GoPro now lets people on Windows PCs use their Hero 8 action camera as a webcam – though the experience is currently only in beta. Compatibility with Windows follows the introduction of webcam functionality for macOS users in July.
While a GoPro will probably not please you as much as if you were using a DSLR or mirrorless camera as your webcam, you would probably have a better image quality than the webcam built into your laptop. GoPro says a number of popular video conferencing services already support beta software on Windows, including Zoom, WebEx, Slack, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and Discord.
If you want to set up the Hero 8 as a webcam, GoPro has a manual here, and it handles both Windows and Mac. The macOS version of the webcam tool was in beta when it was launched in July, but GoPro has officially dropped the beta tag as of today. If you really need a better webcam during this time of COVID-19, you can also try attaching your iPhone or Android handset as one of the many mirrorless cameras that have added webcam modes.
GoPro also adds live streaming functionality to its Hero 8, Hero 7 Black and Max cameras, though you have to subscribe to the company’s GoPro Plus service, which costs $ 4.99 per month, to get it use. GoPro has a tutorial here on how to stream live from your device.
