Camera for OBS Studio Reviews

by Humptybump

It took a lot of trial and error to figure out how to get the iPhone to stream video over NDI WiFi to OBS Studio. The issues include that I had to switch WiFi to 5Ghz; I had to install the various software in the correct order and not change the default locations, the iPhone app *must* be started after OBS Studio *every time*.

Even once it's is working, a fully charged iPhone will last less than 2 hours so I'll have to plan to keep them plugged in. I don't expect to stream for 2 hours but with all the setup required for OBS Studio, I need to start 30 minutes in advance.

Addendum: if you can use USB, Camera works well. To get longer range you can use an "active USB Cable". This solution basically turns an iPhone into a high quality webcam and is not wireless.

by Agoettel01

I’m disappointed that Camera has not been able to serve its purpose because of one major issue I’ve had.

I’m seeing several people reviewing and commenting issues with audio “looping” while using Camera. The issue occurs whether I’m recording or streaming. As soon as I switch from phone cam to computer cam, the problem goes away. I’ve adjusted many settings on both OBS and Camera , and nothing seems to improve it. I have reached out to the developer, but haven’t gotten a response.

The positive aspects are that the picture quality is great, and the setup is simple. The tech is probably very well designed. However, it’s not usable to me if I can’t fix this issue. I do not recommend purchasing this product, because there seems to be no customer support available.

by Neosaurus69

I got my phone and was pretty excited to put it to use as a webcam. So, I bought this software (OBS is great and I’m sure this will be resolved), and my computer seems to forget my phone exists after any more than a couple minutes. I have to restart my computer for it to recognize my phone again, and again… I can only get it to stay connected and transmitting signal for a couple minutes. I have “Trusted” my PC, I’m using the cable that came with my phone directly plugged into my motherboard, I’ve installed new Apple Mobile Device drivers, I’ve installed iTunes from an executable, I’ve flashed my BIOS, and I’ve updated chipset and Thunderbolt drivers, and this problem still remains. I think this is an iTunes/Windows problem, as my phone also disappears from iTunes when I experience this issue, but it still means I am completely unable to use this application.

by Adh2814

When I first downloaded Camera, it worked great. I didn’t want to buy a this app for OBS yet, so I found Camera after tons of research. There was no lagging and the picture was great. Maybe 2 weeks ago, my live videos started sounding off. The voices were lagging and you could hear several pops, like it had bad audio. The people that talked on my videos voices were a lot deeper than their actual voices. I don’t know what happened. I really liked Camera because it saved me tons of money not having to buy a camcorder. Now I have to look into buying one and I wasted my money on Camera. I’ve only used it for a month, it shouldn’t be giving me problems this soon. It should be giving me problems at all.

by Fshnslv

I’ve scoured the web on help and resources on connecting my iPhone using Camera to connect with OBS on my Windows 10. I have downloaded OBS v25.0.8 and Camera v3.0.3 and the NDI plug in v9.0. I still can’t find my phone as the source under NDI in the studio. I made sure that I’m on the same network, I don’t know what else to do, all the resources and FAQS and videos I’m coming across is using NDI HX as Camera and I don’t want to shell out another $20 to get it or the articles detail more on the USB connection from phone to computer. I figured getting the this app app from the same developer as the OBS would be less hassle getting it set up. I’m planning on streaming multiple views and I need one of the cameras to be mobile or on hand to use as my perspective and I’ll be moving around a lot. Anybody out there, please help!

by Gracisus

Bought a new computer and couldn’t wait to try out streaming using my iPhone and OBS. Old laptop couldn’t handle it.

Several friends gathered for a Christmas party to play music and stream it for our regular audience. I spent several hours turning our living room into a place for a quality sounding jam session. Tested everything the night before.

Played our songs and had a great time! Saw the meter on OBS never peaking and consistent with our activity. I’ve been feeding good sound to my iPhone for 8 months with my digital mixer. No problems.

Went back and listened only to discover our audio was not coming from my mixer. It was coming from the iPhone microphone. OBS this app automatically switches your audio capture preference to default (iPhone mic) every time you clear it out to connect to OBS. WHICH YOU HAVE TO DO TO ESTABLISH CONNECTION. 4 hours of prep, 2 hours of fun singing, and all you could hear was bass and drums.

I love the overall quality of Camera and especially the option of being hardwired from my phone to my computer to the internet for a steady upload signal.

PLEASE FIX THE AUDIO TO SAVE PREFERENCES OR AUTOMATICALLY SWITCH TO HEADSET WHEN AN APPROPRIATE 3.5mm HEADPHONE JACK IS INSERTED.

by Proryanator

Been in the market for a 4K@60 usb streaming app that I can just plug and play my phone in for, and this seems to be a solid option. I can take 4K@60 videos but I stop/start a lot when making content so this isn't a flexible option for me.

