Why is the the "EOS Webcam Utility" a Subscription App?

[Enigma1562]

We spend 100's if not 1000's of dollars on a camera and we need to pay a monthly/ annual subscription to use it as a webcam?

I wouldn't mind paying a one time fee for the "pro" edition but come on... I can't be alone on this.

[Cristena]

You are absolutely not alone in this. I know everyone needs to be paid for their time, but didn't I just pay enough already for the camera? Then to only be able to use it as a webcam with THEIR software is outrageous! I am honestly quite ticked off because the streaming software I use is a billion times better than this garbage.

[Stephen]

The EOS Webcam Utility was originally developed during lockdown when webcams weren't available because everyone was working from home. Our dev team put it together for free to allow our users to be able to take advantage of the cameras they already had. When it became apparent that our users wanted the software to do more and be better than something thrown together in a week, our dev team spent time revising the app, fixing bugs, and ensuring greater compatibility. At that point, we realized we couldn't keep devoting precious developer time and resources to an app that is pretty popular but free. At the same time, the team also needed a whole portfolio of other products to develop updates, drivers, and new software. The solution was an optional subscription model. We didn't remove anything from the original free version, but we added benefits users could opt into for a small monthly (or annual) fee. This allows us to allocate sufficient talent to the EOS Webcam Utility to keep enhancing and updating the software as new versions of Windows or macOS become available or new camera models hit the market. 

[Enigma1562]

But surely you know that there are 3rd party apps that do it way better, for way less and usually a ONE TIME PAYMENT which is our biggest complaint. SparkoCam, Elgato CamLink just to name a few...

[Stephen]

For sure!

That's why using our software is optional! Those other guys specialize in streaming - that's their whole business model. Ours isn't. We wanted to make a solution that was super easy to use without having to be a pro streamer. 

[Cristena]

But it is not actually optional is it when it doesn't have an HDMI on the camera and we are basically being forced to have Canon software? Not like I can just plug it into the back of my computer and have it work now, can I? Believe me, I have tried! Granted I have the EOS2000D different from Enigma1562's camera.. but still! I am having a bit of a love/hate situation here. Love what ya'll have done for people in the situation, and like I said feel you should be paid for your time. But also feel that should be up to Canon to pull out if this is something they want to keep up with. Not hit the consumer who just paid big bucks for their cameras. Feels like a punishment, honestly. If Canon wants to offer the subscription.. just sell the software for a one-time, don't keep reaching into everyone's pockets.

[tommyrblk]

That still does not answer legitimately why a one time payment isn't offered vs subscription, it is now a corporate money grab as it is now common practice with companies, and not a good one at that for consumers, it turns the consumers against buying the hardware and opting for one that uses a universal software

[Ablongro]

I completely agree with this, and honestly this is affecting whether or not my next $4000 camera purchase will even be a canon.

I saw canons comments. “Not everyone needs all the fancy features.” But you’re telling me if I want to use 4k on my own camera that’s a more advanced feature that needs a subscription but 720p doesn’t I should be able to select the resolution, that’s all most of us are asking for and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that’s not extra coding. 
Do you people think we are stupid?

The initial canon software had to have a middleware for the devs to work on the canon software so all you did was copy a similar program and assigned a subscription model to it and called it the webcam utility. So the cost was very nominal if much. Then everytime a new Mac OS rolls out it doesn’t work for 6 months and I have to cancel my subscription. I contacted Apple to find out that canon knows about development changes a year prior to roll out. So you aren’t even using these fees to keep up with any development updates appropriately. 

who know who’s not a streaming service?

GO-Pro- webcam utility is free. 
Apple- iPhone as a webcam free and there are free apps on windows to still be able to use it. 

how long is cannon going to hold on to this “cost” while everyone else is making those stuff free? 

[Ablongro]

The EOS Webcam Utility Pro is mostly a business decision, not a technical one. The hardware is already capable. The software limits are artificial. So if you can stream 720 for free why is it considered advanced feature for 4k or 1080p? I should be able to change the resolution as this doesn’t affect the operation or feature.

Why the USB Limit ExistsWhen using USB, Canon routes a processed signal through their EOS Webcam Utility, which:Compresses and packages the video stream (e.g., as MJPEG).Caps the resolution (unless Pro license is activated). Presents it to your computer as a “webcam” source

Canon deliberately enforce that cap in software — even though the sensor and processor are fully capable of more. It’s purely an artificial restriction and has nothing to do with added features and canon is always, and is say ALWAYS behind at least 6 months for Mac OS updates. 
you say small fee, but we already spent $4000+ on your equipment and at every turn we are getting “fee’s” added on from every software and every walk of life right now. So what seems nominal to you is another fee added to the growing list. And when we see ones like this one the backlash is going to continue to get worse. And this one feature with how remote the world still is will actually affect my next camera decision. Bc as stated everyone is added fee’s to everything and if I have to choose between a camera that I can use for webcam that still charges me for that service when so many others don’t I’m going to have to go with the free one. Now that may seem outlandish to you but this is the real world and this are the decisions we are having to have. 

[jrhoffman75]

---

@Ablongro wrote:

The EOS Webcam Utility Pro is mostly a business decision, not a technical one. The hardware is already capable. The software limits are artificial. So if you can stream 720 for free why is it considered advanced feature for 4k or 1080p? I should be able to change the resolution as this doesn’t affect the operation or feature.

Why the USB Limit ExistsWhen using USB, Canon routes a processed signal through their EOS Webcam Utility, which:Compresses and packages the video stream (e.g., as MJPEG).Caps the resolution (unless Pro license is activated). Presents it to your computer as a “webcam” source

Canon deliberately enforce that cap in software — even though the sensor and processor are fully capable of more. It’s purely an artificial restriction and has nothing to do with added features and canon is always, and is say ALWAYS behind at least 6 months for Mac OS updates. 
you say small fee, but we already spent $4000+ on your equipment and at every turn we are getting “fee’s” added on from every software and every walk of life right now. So what seems nominal to you is another fee added to the growing list. And when we see ones like this one the backlash is going to continue to get worse. And this one feature with how remote the world still is will actually affect my next camera decision. Bc as stated everyone is added fee’s to everything and if I have to choose between a camera that I can use for webcam that still charges me for that service when so many others don’t I’m going to have to go with the free one. Now that may seem outlandish to you but this is the real world and this are the decisions we are having to have. 

---

I don't do streaming, but if what a previous poster said is correct: "But surely you know that there are 3rd party apps that do it way better, for way less and usually a ONE TIME PAYMENT which is our biggest complaint. SparkoCam, Elgato CamLink just to name a few..." why waste your time complaining? Get the better, free solution and move on.