Use iPhone as webcam for Mac with highly effective Camo app

Camo is a robust app that allows you to use your iPhone, and any related USB digital camera, as a webcam in your Mac. I take advantage of it each week to report movies and livestream podcasts. The digital camera constructed into the MacBook — and even the high-end Studio Show — simply doesn’t examine to the readability and high quality of an iPhone digital camera.

Apple constructed a fundamental model of this function into macOS and known as it Continuity Digital camera. However like most apps which were sherlocked, Camo goes above and past with highly effective instruments and professional options.

Camo additionally works with Home windows PCs, Android telephones and most trendy cameras, not simply Macs and iPhones.

Tips on how to use your iPhone as a webcam in your Mac with Camo

First, it’s worthwhile to obtain the Camo Digital camera app from the App Retailer in your iPhone (or Android cellphone) and from the Camo web site in your Mac (or Home windows PC). There’s a free tier with watermark-free video recording, however it’s restricted to 720p video, the iPhone’s essential digital camera lens, 30 FPS and customary picture mode. Unlocking all of the options prices $40 yearly or $5 month-to-month.

Upon getting the apps arrange, simply launch them on every gadget.

If you wish to use your smartphone as a webcam with Camo, I like to recommend utilizing a wired connection. Nevertheless, if you happen to don’t have a cable useful, you’ll be able to go wi-fi. Simply click on Join a tool in your pc, faucet the Wi-Fi icon in your cellphone, after which scan the QR code.

Be aware: Whereas the Camo Digital camera app runs in your cellphone, its display screen will flip black after a couple of moments. This ensures your cellphone gained’t overheat or run out of juice.

Get your digital camera arrange

Within the Camo app in your Mac, below Digital camera settings, you’ll be able to choose which digital camera lens in your cellphone to make use of, and set the main target and body price. Audio settings, instantly under, allow you to choose which microphone to make use of.

Camo additionally offers you choices for the way your video will look while you use your iPhone as a webcam. Below Presets within the Mac app, you’ll be able to change between a couple of totally different coloration modes. You possibly can select from quite a few customizable overlay templates if you wish to present your identify and make contact with data. (When you later resolve you don’t prefer it, simply click on the layer button on the bottom-right to show it off.) To customise a template, right-click and choose Duplicate and Edit.

Below Framing, you’ll be able to select to have the digital camera routinely zoom out and in and pan round to maintain your face centered. For some motive, you set how shut you need the digital camera to trace your face on a scale of strawberry to pumpkin (pumpkin being a tighter crop) — however it does observe my face fairly intently.

Document movies from Camo

To report movies from Camo, click on the Document button within the toolbar. Click on the arrow to the best to select the place to avoid wasting the video. It repeatedly writes to the file as you report, so if the app crashes or one thing breaks partway by, not all will probably be misplaced.

One other nicety is you could be on a FaceTime or Skype name whereas Camo remains to be recording.

Superior picture controls to be used with iPhone as webcam on Mac

Camo additionally offers you extra digital camera controls, which you can find on the best aspect of the Mac app. Picture enhancements use depth information out of your cellphone to present your background a blur impact. You possibly can go for a refined inventive blur, a extreme privateness blur or a full greenscreen background.

This doesn’t work nice if you happen to (a) have a microphone on an arm in entrance of you and (b) haven’t had a haircut in six months. It seems enough in a screenshot, however dwell, it sparkles noticeably.

The Picture changes settings provide you with detailed management over coloration correction by hand. Below Superior, you’ll be able to compensate for flickering fluorescent lights. In the UK, for instance, 50 Hz workplace lighting usually conflicts with 30 FPS cameras — set it to 50 Hz to curtail the impact.

General, Camo is a well-made and thoughtfully designed Mac app that allows you to use your iPhone or different smartphone as a webcam. If you wish to go the additional mile and step up your video conferencing sport, it’ll allow you to take full benefit of the highly effective digital camera you carry in your pocket.

We initially printed this put up on how one can use your iPhone as a webcam with a Mac on April 17, 2023. We up to date the information.