The Ultimate Webcam setup for working from home.
Discussing the increase of productivity, or lack thereof, from WFH has become a cultural phenomenon. A year in, and the jury is starting to settle on a verdict: those able to adapt are more efficient than ever.
Communication has always been the most important tool a professional has, and mastering video calls has become yet another critical tool in the professionals toolbox along with email and Excel.
Which brings me to the ultimate webcam setup. Pair this camera setup with a neat and tidy background, and you’re colleagues will accuse you of being a secret Youtube celebrity.
Camera — Sony a5100 ~ $450
Modern mirrorless cameras are relatively small, inexpensive, and give a level of performance comparable to a full sized DSLR. I was already familiar with the Sony ecosystem, and, even more importantly, the Sony menu system. The a5100 was therefore the obvious choice as the lowest price full featured mirrorless Sony. As a webcam the auto focus is still great despite being a bit old at this point (released in 2014). A relatively inexpensive camera, it makes a great stress free travel shooter.
Note: Using a camera as a webcam requires clean HDMI output on the camera and an HDMI capture card OR a camera with the ability to pass live video over USB. Discussed more below.
Dummy Battery — Amazon F1TP Branded — ~$30
My Sony camera does not have a power port and can’t run off of USB. A dummy battery allows the camera to be run indefinitely.
The only note I have on this is that my particular camera sometimes requires the dummy battery to be connected and disconnected. Other people in the Amazon reviews have the same issue.
HDMI Capture card —$ 50–$150
Getting the cameras video stream into Zoom is fairly straight forward. This can be done over USB or HDMI. I am not an expert, but I know some cameras have USB video output to computer as a feature, so I will note it here for people to look into.
The other, more common option, is using the HDMI output port on your camera paired with an HDMI capture device on your computer. The only requirement for this is a camera with an option for “clean” hdmi output. This is video output without and menu items or other text overlays that normally show on the camera’s display. You can find a list of compatible cameras here.
I put a price range here as I saw some very inexpensive HDMI capture devices on Amazon. They may work. I prefer the tried and true Elgato, and those are a bit more expensive.
Mount — Elgato Multi Mount — $100
I’m sure you could find a less expensive alternative or even build one yourself from at the local parts store. I know I tried. And failed. You do not want to have to fiddle with your expensive camera drooping during an important meeting. Just get the Multi Mount and have confidence that it is both well designed and well built.
Upgrade #1: Lens — Sigma 16mm f/1.4 — ~$400
The kit lens that comes with the a5100 starter kit is workable as a webcam. The Sigma lens is a pure upgrade to an already functional system. It looks fantastic. The Bokeh, or background blur, looks professional and almost artistic. The wider angle (16mm is low enough to be considered wide angled) means the camera can also be a bit closer to you while still letting people understand the context of the room behind you. I get compliments all the time, and I refer people to this lens.
Upgrade #2: Gaming Headset — Steel Series Arctis — ~$100-$250
Gaming headsets are made to be worn for hours so you know they’re comfortable enough for the workday. They also have good quality mics so you sound your best on calls. The Arctis also have options for wireless and hardware mute buttons.
If you have your own audio hardware like an audiophile DAC or a USB audio interface for music production, the Sennheiser game ones are a good alternative. I have both and prefer the audio quality of the Sennheisers with my Audient iD4. However, both offer great audio quality for music.
One final thing to note is that while the gamer aesthetic may be antithetical to what most consider a pleasant aesthetic, both headsets mentioned look professional. The Arctis has RGB LED lighting, but it can be disabled or set to one color.
Upgrade 3#: USB Speaker Phone Puck — Jabra Speak 410 — $100
My boss loves these and swears by them. If you’re in meetings all day, they’re perfect for combating headphone fatigue. Also great for those who enjoy a good hair day during the work week.
