battery life
c) whatever it is you will be limited by battery life
d) do you really need days of 1080p footage stored on your laptop? I know memory is cheapish these days but still going through it won't be easy.

It will make WAAAY more sense to just buy a 720p CCTV camera smile Quality will be decent enough.

Edited by rottie102 on Wednesday 26th November 20:47

rich888

2,610 posts

198 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
quotequote all
ReaderScars said:
I'd like to make up a DSLR-into-laptop CCTV. What I'm hoping to achieve is decent/good quality CCTV recorded directly into a laptop. The reason for doing this is to make use of good image quality as well as get more use out of existing hardware without buying new stuff.

I was thinking something along the lines of the following: taking the video out/firewire from the camera and streaming it into recording software on the laptop.

So do I need a DSLR with video capability or just a camera which can send whatever the lens sees, directly down the cable?

Can I use my 350D - will it duplicate whatever the lens picks up or does it send individual images to it's video out?
Might I ask how many hours of recording you wish to achieve, and do you require constant recording or motion-detect?

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
quotequote all
rottie102 said:
It will make WAAAY more sense to just buy a 720p CCTV camera smile Quality will be decent enough.

Edited by rottie102 on Wednesday 26th November 20:47
What he said...

It will be much, much less hassle to spend £16.99 on this:

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/pc-accessories/webca...

You will probably be pleasantly surprised by the quality.

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
quotequote all
rich888 said:
Might I ask how many hours of recording you wish to achieve, and do you require constant recording or motion-detect?
Rich makes a good point about motion detect. It is actually very cheap to achieve.

When I wanted a cheap but decent motion activated CCTV system that recorded straight to my laptop I used a program called iCamSource and it was brilliant. I just plugged in a cheap webcam and the software did the rest. Every time there was movement it took pictures and recorded.

I could even watch the camera live on my iphone when I was sat at my desk at work via the internet.

It was awesomesmile

TheRainMaker

6,302 posts

241 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
quotequote all
Do you have an HDMI out?

ReaderScars

Original Poster:

6,087 posts

175 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
quotequote all
No HDMI out, unfortunately. But I do have an old android phone with HDMI out - could that be pressed into service? Would that be better definition than a 720 webcam?

TheRainMaker

6,302 posts

241 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
quotequote all
I use one of these for using with firewire cameras.

http://www.grassvalley.com/products/advc110

You will have to check that the software you have works with it.

smile