How to capture video from an unknown camera?

edit

i think, you should just try it out first, maybe even using python:

pip install opencv-python

then:

import cv2
cap = cv2.VideoCapture(0) # assuming usb connection
print(cap.isOpened())

if you get True you've already won !

if it's windows, also try :

cap = cv2.VideoCapture(0, cv2.CAP_DSHOW) # since MSMF is default

next attempt, firewire:

print(cv2.getBuildInformation())

there's a Video IO section, check DC1394 support there, if so:

cap = cv2.VideoCapture(0, cv2.CAP_DC1394) # assuming firewire connection

(if not, you could still try to rebuild opencv with resp. dc1394 libs locally, but that's another story...)

if all those fail, you should look into the SDK, that came with your cam (probably only usable from c++)

if you find any code, that looks like it's retrieving images, update your question, and we'll help you connecting it to opencv

Check whether you can get video from the camera using ffmpeg. If Yes, you can capture video from the camera using ffmpeg and then convert the frames to cv:: Mat