How can I take a picture with my webcam in Windows 7?

I know it existed as sort of a folder in Windows Explorer in at least Windows XP, but I just can't seem to find it in Windows 7...

How can I take a picture with my webcam in Windows 7 without using any 3rd party tools?

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8 Answers

Answer I wrote from another similar question.

Technically it isn't built in, but it is by Microsoft - so hope that doesn't count as third party in your books.

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I find the best and quickest program to be Microsoft AMcap.

It works via native DirectX functions and is very lightweight.

It is a free utility available through the DirectX SDK - and here is a direct link to Amcap.exe.

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You can do that easily with an free online flash app:

(it's an example but you can found a lot)

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Edit:

An other example of an online photobooth (using HTML5, with Flash fallback), which require no additional software

The most straightforward way it to install Picasa ..:

.. click on icon for "Capture photos and videos from a webcam or other video device" ..:

.. and then take picture or record video:

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For Lenovo users, there's the Web Conferencing tool that comes with your ThinkPad that allows you to save camera snapshots. I know it's not an answer to the original question, but I arrived here via a Google search for a quick way to take a snapshot with my built in webcam so I guess more people will.

Windows 7, start Menu -> Run, type "webcam" or "camera" and you should see camera related software that came with your PC. Click on the software and that will allow you to take a pic.

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Check Picanom -- its an online service (I don't trust such stuff much).
Your HP ProBook must have also come with its own Webcam Software.
^{Check this for example}

I use CommandCam:

To convert to JPEG, I use this:

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The one thing I had already installed on my computer was VLC. This seems to work just fine: Media menu, Open capture device..., select the device name and click Play button.