Answer by blackgk for I have tried to build the example but am getting a NULL when trying to capture the device.Feel free to grab my code here at test for yourself: https://github.com/xamox/OpenCV-CameraThe camera works fine as I'm able to use it with Cheese, Guvcview. I have tested a lot of variations to the cvCaptureFromCAM( CV_CAP_ANY ), as in 0,1,2,-1, etc. I also tried using the VideoCapture function, but doesn't appear to be working.I'm not sure what I need to do to get it working. I've tried building OpenCV 2.3.1 and 2.4.2 from source, everything builds fine, I can import in python, just can't seem to get the webcam to work. I have also tested a few external logitech webcams I have laying around. Any help would be appreciated.

Try to install some/all packages from: http://opencv.willowgarage.com/wiki/InstallGuide> "(Optional) ffmpeg, libgstreamer,> libv4l, libxine, unicap, libdc1394> 2.x.>> You should have some/all of these packages installed (together with> associated development packages) to> add video capturing, video decoding> and video encoding capabilities to> highgui. The output of the cmake will> show you, which of the packages have> been detected and will be used in> highgui. (Enable full video support> with FFMPEG). For example, on Ubuntu> 9.10 all the necessary ffmpeg files can be installed using the following> command:>> sudo apt-get install libavformat-dev libswscale-dev" And after installing it, remember to rebuild OpenCV. I have the same problem.