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How to Use The Nikon Z6 II As A HDMI Webcam – Guide

This post shows you the best way to use your Nikon Z6 II as a webcam.

It requires the use of a ‘Clean HDMI’ output and a capture card…

Don’t worry, I’ll tell you how to do it easily.

To summarise, here’s how to use your Nikon Z6 II as a webcam using a capture card:

  1. Connect your Nikon Z 6II camera to a capture card using a ‘Mini HDMI to HDMI‘ cable.
  1. Plug the capture card into your computer into a USB 3.0 port.
  1. Use a suitable webcam software and use the feed from the capture card for high quality video for video calls or live streaming.
  1. Enable a clean HDMI feed on your Z6 II for the best results.

This post will guide you through the above steps in further detail and provide you with helpful tips to make sure you get the most out of this setup.

NOTE* If you were looking for a guide on how to use the original Nikon Z6 and not the Nikon Z6 II, don’t worry!

This guide can be used for the original Z6 too. You can use the same capture card , same HDMI cable and even the same AC Adapter/Dummy Battery kit that I mention later...

What Accessories Do I Need to Use My Nikon Z 6II as a HDMI Webcam?

To use your Nikon Z 6II as a webcam using HDMI output you will need a few accessories.

EssentialsOptional
Mini HDMI (HDMI C) to HDMI cable (HDMI A)Recommended* – AC Adapter with Dummy Battery / DC Coupler
Elgato Cam Link 4KHDMI Extension cable
Webcam software e.g. Zoom, OBS Studio, etc.Tripod 
Wide angle lens
Extra lighting – Elgato Key Light Air

Essential Accessories

1. Mini HDMI (Type C) to HDMI (Type A) cable

You will need this to connect your Nikon Z6 II to your capture card.

The small side is the Mini HDMI (HDMI Type C) and the larger side is the standard HDMI (HDMI Type A).

2. Capture Card (I recommend the Elgato Cam Link 4K)

This is essential.

The best way to use the Nikon Z 6II as a webcam is to use a HDMI output and a capture card.

The capture card will be outputting the footage straight from your camera to your webcam or live stream via a HDMI output.

I recommend the Elgato Cam Link 4K as Elgato is a reputable company with a product which is easy to use.

It also has a camera compatibility checker so you are certain that your Nikon Z6 II works with the Elgato Cam Link 4K.

The Elgato Cam Link 4K is also the most recommended product because it uses a UVC driver. 

This basically means it is universally compatible with any conference software that is able to use webcams e.g. Zoom, Skype or OBS Studio.

Below you can see a screenshot from Elgato’s website showing compatibility with the Nikon Z 6II.

Elgato Compatibility Check for Nikon Z 6II 

To check for yourself you can go to this Elgato camera checker link, search for Nikon, and go to the Z6 II.

You can check the current price and availability for the Elgato Cam Link 4K on Amazon at the link below.

3. Webcam software e.g. Zoom, Microsoft Teams, OBS Studio

You have quite a bit of freedom here…

You will need a webcam/streaming software that you want to use.

Luckily, the Elgato Cam Link 4K should work with most popular webcam or streaming software.

For extra information you can check out Elgato’s page for ‘Supported Software for the Cam Link 4K’.

Optional Accessories

1. Recommended* – AC Adapter with Dummy Battery / DC Coupler

Having constant power is quite important if you are streaming or using the Nikon Z6II for a long period of time.

If you plan to stream for a prolonged period of time then you don’t want your camera to run out of power.

The AC adapter uses a dummy battery in the battery compartment of the camera and allows your camera to have continuous power.

This will ensure that you will not run out of power when streaming on the Nikon Z6II.

Below is an example of a dummy battery kit which is compatible with the Nikon Z6II. 

2. HDMI Extension cable

This is only necessary if you need a long cable length from your camera to the capture card.

Most people should be fine with just the Mini HDMI to HDMI that I linked earlier.

If you think the Mini HDMI to HDMI cable you have is too short for your setup then you can get a HDMI male to female extension cable.

This will allow you to extend the length of cable between your camera and the capture card.

