Can I use an old model of Canon (XH-A1) as a web camera?

[Mrsuits]

Hello everyone! Hope you're well.

 

A few years ago my dad passed away and he owned a good camera, a Canon XH-A1 to be precise and I took since then.

 

I was wondering if I can use this camera for my streaming set up.

 

I've seen that it requires a firewire connection but my computer doesn't have one. Can I just buy a pci firewire card, connect it to my motherboard and use it? Or it isn't that simple? Thanks!

[mariushm]

Eh ... I wouldn't use Firewire, it's not that great and compatible with modern operating systems.

This page shows the camera as having composite out and bnc out or whatever that HD output with 3 rca connectors is : https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/447098-REG/Canon_1191B001_XH_A1_3CCD_HDV_Camcorder.html/specs

 

Looks like this is the cable : https://www.amazon.com/Canon-TERMINAL-Component-Professional-Camcorder/dp/B000LXXDDW

 

You could use an YPbPr to HDMI adapter box to convert the signal to a HDMI and route that to a HDMI capture card : https://www.amazon.com/Component-Coverter-NEWCARE-Converter-Supports/dp/B07ZHFR2V3/

 

Anyway... a bit of a hassle and expense and you probably won't get what you're hoping for.... it's a good camera, but requires a bit of light to produce good image and you get interlaced output and you would probably have to buy a separate lens more suited for streaming.

 

 

 

[Mrsuits]

29 minutes ago, mariushm said:

Eh ... I wouldn't use Firewire, it's not that great and compatible with modern operating systems.

This page shows the camera as having composite out and bnc out or whatever that HD output with 3 rca connectors is : https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/447098-REG/Canon_1191B001_XH_A1_3CCD_HDV_Camcorder.html/specs

 

Looks like this is the cable : https://www.amazon.com/Canon-TERMINAL-Component-Professional-Camcorder/dp/B000LXXDDW

 

You could use an YPbPr to HDMI adapter box to convert the signal to a HDMI and route that to a HDMI capture card : https://www.amazon.com/Component-Coverter-NEWCARE-Converter-Supports/dp/B07ZHFR2V3/

 

Anyway... a bit of a hassle and expense and you probably won't get what you're hoping for.... it's a good camera, but requires a bit of light to produce good image and you get interlaced output and you would probably have to buy a separate lens more suited for streaming.

 

 

 

Thanks for the awnser.  Damn that is more complicated than i expected... cheers