Canon's new 'Pro' webcam software costs the same as buying just a capture card

It felt like companies were offering some goodwill during the pandemic when they released free software that allowed you to already have a camera as a webcam, but now, Canon is that sweet. Looking for some recurring subscription revenue. A new update to its EOS webcam utility software adds a number of new features, but only as part of a new Pro tier that costs $5 per month or $50 per year.

Paid options allow you to stream up to five cameras simultaneously via USB, wireless single-camera streaming, 60 fps support, finer controls for custom scene profiles, watermark entry, access to your camera settings via UI controls, and a few more granular Provides new facilities like Change. While a lot of them look good and could make for a better experience when using the EOS webcam utility, the Pro version tops out at only 1080p resolution (the free tier still stuck with 720p). This seems a bit overwhelming for a paid service that uses a variety of cameras capable of outputting 4K via its HDMI port.

Look, I get it: Camera companies are thirsty for recurring revenue streams like everyone else -- and usually, their only source is a pro service program like Canon Professional Services (CPS). But while some of these new features have been added to Canon's webcam software, I can't shake the fact that basic capture cards are now really cheap, and two years of service cost almost as much as the ones themselves. Buying the Elgato CamLink 4K - which supports the same 1080p/60p and even goes up to 4K resolution without a subscription. For all the advanced software controls, OBS can be a pain in the ass to learn, but it's free to use.

It's a relief to see that Canon will keep the free tier for owners who just want the basics and can't afford to buy additional hardware for streaming, but for now it seems like a safe bet that most New levels are available for free. The facilities will be placed behind the paywall. If you want to deal with the hassle of using your mirrorless camera for Zoom calls, you should budget for an external power supply anyway, so capture in the mix for a little more money than you would pay for a subscription. Card must be added. seems more logical.

It's this particular route that I find using the Pro version of the EOS Webcam Utility just as frustrating as when I tried the free version last year with the Canon EOS R. It didn't take long for me to uninstall and run the software while screaming back on my capture card.