diff --git a/boards/arduino/nicla_vision/arduino_nicla_vision_stm32h747xx_m7.dts b/boards/arduino/nicla_vision/arduino_nicla_vision_stm32h747xx_m7.dts
index 0028128f8e231..6627ec5441e73 100644
--- a/boards/arduino/nicla_vision/arduino_nicla_vision_stm32h747xx_m7.dts
+++ b/boards/arduino/nicla_vision/arduino_nicla_vision_stm32h747xx_m7.dts
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@
 		zephyr,sram = &sram0;
 		zephyr,flash = &flash0;
 		zephyr,code-partition = &slot0_partition;
-		zephyr,camera = &dcmi;
 	};
 
 	aliases {
diff --git a/boards/espressif/esp32s3_eye/esp32s3_eye_procpu.dts b/boards/espressif/esp32s3_eye/esp32s3_eye_procpu.dts
index 7391ad2357e42..fe498e4bee167 100644
--- a/boards/espressif/esp32s3_eye/esp32s3_eye_procpu.dts
+++ b/boards/espressif/esp32s3_eye/esp32s3_eye_procpu.dts
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@
 		zephyr,code-partition = &slot0_partition;
 		zephyr,bt-hci = &esp32_bt_hci;
 		zephyr,display = &st7789v;
-		zephyr,camera = &lcd_cam;
 	};
 
 	buttons {
diff --git a/boards/seeed/xiao_esp32s3/xiao_esp32s3_procpu_sense.dts b/boards/seeed/xiao_esp32s3/xiao_esp32s3_procpu_sense.dts
index f8f7ed4a31675..f4ced1f0e3b05 100644
--- a/boards/seeed/xiao_esp32s3/xiao_esp32s3_procpu_sense.dts
+++ b/boards/seeed/xiao_esp32s3/xiao_esp32s3_procpu_sense.dts
@@ -11,10 +11,6 @@
 / {
 	model = "Seeed Xiao ESP32S3 PROCPU Sense";
 	compatible = "seeed,xiao-esp32s3";
-
-	chosen {
-		zephyr,camera = &lcd_cam;
-	};
 };
 
 &i2c1 {
diff --git a/boards/shields/dvp_fpc24_mt9m114/dvp_fpc24_mt9m114.overlay b/boards/shields/dvp_fpc24_mt9m114/dvp_fpc24_mt9m114.overlay
index 49bc018779a8f..4c0798597c8de 100644
--- a/boards/shields/dvp_fpc24_mt9m114/dvp_fpc24_mt9m114.overlay
+++ b/boards/shields/dvp_fpc24_mt9m114/dvp_fpc24_mt9m114.overlay
@@ -4,12 +4,6 @@
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
  */
 
-/{
-	chosen {
-		zephyr,camera = &dvp_fpc24_interface;
-	};
-};
-
 &dvp_fpc24_i2c {
 	mt9m114: mt9m114@48 {
 		compatible = "aptina,mt9m114";
diff --git a/boards/shields/nxp_btb44_ov5640/nxp_btb44_ov5640.overlay b/boards/shields/nxp_btb44_ov5640/nxp_btb44_ov5640.overlay
index 9eca70c27cdeb..8ad00caff867c 100644
--- a/boards/shields/nxp_btb44_ov5640/nxp_btb44_ov5640.overlay
+++ b/boards/shields/nxp_btb44_ov5640/nxp_btb44_ov5640.overlay
@@ -6,12 +6,6 @@
 
 #include <zephyr/dt-bindings/video/video-interfaces.h>
 
-/{
-	chosen {
-		zephyr,camera = &nxp_csi;
-	};
-};
-
 &nxp_cam_i2c {
 	status = "okay";
 
diff --git a/boards/shields/st_b_cams_omv_mb1683/st_b_cams_omv_mb1683.overlay b/boards/shields/st_b_cams_omv_mb1683/st_b_cams_omv_mb1683.overlay
index 0ffb5669dadfe..87a30533e0243 100644
--- a/boards/shields/st_b_cams_omv_mb1683/st_b_cams_omv_mb1683.overlay
+++ b/boards/shields/st_b_cams_omv_mb1683/st_b_cams_omv_mb1683.overlay
@@ -7,12 +7,6 @@
 
