# Camera.get()

#### Availability

Flash Player 6.

#### Usage

    Camera.get([index])

Note: The correct syntax is `Camera.get()`. To assign the Camera object to a variable, use syntax like `active_cam = Camera.get()`.

#### Parameters

`index` An optional zero-based integer that specifies which camera to get, as determined from the array returned by the `Camera.names``` property.`` To get the default camera (which is recommended for most applications), omit this parameter.

#### Returns

- If `index` is not specified, this method returns a reference to the default camera or, if it is in use by another application, to the first available camera. (If there is more than one camera installed, the user may specify the default camera in the Flash Player Camera Settings panel.) If no cameras are available or installed, the method returns `null`.
- If `index` is specified, this method returns a reference to the requested camera, or `null` if it is not available.

#### Description

Method; returns a reference to a Camera object for capturing video. To actually begin capturing the video, you must attach the Camera object to a Video object (see `Video.attachVideo()`).

Unlike objects that you create using the `new` constructor, multiple calls to `Camera.get()` reference the same camera. Thus, if your script contains the lines `cam1 = Camera.get()` and `cam2 = Camera.get()`, both `cam1` and `cam2` reference the same (default) camera.

In general, you shouldn't pass a value for `index`; simply use `Camera.get()` to return a reference to the default camera. By means of the Camera settings panel (discussed later in this section), the user can specify the default camera Flash should use. If you pass a value for `index`, you might be trying to reference a camera other than the one the user prefers. You might use `index` in rare cases—for example, if your application is capturing video from two cameras at the same time.

When a movie tries to access the camera returned by `Camera.get()`, the Flash Player displays a Privacy dialog box that lets the user choose whether to allow or deny access to the camera. (Make sure your Stage size is at least 215 x 138 pixels; this is the minimum size Flash requires to display the dialog box.)

When the user responds to this dialog box, the `Camera.onStatus` event handler returns an information object that indicates the user's response. To determine whether the user has denied or allowed access to the camera without processing this event handler, use the `Camera.muted` property.

The user can also specify permanent privacy settings for a particular domain by right-clicking (Windows) or Control-clicking (Macintosh) while a movie is playing, choosing Settings, opening the Privacy panel, and selecting Remember.

If `Camera.get` returns `null`, either the camera is in use by another application, or there are no cameras installed on the system. To determine whether any cameras are installed, use `Camera.names.length`. To display the Flash Player Camera Settings panel, which lets the user choose the camera to be referenced by `Camera.get()`, use `System.showSettings()``(3)`.

Note that scanning the hardware for cameras takes time. Once Flash finds at least one camera, the hardware is not scanned again for the lifetime of the player instance. However, if Flash doesn't find any cameras, it will scan each time `Camera.get` is called. This is helpful if a user has forgotten to connect the camera; if your movie provides a Try Again button that calls `Camera.get`, Flash can find the camera without the user having to restart the movie.

#### Example

The following example captures and displays video locally within a Video object named `my_video` on the Stage.

    var my_cam = Camera.get();
    my_video.attachVideo(myCam);

#### See also

`Camera.index`, `Camera.muted`, `Camera.names`, `Camera.onStatus`, `Camera.setMode()``,` `Video.attachVideo()`