Al Beatty Loc: Boise, Idaho

Hi Group,

I'm looking for several older bridge or mirrorless cameras to use in my Zoom/livestreaming studio. I want to connect them to an HDMI switch to use with OBS. My needs are as follows:

1. Be able to set the camera's live view to continuous with no time out
2. Have an HDMI port - a mic jack would be nice but not mandatory
3. Have macro focusing capability while zooming
4. Have a fairly sharp lens
5. Reasonably good ISO up to 1200 (+/-)
6. RAW ability is not important as I'll only be using the live view

I have an older Nikon1 V1 that is perfect except the live view times out after 15 minutes, and I've not figured out how to override that feature. Thank you in advance for your thoughts and ideas. Take care & ...

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

To my knowledge (and I could be mistaken) all DSLRs and MILCs with the exception of the Panasonic GH series time out at 29 minutes, 59 seconds and need to be restarted when in video mode. I believe some manufactures have a FW “fix” for this issue on newer cameras to allow them to be used for continuous Zoom use beyond 30 minutes, but overheating can still be an issue. In addition many otherwise useful cameras will not AF while zooming. Why not use a webcam or digital video camera? They don’t have time limits and have parafocal lenses that stay focused while zooming. BTW if you choose a Canon camera that is supported by Magic Lantern ( https://magiclantern.fm/ ) it will allow you to bypass the time limit and adds a host of other useful video features. Just some thoughts…

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Have you considered using an iPhone or equivalent? They can focus pretty close.

sodapop Loc: Bel Air, MD

I have a camera that sits on top of the monitor. It was made for zoom type communications, and is excellent It was only around 40 dollars and sstayson an long as you want it to, and can be focused

https://www.amazon.com/Angetube-1080P-Webcam-Microphone-Conferencing/dp/B093QB6PJZ/ref=sxin_14_pa_sp_search_thematic_sspa?crid=3V2ES3G6Q3LBR&cv_ct_cx=zoom+camera+for+computer&keywords=zoom+camera+for+computer&pd_rd_i=B093QB6PJZ&pd_rd_r=725985fa-adc3-46ef-8cb1-3bae1879fe50&pd_rd_w=cCk3y&pd_rd_wg=yofRM&pf_rd_p=eca726a8-0f0c-4d15-a045-de730411b965&pf_rd_r=1797YARFKNADQK5VMJVC&qid=1648394158&sprefix=zoom+camera%2Caps%2C74&sr=1-1-a73d1c8c-2fd2-4f19-aa41-2df022bcb241-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzQURXM0JLR1RNV1MzJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMzczNzU4MjJFNkhDTE1YNTIyWiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMjM4NDU5MlVHS0xSNVczWjNXRCZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX3NlYXJjaF90aGVtYXRpYyZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

tcthome Loc: NJ

I think Nikon as a download for this and does Canon & probably others. I don’t know if it will work with your camera. Contact them. Good luck.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I think so too, but it’s really designed for fixed focus zoom meetings, DSLR/MILC lenses are typically varifocal, so they change focus when they zoom and many/most film cameras won’t constantly AF in video mode, so you have to stop, AF and restart when you zoom. Dedicated video cameras typically have parafocal lenses that don’t change focus when they zoom. Plus they typically have a power zoom which is very smooth, unlike the manual zoom on our still frame cameras.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

The new iPhone changes focus automatically in video mode

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Good, because my Canon 5D4 doesn’t. Put it on a professional dolly and tried to do a video walkthrough of my old house when I was selling it, and after an hour or two of frustration, went and got my Panasonic video camera (which cost 10% of the Canon’s price) and finished the job in 15 minutes.

flip1948 Loc: Hamden, CT

The Nikon Z9 can do 8k/30p for 125 minutes. Of course it'll cost you $5,500 and you may have to wait up to a year if you were to order now.