 #include <zephyr/dt-bindings/video/video-interfaces.h>
 
-/ {
-	chosen {
-		zephyr,camera = &st_cam_dvp;
-	};
-};
-
 &st_cam_i2c {
 
 	ov5640: ov5640@3c {
diff --git a/boards/shields/weact_ov2640_cam_module/weact_ov2640_cam_module.overlay b/boards/shields/weact_ov2640_cam_module/weact_ov2640_cam_module.overlay
index bc8c6ebddb288..1ccd36121f2c1 100644
--- a/boards/shields/weact_ov2640_cam_module/weact_ov2640_cam_module.overlay
+++ b/boards/shields/weact_ov2640_cam_module/weact_ov2640_cam_module.overlay
@@ -4,12 +4,6 @@
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
  */
 
-/ {
-	chosen {
-		zephyr,camera = &zephyr_camera_dvp;
-	};
-};
-
 &zephyr_camera_i2c {
 	status = "okay";
 	clock-frequency = <I2C_BITRATE_FAST>;
diff --git a/cmake/linker_script/common/common-ram.cmake b/cmake/linker_script/common/common-ram.cmake
index d46376edd03fb..8a9db048c0f98 100644
--- a/cmake/linker_script/common/common-ram.cmake
+++ b/cmake/linker_script/common/common-ram.cmake
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ endif()
 
 if(CONFIG_VIDEO)
   zephyr_iterable_section(NAME video_device GROUP DATA_REGION ${XIP_ALIGN_WITH_INPUT} SUBALIGN ${CONFIG_LINKER_ITERABLE_SUBALIGN})
+  zephyr_iterable_section(NAME video_mdev GROUP DATA_REGION ${XIP_ALIGN_WITH_INPUT} SUBALIGN ${CONFIG_LINKER_ITERABLE_SUBALIGN})
 endif()
 
 if(CONFIG_LOG)
diff --git a/drivers/video/Kconfig.sw_generator b/drivers/video/Kconfig.sw_generator
index 7675908b4bc19..f258a00e1a2f5 100644
--- a/drivers/video/Kconfig.sw_generator
+++ b/drivers/video/Kconfig.sw_generator
@@ -3,10 +3,7 @@
 # Copyright (c) 2016 Linaro Limited
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 
-DT_CHOSEN_ZEPHYR_CAMERA := zephyr,camera
-
 config VIDEO_SW_GENERATOR
 	bool "Video Software Generator"
-	depends on !$(dt_chosen_enabled,$(DT_CHOSEN_ZEPHYR_CAMERA))
 	help
 	  Enable video pattern generator (for testing purposes).
diff --git a/drivers/video/video.ld b/drivers/video/video.ld
index 935ee1ed302b3..23ffbc5b3537e 100644
--- a/drivers/video/video.ld
+++ b/drivers/video/video.ld
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 #include <zephyr/linker/iterable_sections.h>
 
 ITERABLE_SECTION_RAM(video_device, Z_LINK_ITERABLE_SUBALIGN)
+ITERABLE_SECTION_RAM(video_mdev, Z_LINK_ITERABLE_SUBALIGN)
diff --git a/drivers/video/video_device.c b/drivers/video/video_device.c
index a895fed42f144..c299f9fe921db 100644
--- a/drivers/video/video_device.c
+++ b/drivers/video/video_device.c
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
  */
 
