I am going tangential a little bit from what the original post here, but I think the answer is you can.
GoPro Hero Action Cams can be used as a good webcam[1], for instances.
They are definitely NOT cheap though - running $250 - $500 new depending on the models and about $100+ for used models on flea bay.
The latest GoPro models like Hero8 Black or Hero9 Black that doesn't have HDMI output ports but instead having USB-C output ports actually make it easier to connect to computer as a premium webcam because not only those new models don't require a HDMI video capture device to convert signals but also the USB connection is slow charging the GoPro battery! All you need to get it to work is the GoPro camera with latest firmware, the bundled USB-C to USB-A cable and a desktop app (for macOS the app is about 10MB and super easy to use.) Let me tell you the video quality so much better! (1080p instead of 720p on MacBook Pro and the camera sensor is obviously different too).
GoPro Hero Action Cams can be used as a good webcam[1], for instances.
They are definitely NOT cheap though - running $250 - $500 new depending on the models and about $100+ for used models on flea bay.
The latest GoPro models like Hero8 Black or Hero9 Black that doesn't have HDMI output ports but instead having USB-C output ports actually make it easier to connect to computer as a premium webcam because not only those new models don't require a HDMI video capture device to convert signals but also the USB connection is slow charging the GoPro battery! All you need to get it to work is the GoPro camera with latest firmware, the bundled USB-C to USB-A cable and a desktop app (for macOS the app is about 10MB and super easy to use.) Let me tell you the video quality so much better! (1080p instead of 720p on MacBook Pro and the camera sensor is obviously different too).
https://gopro.com/en/us/news/how-to-use-gopro-for-webcam