Sony Handycam as a webcam?

Hi,

I've got a Sony Handycam DCR-DVD203E and I want to use it as a webcam. It connects to my PC via USB, but it is recognised as a DVD drive, not an actual camera.

I've tried the program DVDriver but that won't work either. Anyone got any ideas?

Thanks,
Joe.

Bump!

Sony's comment is that you can use composite video or S-video -- provided, of course, you also get a video capture card.

I filed a "product complaint". Maybe it will help buyers a few generations after us.

For people who have not yet completed their purchase: Check very carefully that the Handycam not only has a USB port but also USB streaming capability (teeny tiny little checkbox at the bottom of the product details). This capability, to my knowledge, is lacking for any of the Handycams in the DSC-DVD line.

I am planning to buy Sony DCR DVD 755E or 805E.
Any one used them as webcam/streaming.

BTW, I wondered if MSN (as an exemple) would deal live with as S or composite capture from an 80'-90's videocam... after all, their output were all over far better than any Webcam... (imagine a 21" 16x9 LCD display top-surrounded with an old 1CCD VHS Panasonic cam... )

I don't pretend to bring The Answer ... and I now discern difference between "aquiring" & "streaming".. Thanks to Anne... ... but so now do yahoo and msn function to stream from "pure live" video inputs? What about if wanting to calibrate "webcam" as required (msn)? choose PCI or AGP port..!! ? ..

I'm not completely sure what either of you are saying, but MSN and Yahoo messengers use a USB source system only to stream from a video/web camera. They don't read from internal hookups. It must detect the device in the proper fashion. Although if you have a USB sattelite reciever, you can hook that up and stream your channels. The problem is that to use a USB camera, it must be configured to stream lens to USB. If it is detected as a mass storage device, then the drivers are incapable of using it as a video source.

In other words, Steve, that's what I tried to.... not realy explain "If it is detected as a mass storage device, then the drivers are incapable of using it as a video source." right... so there is a difference between a "let say: current signal" (or streaming one) and a "file"... all this seems to me that there are many ways to transfer data (let's just consider video for now). Do I so reveal a naive way to go for USB industry, thinking that's the only common sense (despite of FireWire) or that IS WHAT IT IS ? Why can't someone show a document during its (scaning) process? Bandwith! ? Who chats seriously under 56Kbs?... I forgive!

Hello joe,
I tried the same DVDriver, it did not work for me either, i use a USB
cable ($30.00) and it worked fine. make sure your camcorder is equiped with USB port, also go to SONY website and download the USB driver for your model. Install cable, driver, restart pc and you should be ready to go.
Good Luck
Al

I have the Dazzle 150, and the HandyCam DCR-DVD108. Does anyone know how I can set these two things up to be a webcam and help me as to where to get the drivers? If so, I'd greatly appreciate it

-Thanks in advacne, illusive.