Slackware Linux: 12.1
Kernel: 2.6.24.5-smp
Hardware problem: Samsung Camcorder (I read in the "Before you post" thread that the model number does not matter, so I will leave it out unless asked)

I have been attempting to use the camcorder as a webcam, but have found difficulty in getting the computer to see the device. I have used modprobe for raw13... and IEE... but the results have always been the same. I am curious as to whether or not anyone has used this brand with Linux or whether Linux supports their product. Thanks in advance for your help!

Oh, I have also tried dvgrab, but to no avail.

Edit: it is a USB device.


Edit II:
lsusb:
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 04e8:120f Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 0000:0000

Are you sure the camera is capable of streaming live video over USB? This is something that is commonly done with Firewire devices, but USB usually just shows up as a mass storage device with cameras like that.

Hi,
USB Webcams use Live video.

Yes, but this is not a webcam he is talking about, it is a DV camcorder from the sound of it.

Thanks for your help. I have used it on the Windows partition as a webcam, so I know it will work. What I am really curious about is how I can use the results of lsusb, assuming that is the right course of action, to make the computer see the cam (which is in-fact a DV camcorder and not a webcam). Of course, it is possible that the cam is not Linux compatible or I need to find the drivers somewhere else. Again, thanks for your help!

Unless the USB portion of it is based on a generic chipset used in other video devices like webcams, you might be out of luck. It could be totally proprietary and unable to work without special drivers from Samsung, which would most likely support Windows only.

What I would do, unless you can find someone that has the same model of camera and has it working as a USB webcam under Linux, is get a Firewire card for your computer and connect it with that. That is a common way of using a DV camcorder as a webcam and there are many tutorials for doing it.

I searched the ID given by lsusb and did not find anything promising, so Firewire is likely your only option, it is also the best option because it is a much better interface for streaming video.

Hi,

I know the difference. I was referring to the statement of;

USB webcams serve live video. Your statement implied that a USB service of live video over the media was questionable. If the camera device can stream then of course the problem would be the service of a system via the USB. Not the USB limiting the service. The camera could serve live video. I've got a cheap pocket camera that can be used live.

Sure the firewire specs are greater than USB and would never be peaked as a live service but USB can be used with possible limitations. I'm not sure about the application the OP was implying other than webcam live video.

Let me go over this again, slowly...

He has a DV camcorder, not a webcam.

When I said "cameras like that" I meant cameras like his DV camcorder, not some webcam that he does not have.

Yes, all USB webcams do live video over USB, but as we have been over, he does not have a webcam.

Not all DV camcorders are capable of doing live video over USB. I have one, it has a USB port and a Firewire port, it cannot transmit live video over USB, only Firewire.

Do you understand what I said now? I was not asking if it was possible to transmit live video over USB in general, I was asking if his particular model of DV camcorder can do it because not all of them can.

Hi,

Fine, I understand what you implied now that you have defined a little. But you still made the statement regarding USB vs Firewire. Your original statement(s) did not reflect what you are saying now.

Done!

As long as there is a device node at '/dev/video0' or similar, it will work. If not, it probably won't. For example to my surprise, I accidentally transmitted live TV feed via my PCI capture card because it was recognized as a webcam, because it has a '/dev/video0' or video1 etc. interface.