The GoPro HERO 8 Black action camera is one of the most advanced products the company has ever created. This is the culmination of lessons learned from generations of action cameras.
It is now a versatile camera with 4K resolution, high frame rate, multiple aspect ratios and features such as Wi-Fi live streaming. However, GoPro has continued to add new features to HERO 8, which are also available at launch in its new HERO 9 Black camera.
GoPro HERO as a Webcam” />
One very interesting feature of these two cameras is the wired webcam feature. That’s right, you can use your high quality GoPro action cameras as a webcam on Windows or macOS! Let’s take a look at what you need to know.
Why use GoPro as your webcam?
Why not just use a regular webcam? There is nothing wrong with just using the laptop’s built-in webcam or a regular cheap USB webcam. That is, if you are satisfied with the quality of their video output. Even high-end laptops only offer 720p webcams with tiny apertured lenses. The right 1080p HD USB webcams are also quite expensive! Considering that you can only use them for one purpose.
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If you already own a GoPro Hero 8 or newer, you don’t need to spend more money on a high quality webcam. Now you also have a Full HD camera with exceptional video quality. But there are many other reasons why a GoPro can be a good webcam.
For example, you can use many of your existing GoPro mount solutions to position your camera as you see fit. You can also use a USB C cable of any supported length for easy professional setup.
What you need to use GoPro HERO as a webcam
It’s technically possible to use GoPro cameras older than HERO 8 as webcams, but only if you’re also willing to purchase a few expensive third-party accessories. HERO 8 and 9 now support webcam functionality as a built-in camera function. To use it, you need the following:
- GoPro Hero 8 or 9 Black
- The latest firmware installed on the camera.
- A suitable USB C cable for connecting to a computer.
- GoPro webcam utility for your operating system.
This is it! Moving on to the technical instructions.
How to set up GoPro HERO as a webcam in Windows
Before you go any further as a Windows user, you should know that the GoPro Webcam Utility for Windows is still in beta. It may not yet be as stable or compatible as the macOS version. Here’s what to do:
- First download the Windows GoPro Webcam Utility here and install it.
- The wizard is simple, you don’t need to change any parameters if you don’t want to.
- You need to approve the installation of the virtual network adapter.
- Finally, your computer will need to reboot to complete the operation.
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After you return to WIndows, you will see a new webcam icon in the notification bar.
GoPro HERO as a Webcam” />
Turn on your GoPro and connect it to your computer. The icon should now glow with a small blue light. So the camera is connected and working. You can now select it as a webcam option in apps like Skype or Teams.
GoPro HERO as a Webcam” />
How to set up GoPro HERO 8 & 9 as a webcam in macOS
MacOS GoPro Webcam Utility is the latest stable version of the software. So almost all users should have no problem with this. Let’s walk through the setup step by step.
- First download and install the macOS GoPro Webcam Utility.
- The wizard is simple, you don’t need to change any parameters if you don’t want to.
- You will need to provide a TouchID or admin password.
- Finally, you will have to restart your Mac to complete the operation.
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When you log back into macOS, you should see this GoPro webcam icon in the notification area. This will be the status indicator of the camera.
All you need to do now is turn on your camera, connect it to your computer with a USB C cable, and check to see if the blue light on the app icon turns on. If so, your GoPro is in webcam mode! This light will turn red while streaming or recording.
You should now have a GoPro as an external webcam in apps like Skype or Microsoft Teams!
GoPro HERO as a Webcam” />
Important webcam application functions
On Windows or macOS, right-clicking the webcam application icon gives you some important features:
- Digital Lens lets you switch between wide, narrow and linear fields of view.
- Show Preview opens a window to show you what the camera image looks like.
- Currently, only the macOS version seems to allow for resolution switching.
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That’s it for the webcam app, which is no more complicated than it should be at the moment.
It is not perfect
While we think this new feature is great, there are still a few things we would like to improve and a few bugs to be aware of.
First of all, while both the Heros 8 and 9 support live streaming, there is no wireless webcam feature here We think this would be an awesome feature, especially since it would allow the camera to operate with the battery door closed. Shooting underwater or in difficult conditions is allowed.
We were also unable to get the webcam mode to work without battery in the GoPro It’s unclear if this is normal, but it’s best to keep your GoPro battery close at hand rather than using it as a webcam when you need it.
Unfortunately, there is no option for 4K video quality. While fantastic optics and full 1080p imaging are still much better than a typical webcam, it seems a shame not to offer the 4K quality these cameras are capable of. We hope GoPro will make higher resolutions possible in the future.
Final tips for getting the most out of your GoPro webcam
Using your GoPro as an external webcam gives you a number of interesting possibilities. We used a USB 2.0 C-to-C cable in our testing, and it had no problem getting 1080p images to a computer. USB 2.0 Type-C cables can be up to 4 meters in length. We tested this with the Oculus Quest‘s 3m USB-C cable and there were no issues.
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With this long cable, the camera can be put anywhere We always recommend the GoPro Jaws Flex Clamp as the most versatile solution, but you can mount your GoPro on a tripod or any other compatible mount. This allows physical presentations, instructional demos, and any other type of streaming that require a wider view, moving camera, and space to be easily delivered.
Take time to experiment and you will find that using your GoPro as a webcam is a great alternative to standard USB webcams. Happy broadcast!
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