S/w Hack: Make any* Digital Camera to act as Web Cam

I recently brought a Cannon Powershot S2 IS. The software that accompanied the camera included applications to synchronize the photos, do some settings and remote shooting.
The Remote capture feature included allows to connect the camera to PC giving a view finder from the camera on the screen.

Most of the camera even basic ones come with s/w from the manufacturer which provide a viewfinder window of the camera in their application window while rendering live stream from the camera. I wondered if my camera has been added to my system as a capture device so as to be able to use as a webcam. But it was not :( I fail to understand why most of the manufactures do not provide this utility function why should we be required to buy one more gadget when you can get the same functionality from a device you already own.

Given Below to configure your digital camera as a webcam.

1. Install the s/w included with you camera and launch remote shooting



2. With Cannon Software it asks a folder location. Select a folder and press ok



3. Now you can see from the cameras eye on your PC :)

4. Download and Install Camtasia Studio. It allows to record a part of screen and broadcast it as a live stream to other applications like yahoo. Start Camtasia studio and select start a new project by recording screen. Click OK.



5. It will ask you what you want to record. In this dialog select Region of screen and click next.



6. Then you can select the viewfinder window of canon remote shooting. Click finish. It will open the recorder window. In the Tools->options> under the Live Tab select "Eanble Live output" and select the frames/sec. Click OK


5. In camstia record window click the record button

6. Launch your yahoo client and select mywebcam from the menu. Now you have a webcam available to you .



So if you don't have a webcam and want to do a video chat your digital camera. instead.

I suspect it might be possible to use twain/wia generic driver to stream/enumerate your device as a webcam on your system. Any ideas would be of help.

Njoy

Note:
1. Some cameras when connected to PC may be still running on batteries instead of using the USB power so your batteries might be used for keeping the camera ON while you use it.
2. This method should work with a cameras that come with manufacturer software for remote capture.
3. I know that using a camera 350$ camera as a webcam is overkill but I have access to a casio lv-10 which is a basic digital camera and would like to use it as a webcam as soon as I find it :)