Introduction
In this tutorial we’ll show you how to use your Canon DSLR with Ecamm Live, without the need for any additional hardware.
Cameras with interchangeable lenses, like Canon’s DSLRs, can produce the best video out there. If you’ve been shooting with webcams, these cameras provide a serious upgrade to your broadcast quality.
Ecamm Live can broadcast any digital camera source available on your Mac. For external cameras the choices are USB (typically webcams), Firewire i.Link (typically older digital video cameras like camcorders), or HDMI. HDMI is the standard connection for high-quality video input, but since Macs don’t have a built-in HDMI input, an HDMI capture device is typically required.
However, Ecamm Live features special support for using a Canon DSLR for video, using just a USB cable. You can skip the extra hardware.
If you don’t already have a DSLR and are reading this tutorial because you want to learn what's involved in upgrading your equipment, check the last section of this tutorial for some ideas for you.
Camera Compatibility
Ecamm Live’s Canon DSLR feature supports just about every Canon DSLR camera. Canon DSLRs are designated with EOS in their model number.
Necessary Camera Hardware
To connect your compatible Canon camera to your Mac, you must use a USB cable. Our cable is a Mini-USB-to-USB-A cable, but your camera may have a different port. Make sure to purchase a USB cable with generous length, or add a USB extension cable. Too-short cables limit your camera placement options, are are easy to trip over. Make sure your cables always have slack. Tension on cables can damage the ports on your devices. If you have a newer Mac with only USB-C ports, you may need an adapter from USB-A to USB-C.
When using a Canon DSLR via USB, audio from the camera’s built-in microphone(s) is not available. You will need to use a different audio source. We strongly recommend a quality external microphone that compliments the image quality your camera produces. In many ways, audio quality is more important to a broadcast than video quality, so invest wisely.
Setting Up
First-Run Setup
Turn off Wifi and NFC
Some Canon models have Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi and NFC wireless connections. These must be disabled in the camera’s on-screen settings to allow Ecamm Live to receive video from your camera.
Turn off Power Saver
You’ll want to disable Auto Power off while shooting video, to prevent your camera from turning off automatically. (If you also shoot stills with your camera, remember to re-enable this feature to save your battery).
Put Your Camera in Picture Mode
Ensure that your Canon is set to the normal mode that you’d use to take photos. There isn’t any need to put it in video capture mode or playback mode.
Connect a Power Source
For best results, connect a power source rather than running on battery power.
Remove Memory Card
IMPORTANT: Take the SD or CF card out of your camera before each time you use it for streaming. Put it somewhere safe so you don't lose it!
Connect Your Camera
Connect your camera to your Mac via USB. If possible, connect the USB cable directly to your Mac. Connections through USB hubs may not connect or be reliable for high-bandwidth devices, such as cameras.
Accept Security Prompts
On macOS 10.15.2 and higher, Ecamm Live will request two permissions:
You must accept these permissions to allow camera access over USB. If you denied these permissions by accident, you can reset them in the Privacy Preferences.
You will now see your Canon show up as a video source in Ecamm Live’s Camera menu!
Additional Camera Setup
Equipment
Beyond the basics mentioned earlier, you will benefit from two additional pieces of hardware.
A quality tripod will allow you to place your camera at the right distance, height, and angle for your situation.
A power adapter kit for your camera, which replaces the battery. Canon sells a compatible adapter, and there are generic adapters also available. The adapters are inserted into the camera’s battery compartment, so it’s important that you obtain a power adapter specifically for your camera model.
A Canon ACK-E18 AC Adapter kit for the Rebel T6i, courtesy of Canon.
Camera Settings
Plan to experiment before you broadcast with the available settings on the camera to see what produces the best results for your needs. We cannot provide ideal settings in this manual because different cameras and situations call for different settings.
If you’re not well versed in the dozens of options your camera features, and you’re running a basic one-person shoot, we suggest starting with the Mode dial on Automatic and, if your camera features face-detection auto-focus, to enable that. Some Canons have a “Movie Servo AF” (auto focus) specific to video, check your manual to see if that is of use. If your lens features an Automatic/Manual Focus switch, select Automatic (often labeled “AF”). Enable the Grid feature on your LCD to help compose your shot with the Rule of Thirds, and to make sure your shot is level.
It is quite possible these are not the best settings for your situation. If you do not have someone running the camera for you during your broadcast, pay special attention to the auto-focus options. In some situations, auto focus will move frequently and this could cause distracting changes to your video’s appearance.
Along with the auto-focus, exposure is another concern. Exposure affects how bright or dark your video will be. If you have a good artificial light source that doesn’t fluctuate (natural light is great, but can vary with clouds), you can find a good exposure setting for your shoot, and use exposure lock to prevent it from changing. When the camera auto-focuses, it will often adjust the exposure settings at the same time, if those settings are not locked.
Many of the camera’s shooting settings affect one another. Canon’s manuals often provide an overview how to shoot in various situations.
Before we end this section on leveling up, one more reminder to not ignore your audio. Invest in a good microphone solution, and remember mic audio is not available through your camera when using a USB connection.
If you don’t yet have a DSLR
Cameras with interchangeable lenses, like Canon’s DSLRs, can produce the best video out there. If you’ve been shooting with webcams, these camera provide a serious upgrade to your broadcast quality.
While Canon DSLRs can be pricey, consider a model from a year or two ago, as they are typically much more affordable than the latest edition.
Another option you may want to investigate if you have not yet invested in a camera, or are looking to upgrade, is camera and lens rentals. Most cities with pro photo stores have options to rent, and there are now many online options as well, including LensRentals.com, which rent cameras, lenses, and even packages, including video-specific packages.
For a fraction of the purchase price, you can experiment with equipment for a week and see if it works well in your particular situation. If you have the budget for that, it’s worth far more than all the gear reviews you can find. Additionally, if you like the equipment, many rental places allow you to then purchase equipment they rented you, and they often sell refurbished equipment they previously rented. This is a good way to get good equipment at a discount.