E.g. A Mini HDMI to HDMI cable fits into the female side of the HDMI extension cable and the male side fits into the capture card.

Tip: To reduce the need for this, get a Mini HDMI cable to HDMI cable that is already long enough on its own. 

3. Tripod 

Having somewhere stable for your camera to sit is essential when using it as a webcam. 

The last thing you want is shaky footage or a camera that gets knocked out of place during a video call or stream.

If you don’t already have a tripod then you may want to invest in one as they can provide more flexibility and stability to your setup.

  • GorillaPod 3K – if you need a lot of flexibility you can attach this to pretty much anything.

4. Extra Lens and Lighting

Depending on your setup you might want a new lens.

For example, if you only have a telephoto lens there’s no way you will be able to do a face cam for a gaming stream with a camera only inches away from your face.

You’d want a wider angle lens.

If you have the standard kit lens which comes with the Nikon Z 6II then you should be fine.

The standard kit lens for the Nikon Z 6II is the ‘NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S’ lens. 

This is a high quality lens that should give you a wide enough angle to allow you to use it as a webcam or for streaming.

Just don’t forget to get some decent lighting too. The Elgato Key Light Air is a solid option for this.

What Software Do I Need to Use My Nikon Z 6II as a Webcam?

To use the Nikon Z 6II as a webcam or for live streaming you’re gonna want a vidoe conferencing software that’s compatibel with your capture card.

Elgato Cam Link 4K is universally compatible with any conference software that is able to use webcams, like Zoom or Skype.  

You can also use it with popular streaming software like OBS Studio. 

To read more about compatibility with the Cam Link 4K check out the following link ‘Supported Software for the Cam Link 4K’.

If you decide to use a different capture card then please check the compatibility for that specific capture card with the webcam/streaming software that you want to use.

Set Up the Nikon Z6 II for Webcam or Streaming 

  1. Make sure your camera has enough battery or has an AC-adapter with a dummy battery so that your camera can receive constant power.

  1. Use your Mini HDMI cable to connect your camera to the capture card.

    The small side of your Mini HDMI cable should go into the Mini HDMI port on your Nikon Z6 II.

    The larger side can go straight into the Elgato Cam Link 4K. 

  1. Plug the Elgato Cam Link 4K into a USB port on your computer.

    You should be using a USB 3.0 port (these USB ports are blue on the inside). 

  1. Go to your ‘Custom Menu’ (this is the pencil icon).

  1. Select ‘Timers/AE lock’.

  1. Scroll to ‘c3 Power off delay’ and select this option.

  1. Under the ‘Power off delay’ settings go to ‘Standby timer’ and set this to ‘no limit’.

    This makes sure that the camera doesn’t go into standby mode.

  1. Open your webcam software on your computer and make sure your camera is turned on. 

  1. Select the appropriate setting so that the Elgato Cam Link 4K is your chosen video feed. (This will depend on the software you decide to use but you can use the Elgato help website for assistance).

  1. Now you should see a direct feed from your Nikon Z6 II on your webcam/streaming software. Adjust your camera settings to suit your preference.

To make the most of this setup you need to make sure you have the ability to use a Clean HDMI feed on your Z 6II.

This basically means that the camera can output what it is seeing without having all of the icons from the user interface such as the frames per second, battery life etc.

Luckily the Nikon Z 6II is able to output a Clean HDMI feed…

How to Enable Clean HDMI on the Nikon Z 6II

To enable a clean HDMI feed on the Z 6II you just have to make sure that the camera is in video mode instead of photo mode.

Quick Recap of Items

The 3 main items you need to use your Z 6II as a webcam with clean HDMI output are as follows:

Can I use Nikon Webcam Utility for the Nikon Z 6II?

You may see online that you can use the Nikon Webcam Utility to use the Nikon Z 6II camera as a webcam.

While this is an alternate method of using the Nikon Z 6II as a webcam, you won’t achieve the same level of quality as you would when using a capture card.

If you really want to use Nikon Webcam Utility then I’ve included a link in the further resources section at the end of this post.

Further Resources

Related Reading:

Did you know you can also use your Nikon Z6II as a USB webcam without using a capture card.