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Don't throw away your old digital camera — do this instead

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Don't throw away your old digital camera — do this instead

Old digital cameras are making a weird comeback, so it may feel a bit more difficult to justify throwing one in the electronics recycling bin than it would have a few years ago. According to the Camera & Imaging Products Association, shipments of built-in-lens digital cameras grew 29.6 percent in 2025 to approximately 2.44 million units, and are projected to increase an additional 13.6 percent in 2026. (CIPA didn't attribute that growth specifically to the current trend of retro digicams.)

If you already have one lying around, however, there's another reason to keep it. There are a lot of older DSLRs, mirrorless cameras and even some compact cameras that can be used as webcams. That can translate to improved low-light performance, greater control over framing or the natural background blur that laptop webcams devote a lot of software to trying to replicate. The trick is finding out whether yours can do it without turning a free upgrade into an expensive side project.

Start with the specific model number and the manufacturer's webcam compatibility list. Canon's EOS 6D and EOS Rebel T6 are still supported, as are Nikon's D5300 and D750 with its Webcam Utility and Sony's A5100, A7 II and RX100 IV with Imaging Edge Webcam.

If your camera is listed, then setup can be rather simple. Install the manufacturer's webcam software if required, connect the camera using a USB data cable , put it into the appropriate video or remote mode and select it as the camera in Zoom, Google Meet or Microsoft Teams.


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