Using external cameras with CameraX

[Anton Ivanov]

Hey,

I need to capture video/photo/analysis stream from the external camera. The one I'm trying with now is https://www.e-consystems.com/camera-modules/16mp-sony-imx298-autofocus-mipi-camera-module.asp. LENS_FACING_EXTERNAL doesn't work, I also tried CameraFilter and checked every camera it provides but no luck(it's just different internal cameras). 
What is the best way to add support for external cameras here?

[Eino-Ville Talvala]

Hi Anton -

Unfortunately, very few mobile devices today actually implement support external cameras such as USB webcams.  You can check if the device you're using supports them by seeing if they declare the PackageManager#FEATURE_CAMERA_EXTERNAL.  If the Android device doesn't, then it's unlikely CameraX can access your external camera.

It's still possible to use a USB-based webcam (UVC protocol) on Android, but it requires using the UsbManager APIs directly and having to essentially implement your own UVC camera driver in your app. I believe there are libraries available to do that, but I'm not very familiar with them.

- Eddy

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[Anton Ivanov]

Thanks for you answer.
Is there any way to provide the external camera to CameraX if I properly implement UVC camera driver?

[Eino-Ville Talvala]

It's not something that CameraX supports today.