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 digicam, as a webcam to your Mac. I take advantage of it each week to file movies and livestream podcasts. The digicam constructed into the MacBook — and even the high-end Studio Show — simply doesn’t examine to the readability and high quality of an iPhone digicam.

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

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

The way to use your iPhone as a webcam in your Mac with Camo

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

After you have the apps arrange, simply launch them on every machine.

If you wish to use your smartphone as a webcam with Camo, I like to recommend utilizing a wired connection. Nonetheless, in the event you don’t have a cable helpful, you may go wi-fi. Simply click on Join a tool in your laptop, faucet the Wi-Fi icon in your cellphone, after which scan the QR code.

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

Get your digicam arrange

Within the Camo app in your Mac, below Digicam settings, you may decide which digicam lens in your cellphone to make use of, and set the main target and body price. Audio settings, instantly under, allow you to decide which microphone to make use of.

Camo additionally offers you choices for a way your video will look once you use your iPhone as a webcam. Underneath Presets within the Mac app, you may change between a number of completely different shade modes. You’ll be able to select from quite a few customizable overlay templates if you wish to present your identify and phone data. (When you later determine 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.

Underneath Framing, you may select to have the digicam robotically zoom out and in and pan round to maintain your face centered. For some cause, you set how shut you need the digicam to trace your face on a scale of strawberry to pumpkin (pumpkin being a tighter crop) — nevertheless it does observe my face fairly intently.

Report movies from Camo

To file movies from Camo, click on the Report button within the toolbar. Click on the arrow to the proper to select the place to save lots of the video. It constantly writes to the file as you file, so if the app crashes or one thing breaks partway via, not all might 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 further digicam controls, which you will discover on the proper facet of the Mac app. Picture enhancements use depth information out of your cellphone to present your background a blur impact. You’ll be able to go for a delicate inventive blur, a extreme privateness blur or a full greenscreen background.

This doesn’t work nice in the event you (a) have a microphone on an arm in entrance of you and (b) haven’t had a haircut in six months. It appears to be like satisfactory in a screenshot, however reside, it sparkles noticeably.

The Picture changes settings provide you with detailed management over shade correction by hand. Underneath Superior, you may 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 recreation, it’ll allow you to take full benefit of the highly effective digicam you carry in your pocket.

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