Camera 's price was a little high if I'm honest coming in at $70 something for a lifetime purchase, maybe the subscription model would be best for others but I can understand developers gotta eat too.

So overall solid app and functionality, I used DroidCam ($5 for 1080@60) up until it no longer supported my newest mac which was a pain, and as of now it does not support 4K@60.

However on the topic of 4K@60, according to the devs, Camera has to encode every frame in real time so, my 11 Pro on Camera just can't do 4K@60 on Camera .

Most likely with the 14 supporting 8K 60 this will be a lot smoother in the future, looking forward to it improving my workflow.

by Anthony Newett

I noticed some low reviews for Camera, and I can only assume that this person has other issues that were unrelated to Camera, and they jumped the gun. Trust me when I tell you... during the quarantine, I was forced into a position to learn (quickly) how to stream our worship service at Forks United Church of Christ in Stockertown, PA. I’m their A/V Tech as well as Music Director. I quickly discovered OBS, but was extremely disheartened by this app quality. I tried multiple webcams... and I mean decent ones. I even purchased a game capture device and tried using my Sony HD camcorder. It was noticeably better, but latency was an issue, and the video still lacked what I needed. Camera is incredible. The iPhone cameras are SO much better than moderately priced webcam options. I love it so much, I purchased an iPhone 8 from eBay just to use as a second this app. Even at $200, it’s far better than any option in that price range. Here’s the best part... I ran into a slight technical issue, so I emailed Will. He was incredibly helpful and extremely nice. I love Camera! Get it!

by EMUlated_

I purchased Camera about a week ago while trying to get an app to use my old iPhone as a this app for OBS while I stream on twitch. After a little install and a few instructions Camera was up and running. During these times where webcams are crazy over priced Camera is the go to if you are in need of a webcam like I was.

I also had a question so I emailed them and within a few hours they had responded and helped me figure everything out. I can not say enough about how greatly appreciative I am of these guys and their app. Thank you so much!!

by Cjohnson6

I use OBS to make videos and I had bought a web cam for it. But the image was not sharp and the biggest issue was that green screening in OBS was a nightmare. Getting a good result was extremely fickle requiring filter adjustment depending time of day and outside light coming in. I always assumed OBS chromakey filter just was not that good.
After reading about Camera I decided to give it a try. It took just minutes to set up and get a video feed. Wow! the picture from an iPhone really is a magnitude of order better than a good webcam! Then I decided to try the chromakey filter........as soon as I turned on the filter it was perfect! The default settings have a great image. No need to spend 5 minutes tweaking the filter settings!
I really really did not want to spend 15 bucks for Camera fearing it would not be any better than what I had with the webcam. But it turns out this was money well spent!
Installation really was a breeze, I use a USB connection. Can’t speak for the WiFi connection. But it was very quick and simple and the improvements in image quality were huge!

by Soundanswer

Camera is a must-have if you’re an artist like me who’s been pushed to doing all shows virtual/streaming because of current events. Camera makes OBS much more usable with very little expense. The this app settings are now quite configurable. As a nod to whatever negative comments here in the “reviews” - understand this: there are a ton of variables in any given setup and you need a bit of persistence and know-how to make sure everything works. The fact that the developer GIVES the options to configure it in different ways is a GOOD thing. It’s a well supported and developed app. Get it, and do great streams!

by Can't Beat This!

I only just installed this and got the premium. But I did a bunch of testing before, and I can highly recommend this as a budget option for all things OBS.

I can stream 1080p 60 fps video from my phone wirelessly, or low latency via USB, easily! I can go as high as 4K 60fps if I want. I prefer the 1080p option however. But this is the easiest to download, use, and understand software that I could find for using my phone via USB as a webcam in OBS studio. Thank you.

If I have any issues with Camera or with it within obs, I’ll make an updated review. But so far, as of Day 1 using Camera. This has been very pleasant and convenient.

by Alberto Alberty

Ok so I have no idea why this is only 3 stars app! Camera is actually awesome and thanks to it I was able to save lots of money. My iPhone has a better this app than a lot of this webcams out there!
One thing I would like to get some help to set up my older iPhone 7+ to work I downloaded Camera just like I did on my iPhone X I originally got Camera and everything worked beautiful with my iPhone X but with my iPhone 7+ I’m only getting a black screen (no image) i can see it in OBS and it connects but just black screen. Even when I open Camera on my iPhone 7+ is no image just black screen.
PLEASE HELP

by Tackle101

I appreciate what Will is trying to do here but the iOS plugin download will crash OBS. And it will not open, even if you try to open/execute it from terminal. If you have macOS or an iPhone don’t bother. Also if you try to use it with the cable without downloading the iOS plugin your screen will have a bunch of buttons on it and will freeze and not resume unless you unplug and plug back in which isn’t feasible. Save your money for the time being maybe one day it’ll work. Also if OBS won’t open for you uninstall the iOS plugin/driver and I’m hoping that will do the trick. Now I have to go about getting a refund.

by Miliation

Camera features an all-encompassing package of great tools to have a great video source in OBS. It is highly customizable and also provides an audio source for your comfort. Both the USB and NDI method works flawlessly and causes no inconvenience.