+#include <zephyr/drivers/video.h>
+
 #include "video_device.h"
 
 struct video_device *video_find_vdev(const struct device *dev)
@@ -20,3 +22,21 @@ struct video_device *video_find_vdev(const struct device *dev)
 
 	return NULL;
 }
+
+const struct device *video_get_dev(uint8_t i)
+{
+	const struct video_mdev *vmd = NULL;
+
+	STRUCT_SECTION_GET(video_mdev, i, &vmd);
+
+	return vmd->dev;
+}
+
+uint8_t video_get_devs_num(void)
+{
+	uint8_t count = 0;
+
+	STRUCT_SECTION_COUNT(video_mdev, &count);
+
+	return count;
+}
diff --git a/drivers/video/video_device.h b/drivers/video/video_device.h
index 3ba2ee3486cda..70a0283aad7fb 100644
--- a/drivers/video/video_device.h
+++ b/drivers/video/video_device.h
@@ -16,6 +16,10 @@ struct video_device {
 	sys_dlist_t ctrls;
 };
 
+struct video_mdev {
+	const struct device *dev;
+};
+
 #define VIDEO_DEVICE_DEFINE(name, device, source)                                                  \
 	static STRUCT_SECTION_ITERABLE(video_device, name) = {                                     \
 		.dev = device,                                                                     \
@@ -23,6 +27,11 @@ struct video_device {
 		.ctrls = SYS_DLIST_STATIC_INIT(&name.ctrls),                                       \
 	}
 
+#define VIDEO_MDEV_DEFINE(name, device)                                                            \
+	static STRUCT_SECTION_ITERABLE(video_mdev, name_##mdev) = {                                \
+		.dev = device,                                                                     \
+	}
+
 struct video_device *video_find_vdev(const struct device *dev);
 
 #endif /* ZEPHYR_INCLUDE_DRIVERS_VIDEO_VIDEO_DEVICE_H_ */
diff --git a/drivers/video/video_emul_rx.c b/drivers/video/video_emul_rx.c
index ba44a2c59ed66..8070b6680bccf 100644
--- a/drivers/video/video_emul_rx.c
+++ b/drivers/video/video_emul_rx.c
@@ -282,6 +282,8 @@ int emul_rx_init(const struct device *dev)
 	DEVICE_DT_INST_DEFINE(n, &emul_rx_init, NULL, &emul_rx_data_##n, &emul_rx_cfg_##n,         \
 			      POST_KERNEL, CONFIG_VIDEO_INIT_PRIORITY, &emul_rx_driver_api);       \
                                                                                                    \
-	VIDEO_DEVICE_DEFINE(emul_rx_##n, DEVICE_DT_INST_GET(n), emul_rx_cfg_##n.source_dev);
+	VIDEO_DEVICE_DEFINE(emul_rx_##n, DEVICE_DT_INST_GET(n), emul_rx_cfg_##n.source_dev);       \
+                                                                                                   \
+	VIDEO_MDEV_DEFINE(emul_rx_##n, DEVICE_DT_INST_GET(n));
 
 DT_INST_FOREACH_STATUS_OKAY(EMUL_RX_DEFINE)
diff --git a/drivers/video/video_esp32_dvp.c b/drivers/video/video_esp32_dvp.c
index 5d1ec69f24218..921718368195a 100644
--- a/drivers/video/video_esp32_dvp.c
+++ b/drivers/video/video_esp32_dvp.c
@@ -452,6 +452,8 @@ DEVICE_DT_INST_DEFINE(0, video_esp32_init, NULL, &esp32_data, &esp32_config, POS
 
 VIDEO_DEVICE_DEFINE(esp32, DEVICE_DT_INST_GET(0), esp32_config.source_dev);
 
