Talk:Requirement for Canon EOS Webcam Utility subscription to enable webcam features on cameras

Page Title

I've moved this page to its current name to make it a bit more obvious what it's about, but if anyone can come up with a snappier (but neutral) name that still conveys the right info, feel free to change it Keith (talk) 10:28, 18 January 2025 (UTC)

How to verify and add Cameras?

I've got an eos 70D and it requires the Webcam Utiltiy as far as i know. I also can't take the Route of using an HDMI Capture, because my camera doesn't support "clean HDMI Output" and displays all the information on the camera settings, even through HDMI. How do I verify everything that it can be added to this site?

The 70D definitely doesn't have native 1080p Clean output out of the box, which IMO firmly puts it on this list.

Magic Lantern (provided you're on Firmware 1.1.2, the sole reason 1.1.3 exists is to block Magic Lantern) adds Clean HDMI output but it doesn't fix that the 70D doesn't support 1080p; only 480p, 720i and 1080i. Many modern display devices and capture cards entirely omit Interlaced support, which makes the camera fall back to 480p. This gives even worse image quality than EOS Webcam Utility. There is an add-on module for Magic Lantern, that does support the 70D, that lets you force 1080i and add Line Doubling to coax a 1080p device into displaying it, but it requires use of a dead Experimental release that *doesn't* support the 70D. The argument could be made to split out models that feature both Clean HDMI Output *and* 1080p out of the box (eg, 90D) since they don't need use of EOS Webcam Utility if you can capture the HDMI output. Deafening9 (talk) 07:06, 22 January 2025 (UTC)

Clarifications about Hardware capabilities vs what the software provides?

After talking with this with others, there seems to be some confusion as to what was actually a hardware capability vs an addition that the software provides. It seems like the page has been renamed to more accurately discuss the software, but i think its not clear enough as to what features where removed from the user with the added subscription.

From my understanding the software doesn't enable 1080p output from legacy cameras, but instead takes the original feed from cameras that is a low resolution liveview that doesnt support the UVC standard, and upscales it. (Canon calls it "Digital Upscale" in their feature list on their own website)

It is also unclear to me if the possibility to get the webcam feed from legacy cameras at all was something that was removed or hidden behind the subscription whenever the subscription was added. Ive been told that nothing that was free in the software got moved over to the paid subscription plan, but i have no objective sources to back that up. (Hence why i write this in the discussion page if to hear if someone has sources for this)

Based on that it seems to me that this page is about a) the software "Canon EOS Webcam Utility" and not the cameras themselves and b) the fact that digital upscale of the source resolution among other "advanced features" is behind a paywall, and not about features that was previously free, getting put behind a paywall.

Is this a correct observation from me? If it is correct im still confused about the "changed the terms of the sale" aspect of this page.

I hope this discussion page was the correct way for me to raise these questions.

The original version of the software that lacks the Subscription functionality is still available from Canon outside of North America. It just presents 720p30 output, which is upscaled from 574p, as per the Magic Lantern FAQ. It doesn't even have a UI, it just provides the camera driver and an uninstaller. The Pro version seems to have integrated a number of features from EOS Utility's Remote Control. All the Webcam utility likely is is the EOS Utility Remote Control LiveView repackaged to output video to a Camera device that can be captured, rather than to a window. Interestingly, Remote Control freaks the hell out when EOS Webcam Utility Pro is using the camera, I wonder if it interferes with EOS Utility Remote Control to prevent you from circumventing the subscription. I haven't tried it with the non-subscription Rest of World version of the software.

I do think there's value in splitting out models that have built-in support for Clean HDMI Output and 1080p, like the 90D. Models like the 70D would be better described as *requiring* the subscription as it can do neither. It requires Magic Lantern to even approach equivalent functionality, and 70D Firmware 1.1.3 exists specifically to block Magic Lantern.Deafening9 (talk) 07:15, 22 January 2025 (UTC)