Camera used to be a great help to me when I participated in my online classes and I used to use my brother’s iPhone which had Camera in it. Unfortunately, Camera is now using a subscription business model and the lifetime plan costs about 7 times more. I definitely understand the maintenance costs of Camera but I can’t afford it now with my country’s ridiculous exchange rates.

Despite the pricing, I definitely recommend Camera for those who can afford it. And at last, I appreciate the developer for making this possible.

by Bradywilson_

Camera is a no brainer for anyone looking for a new webcam, or even just wanting a higher quality webcam. With a spare iPhone, or even your own iPhone with Camera, it’s incredibly easy to get running, and you don’t need to buy any new hardware! Just follow the directions on the developer website, everything is laid out right there. Once you get a successful connection, it just works! I have only used the USB connection as that really makes the most sense so you can charge your iPhone at the same time while using the fastest quality connection. For anyone wondering whether you can have another app running while Camera is in the background (e.g. twitch chat), you cannot unfortunately do that. However, using a spare iOS device solves this. Overall, fantastic app and amazing developer with quick responses to questions. Thanks Will!

by Fralcon

I have tried several of the options out there, including paying for epoccam. None of them are as easy to use as this one. Yes it’s expensive, but the developer gets to choose what it costs. If you want it, you pay. If you don’t, walk away.

This is also the only app that I could get to send 1080p from my phone to the mac. The other option I tried could not get obs to receive it that way.

For people thinking you can use this to get obs to send your phones video to skype, why would you think that? Camera is specifically for getting the video to obs. Obs to skype/zoom/etc is entirely different functionality, called virtual webcam. The devs of this have nothing to do with that. There is a plug-in for obs to serve as a virtual webcam. It’s not available for Mac, but currently being worked on to be brought in natively to obs. But it makes no sense to slam the developer of this because of a lack of that feature in obs.

by MasterMichio

Camera works great overall. I’d love to see one possible feature developed though. During livestreams for my band we use 4 phones to give different views (one overview, one for each bandmate) but the view in each is a static field of view. It would be REALLY something if there was an extension of Camera to allow each this app to randomly zoom in for closeups once in a while—just to give a bit more visual dynamics to the livestream. A 5 second zoom in for a closeup, then pull back out to full frame. We are playing so we can’t control the cameras—they are fixed frame. It would add a bit of dramatic flair to the footage if that feature was added. The controls would include speed of zoom, extent of zoom, and perhaps have it react to transients in the audio feed to go “monkeycam” when the music gets really frenetic.

Maybe someone else will do this first in their app. I’d love yours to be the first to do so though!

by Streamer_dude

Camera is great, especially because it offers hardwire connection via USB! There are other OBS solutions for iOS that use NDI over Ethernet, but this can quickly lead to bandwidth problems and force you to sacrifice stream quality. (I personally use a bunch of other many media protocols over Ethernet besides OBS so I am very happy that Camera exists for a solid wired USB option.)

Although the instructions advise to use Apple lightning cables, I have connected successfully via third-party cables and USB extension cords so you can really space cameras out around the room for a real production studio feel. The instructions also offer a disclaimer that iPhone models 5S and earlier may have encoding issues, but I have used Camera successfully with 3 iPhone 5S’s simultaneously streaming at 1080p

All around great app, bridges the gap between iOS cameras and broadcast software for a very low price! To achieve the same capability with enterprise-level iOS broadcast software costs hundreds of dollars a year in subscriptions. Keep up the great work guys!!!

by Señor G.

Finally! Somebody did it. We can finally use the iPhone as a webcam via cable for PC! I rather support and continue using Camera than some weird unknown software that only works over the WiFi to be able to use my iPhones or the spare older iPhones that you have lying around as a webcam.

Camera from what I can gather is fairly new and it obviously needs some work but it does what it says it does. Yes, they are some really low reviews and some sound like they’re children but like I said this apps is going through the process of becoming something great so... Give it time, support, and help by writing to the developer any bugs you come across and he will most likely address it faster with updates!