What is the best method to capture images from a live video device for use by a Java-based application?

This JavaCV implementation works fine.

CODE:

import com.googlecode.javacv.OpenCVFrameGrabber;

import com.googlecode.javacv.cpp.opencv_core.IplImage;
import static com.googlecode.javacv.cpp.opencv_highgui.*;

public class CaptureImage {
    private static void captureFrame() {
        // 0-default camera, 1 - next...so on
        final OpenCVFrameGrabber grabber = new OpenCVFrameGrabber(0);
        try {
            grabber.start();
            IplImage img = grabber.grab();
            if (img != null) {
                cvSaveImage("capture.jpg", img);
            }
        } catch (Exception e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
    }
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        captureFrame();
    }
}

There is also post on viewing live video from Camera .And configuration for JavaCV :

I think this will meet your requirements.