How to Use Any Camera as a Webcam With the Elgato Cam Link 4K

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The quick answer

The Elgato Cam Link 4K takes the HDMI output from a compatible camera and sends it to your computer over USB. You can then select that feed in a meeting, streaming, or recording app.

The main requirement is a camera that supplies a usable HDMI signal. Clean HDMI, steady power, and the ability to stay on for the length of the session matter more than the camera’s age or price.

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What you need

• An Elgato Cam Link 4K.
• A camera with compatible HDMI output.
• An HDMI cable with the correct connector for the camera.
• Full size HDMI option: Kondor Blue HDMI to HDMI coiled cable. This cable fits Type A ports at both ends. Cameras with Mini HDMI or Micro HDMI need a different cable.
• A compatible computer with a USB 3.0 connection.
• Enough camera power for the session, whether from charged batteries or a supported external power setup.

The package I discussed includes the capture device, a USB extension cable, and the printed material. Check the current bundle and system requirements before buying.

Connect the camera

1. Connect the Cam Link to the computer. Use a suitable USB 3.0 port. The supplied extension cable can make the connection easier to reach.
2. Connect the HDMI cable. Run it from the camera’s HDMI output to the Cam Link’s HDMI input. Match the camera connector instead of forcing a full size plug into a smaller port.
3. Turn on and set up the camera. Select a suitable HDMI output mode and turn off on screen information if the camera supports clean output.
4. Open your app. Choose Cam Link 4K as the video source in OBS, Zoom, or your preferred compatible application.
5. Check a short recording. Confirm the framing, focus, exposure, audio source, and camera runtime before the meeting or stream.

Check camera compatibility

Clean HDMI means the camera sends the picture without battery icons, focus boxes, exposure settings, or other display information. A camera can have an HDMI socket and still be awkward to use for streaming.

• Check whether the camera can remove all overlays from its HDMI output.
• Check that the output resolution and frame rate are supported by the capture device.
• Confirm the camera can stay on for the whole session without a sleep timer interrupting it.
• Plan for battery life and heat during long sessions.

Use Elgato’s Cam Link information and your camera manual to check the exact combination.

If the picture shows camera information

First, look for the camera’s HDMI information display setting. Turning that off is better than trying to hide the information afterward.

If the camera cannot produce clean HDMI, OBS may let you crop away information at the edges. That narrows the view and reduces the image area you keep. It will not remove a focus box or other information in the middle of the picture, and not every meeting app supports the same workaround.

If the picture does not appear

• Check that the camera is on and sending an HDMI signal.
• Reconnect the HDMI cable and the USB connection.
• Confirm that the app has selected Cam Link 4K rather than the computer’s built in webcam.
• Check the camera output format against the capture device’s supported formats.
• Try a direct compatible USB port if a hub or adapter is causing trouble.

The Cam Link is a small plastic device, so the extension cable is useful when you want to reduce strain on the computer’s USB port.

Is the Cam Link right for you?

The Cam Link 4K makes sense when you already have a camera with suitable HDMI output and want to use its picture for calls, streams, or recordings. Setup is simple once the camera and computer are compatible.

Check the camera’s output and runtime before buying the capture device. A better lens or larger sensor will not help a stream if the camera goes to sleep or leaves a focus box over your face.