[Yajiuma Mini Review] Is it OK if the web camera is out of stock? I tried "iVCam" that can use a smartphone as a web camera

Due to the increased opportunities for teleworking due to the impact of the new coronavirus, web cameras and microphones are running out of stock at mass retailers and online shopping sites. The lack of availability of these products is perhaps unprecedented. Some of our readers may be having trouble finding it.

For those people, I would like to recommend the "iVCam" app that allows you to use your smartphone as a web camera. By installing it on your smartphone (iOS/Android), you can use it as an external web camera for your Windows PC. With this, you can easily build an environment suitable for telework with your smartphone without having to purchase a web camera.

To briefly introduce the mechanism, first install the utility on the Windows side, then install the app on your smartphone. When you start the app, the smartphone app searches for utilities on the same network and automatically displays them when found. No complicated settings are required.

First of all, depending on the environment where the utility is installed on the Windows PC, it is necessary to unblock it according to the instructions of the security software. I haven't tried it this time, but when I start the utility that supports USB (wired) connection, the smartphone waits for connection. Then install the smartphone app and allow access to the camera and microphone. Go find your PC. In addition, although it is introduced on the Android screen, the flow is the same on the iPhone. When the PC is displayed as "Found", tap the play button at the bottom center. If you can't find it, you can also connect by specifying the IP address directly. By the way, the same screen is displayed on the smartphone side

　The usability is the same as a general web camera. In addition to selecting the size and frame rate, you can also select the image quality from three levels, and also support adjustments such as white balance, mirror image, upside down, and mirror image. It also has a microphone function, so if you need to procure a microphone at the same time as a webcam, you can have an all-in-one advantage.

　Since you can select both the front camera and the rear camera of your smartphone, you can use the front camera while displaying your face on the smartphone screen, and the resolution is higher than that of a general web camera. You can also use an expensive rear camera. If you don't want to shoot very clearly, you can use the front camera with a low number of pixels on purpose.

　Because it is recognized as a normal web camera from the PC, it can be combined with various video chat and video conferencing tools, as well as combined with "Snap Camera" to process faces and backgrounds. It also has a snapshot function and a recording function.

　In addition, as an advantage that ordinary web cameras do not have, you can adjust the exposure and ISO by swiping the touch screen, and you can zoom by pinching in and out. When you feel that the screen is a little dark, you can adjust it on the touch screen of your smartphone without opening the setting screen.

Settings screen. By default, the video size that matches the connected smartphone is selected. Frame rate supports up to 60fps Exposure time and ISO are adjusted automatically, but manual adjustment is also possible. In addition, it is recognized as a general web camera from a PC that has familiar menus for web cameras such as mirror image and upside down. You can also use Ctrl + plus or minus to zoom the screen on the keyboard, and combine it with utilities for webcams such as "Snap Camera" to process faces and backgrounds.Preview display is also possible on the smartphone side. Both front and rear cameras are available. You can also adjust the exposure/ISO and zoom on the touch screen

　This time, we tried iOS with "iPhone SE" and Android with "Pixel 3", but there were no particular bottlenecks and it was selected by default. No significant differences were found, except for the different screen sizes used. Strictly speaking, it seems that only iOS has a function that allows you to select a microphone, but even if there is a difference, that is the extent.

Also, as a test, I pulled out the "iPhone 5s" that had been neglected for several years and installed the app. It's also an excellent way to make the most of your old smartphone. Also, using the Apk file prepared for devices that do not support Google Play, we confirmed that it works on Amazon's tablet "Fire 7".

If there is only one problem in using a smartphone as a substitute for a web camera with this application, it would be how to fix the smartphone. This time, I used a stand that I had on hand to secure the smartphone to a tripod, but if you combine it with an arm-type product that can move flexibly up, down, left, and right, you can freely adjust the angle and place it anywhere you want. It would be nice to have it fixed.

As described above, people who are in trouble because they cannot procure a web camera for telework, people who are reluctant to buy a web camera because the period of telework is limited, and people who have a broken laptop camera Or, it is perfect for those who are not satisfied with the performance such as the number of pixels. If the introduction of this application saves the budget for the web camera itself, we recommend that you use it as a stand or arm to attach your smartphone.

If there is a stand or arm type product that can move up, down, left and right, it will be more comfortable to use.