Lumix Webcam app

[The Human Palindrome]

I use Zoom and Skype quite a lot and was hoping to use my S5ii as a webcam.

I’m running an M1 Pro MacBook Pro on Sonoma.

I have downloaded the software from Panasonic, it appears to finish installing, but after completing a restart the app is nowhere to be found.

I read somewhere that Apple have new security features in their OS and it’s up to Panasonic to update it’s software to make it compatible.

Has anyone else experienced this issue?

 

[dirk]

That is a very interesting question. I never did that, but would like to do that too. Quality will be so much better than the usual webcam.

How/where are you planning to put the S5ii on the table? With a table tripod or with a special desk arm or a tripod on the floor behind the desk?

The camera is not very light, so it might shake if you move your arms/hands on the desk.

 

[The Human Palindrome]

How/where are you planning to put the S5ii on the table? With a table tripod or with a special desk arm or a tripod on the floor behind the desk?

I was thinking of using a tripod…

 

[dirk]

I was thinking of using a tripod…

ok, test this out how much space you have behind your desk. A tripod might be too large. A monopod could help, like the ifootage.

As soon as you put the camera on a desk somehow, you have to deal with shake if you move. I have not made tests yet, though.

 

[The Human Palindrome]

I have a spare mic boom, maybe I’ll investigate that?

I have managed to install the Lumix tethering software but you need something like OBS or similar to feed it through and I don’t really want to install more and more software…

 

[dirk]

You do not need software like OBS to use a camera normally. OBS is needed if you want to record your Call/streaming. You go into your Zoom or Skype settings and pick the Lumix S5 as your webcam.

I am not sure how the S5 has to be connected with your PC (via USB cable or HDMI?) so Skype/Zoom recognize it. But maybe there is something written in the manual about it?

 

[CharlesH]

I use Zoom and Skype quite a lot and was hoping to use my S5ii as a webcam.

I used the S5 for a webcam during the pandemic. I just used the Panasonic software. And I had a tripod on my desk, just behind the monitor. This all worked fine, I always got compliments about the webcam quality. Back then you couldn't buy a webcam, they were all sold out.

 

[dirk]

I used the S5 for a webcam during the pandemic. I just used the Panasonic software. And I had a tripod on my desk, just behind the monitor. This all worked fine, I always got compliments about the webcam quality. Back then you couldn't buy a webcam, they were all sold out.

With what cable did you connect your S5 with the PC?

 

[CharlesH]

With what cable did you connect your S5 with the PC?

USB.

Here is the Panasonic introductory video from back then.

 

[pdk42]

The Panasonic Webcam app doesn’t work on later versions of MacOS. I’d suggest you get a cheap HDMI to USB video capture dongle and use that with a simple HDMI cable to your camera. It works perfectly and doesn’t need any additional software installing to use it.

 

[The Human Palindrome]

You go into your Zoom or Skype settings and pick the Lumix S5 as your webcam.

Unfortunately modern Macs don’t recognise my S5ii as a webcam if I connect it via USB.

I think I’ll have to take PDK42’s advice and get an HDMI adapter…

 

[Markuswelder]

Unfortunately modern Macs don’t recognise my S5ii as a webcam if I connect it via USB.

Ahhhh yes. That walled garden strikes again

 

[CharlesH]

The Panasonic Webcam app doesn’t work on later versions of MacOS

Good to know. I only used the S5 on my work Windows PC, never tried it on my Mac.

 

[pdk42]

Ahhhh yes. That walled garden strikes again

I don’t think in this case it’s the walled garden problem. Even on Windows you need a driver from Panasonic. The problem is that Apple have added new security requirements into MacOS that requires developers of this sort of software to make changes - and Panasonic haven’t bothered to do that.