Webcam devices

Applications

• The Webcam HowTo
  • framegrabbing applications
• GnomeMeeting -- Linux H.323 compatible client for the Gnome desktop
• motion -- motion-detection using a webcam
• spook -- capture live video and audio and stream it over an IP network
• vgrabbj -- grabs a image from a camera and puts it in jpg/png format
• webcam -- captures images and uploads them to a Web-Server via ftp or ssh in a endless loop

Resources

• Video for Linux resources -- see Video: Security / Webcams / Monitoring
• For USB webcams, see also video devices in the USB device overview database

Webcam drivers

(alphabetize by driver)

Many of these are out-of-tree kernel drivers.

• cpia -- first generation of STM's Color Processor Interface (ASIC) Cpia
  • Included in mainline kernel
  • Supports a large number of USB devices by Aiptek, Creative, Digicom, Dynalink, Ezonics, Intel, Microtek, Pace, SuperCam, TCE, Terracom, Trust, Utobia, ZoomCam
  • Supports some parallel port devices by Creative, CVideo, CU-SeeMe, Digicom, and ZoomCam
• cpia2 -- second generation of STM's Color Processor Interface (ASIC)
  • Included in mainline kernel from 2.6.16 (expected)
  • Supports the QX5 USB microscope, the Swann Versacam MINI webcam, and other devices using the second generation of STM's Color Processor Interface (ASIC)
• et61x251 -- included in the kernel
  • Supports Etoms ET61X151 or ET61X251-based USB cameras
• icm532
• meye -- the Sony Vaio PictureBook Motion Eye Camera Driver
  • Included in 2.4 and 2.6 kernels -- see documentation
  • Supports the second version of the MotionEye camera (PCI vendor/device 0x136b/0xff01)
  • A driver for the third version is being written, see r-engine below
• nw802
• ov511
• pwc -- the new driver
  • Available in the latest kernels
  • Supports Philips USB webcams
  • PWC wiki
  • Discontinued version
• qce-ga/qc-usb
  • Kernel module package available in
    • Debian stable (qce-source)
    • Deban testing and unstable (qc-usb-source)
  • Supports Logitech Quickcam Express, LegoCam, Dexxa Webcam, Labtec Webcam (old model), Logitech QuickCam Notebook (some models)
• quickcam
• r-engine
  • Aims to support Sony Vaio Picturebooks (model PCG-C1M* and newer, PCI vendor/device 0x10cf/0x2011)
• se401
• sqcam
  • Supports webcams based on the sq905 chip, such as Volcano DG640E, Nexxtech Micro Digital Camera, Umax (Yamada) Astranugget; may work with Mito DG640E, Mitek CD10, Mitek 30P, GTW Electronics/ ShuoYing, Industrial(ShenZhen)Co.,Ltd SY-2102, Condord Eye-Q Easy / Eye Q Easy Too, Che-ez Snap, Hercules DualPix, Argus DC-1512, DC-1510, Gear to go, Magpix B350, Jenoptik JD 350, Concord Eye-Q Easy, PockCam
• Sonix SN9C10x
  • Available in the latest kernels as sn9c102
  • Supports webcams based on the sn9c102 chip, such as the Genius VideoCam NB
  • Another driver was in development here sonix
  • sn9c101 -- patch for Trust Spacec@m
• stv680 -- SANE backend
• spca5xx
  • Supports webcams based on Sunplus Sonix Transvision Z-star/Vimicro Conexant Etoms chips
  • from various vendor Aiptek Intel Creative Logitec Labtec Mustek ...
  • Supports webcams such as Aiptek Pencam and Digital Dream l'espion
• sty0680
• tv8532
• uvcvideo
  • USB Video Class driver
• w9968cf -- included in the kernel
  • Supports Winbond W9967CF or W9968CF-based USB cameras
  • w9967cf (obsolete)
• zr364xx
  • Supports the webcam mode of cameras based on the ZR364xx chips from wendors like Aiptek, Concord, Creative, Genius, Maxell, Fujifilm, Ricoh, Pentacon, Mustek, Konica, Umax etc.
• zc0301 -- included in the kernel
  • Supports Z-Start/Vimicro ZC0301-based USB cameras
• zc0302

There is some support for various cards with several video inputs and one bt878 processor chip; if you know about these, please supply more information.