PowerShot G16 stop motion use with computer

[simcheese]

Hello, I am a stop motion animator. I was wondering if there was any way I could connect my Canon Powershot G16 to stop motion studio pro on my laptop. When I plug in my camera to my laptop via USB, the lens retracts, so even though my laptop can read it, it can't see the camera's view. I also tried using a capture card and HDMI, but that only works in playback mode, not live view mode. I was wondering if anyone here knows what to do, because I really need to connect my Canon Powershot G16 to stop motion studio pro on my laptop.
Thanks.

[Stephen]

Hello @simcheese,

Thanks for reaching out! It sounds like you're running into a common challenge when trying to use a PowerShot G16 for stop motion with live view tethering.

Generally, PowerShot cameras like the G16 are designed for ease of use and portability, and their USB connection is primarily for transferring photos and videos to a computer, which often causes the lens to retract. The HDMI output is typically for playback on a TV or monitor, not for a clean, live feed to third-party software like Stop Motion Studio Pro.

Unfortunately, the PowerShot G16, and most PowerShot models, do not natively support the kind of live view tethering functionality that stop motion animation software requires. This feature is more commonly found in our EOS DSLR and Mirrorless camera lines, which are built with more advanced connectivity options for studio and creative workflows.

If live view tethering is a critical part of your stop motion process, you might find that an EOS Rebel series DSLR or an EOS M/R series Mirrorless camera would be a much better fit. These cameras often come with Canon's EOS Utility software, which allows for robust tethering and live view control directly from your computer, and they are also widely supported by third-party stop motion applications.

We appreciate you choosing Canon for your creative projects!