+VIDEO_MDEV_DEFINE(esp32, DEVICE_DT_INST_GET(0));
+
 static int video_esp32_cam_init_master_clock(void)
 {
 	int ret = 0;
diff --git a/drivers/video/video_mcux_csi.c b/drivers/video/video_mcux_csi.c
index 4b4a46dc2cbd3..58e3382c63c9b 100644
--- a/drivers/video/video_mcux_csi.c
+++ b/drivers/video/video_mcux_csi.c
@@ -483,4 +483,6 @@ DEVICE_DT_INST_DEFINE(0, &video_mcux_csi_init_0, NULL, &video_mcux_csi_data_0,
 
 VIDEO_DEVICE_DEFINE(csi, DEVICE_DT_INST_GET(0), video_mcux_csi_config_0.source_dev);
 
+VIDEO_MDEV_DEFINE(csi, DEVICE_DT_INST_GET(0));
+
 #endif
diff --git a/drivers/video/video_mcux_smartdma.c b/drivers/video/video_mcux_smartdma.c
index 9081bcb596741..0b3b9d02b734d 100644
--- a/drivers/video/video_mcux_smartdma.c
+++ b/drivers/video/video_mcux_smartdma.c
@@ -383,6 +383,8 @@ static DEVICE_API(video, nxp_video_sdma_api) = {
 			      &sdma_config_##inst, POST_KERNEL,                                    \
 			      CONFIG_KERNEL_INIT_PRIORITY_DEVICE, &nxp_video_sdma_api);            \
                                                                                                    \
-	VIDEO_DEVICE_DEFINE(sdma_##inst, DEVICE_DT_INST_GET(inst), sdma_config_##inst.sensor_dev);
+	VIDEO_DEVICE_DEFINE(sdma_##inst, DEVICE_DT_INST_GET(inst), sdma_config_##inst.sensor_dev); \
+                                                                                                   \
+	VIDEO_MDEV_DEFINE(sdma_##inst, DEVICE_DT_INST_GET(inst));
 
 DT_INST_FOREACH_STATUS_OKAY(NXP_VIDEO_SDMA_INIT)
diff --git a/drivers/video/video_stm32_dcmi.c b/drivers/video/video_stm32_dcmi.c
index 35c55449a5580..9e43683de2634 100644
--- a/drivers/video/video_stm32_dcmi.c
+++ b/drivers/video/video_stm32_dcmi.c
@@ -501,3 +501,5 @@ DEVICE_DT_INST_DEFINE(0, &video_stm32_dcmi_init,
 		    &video_stm32_dcmi_driver_api);
 
 VIDEO_DEVICE_DEFINE(dcmi, DEVICE_DT_INST_GET(0), video_stm32_dcmi_config_0.sensor_dev);
+
+VIDEO_MDEV_DEFINE(dcmi, DEVICE_DT_INST_GET(0));
diff --git a/drivers/video/video_sw_generator.c b/drivers/video/video_sw_generator.c
index ed8ade5270ca5..939d03a2124a7 100644
--- a/drivers/video/video_sw_generator.c
+++ b/drivers/video/video_sw_generator.c
@@ -371,3 +371,5 @@ DEVICE_DEFINE(video_sw_generator, "VIDEO_SW_GENERATOR", &video_sw_generator_init
 	      &video_sw_generator_driver_api);
 
 VIDEO_DEVICE_DEFINE(video_sw_generator, DEVICE_GET(video_sw_generator), NULL);
+
+VIDEO_MDEV_DEFINE(video_sw_generator, DEVICE_GET(video_sw_generator));
diff --git a/include/zephyr/drivers/video.h b/include/zephyr/drivers/video.h
index c0b814932f74c..60808bd9afc40 100644
--- a/include/zephyr/drivers/video.h
+++ b/include/zephyr/drivers/video.h
@@ -819,6 +819,26 @@ void video_closest_frmival_stepwise(const struct video_frmival_stepwise *stepwis
 void video_closest_frmival(const struct device *dev, enum video_endpoint_id ep,
 			   struct video_frmival_enum *match);
 
+/**
+ * @brief Get a video device by index
+ *
+ * The video subsystem keeps a list of registered video devices that application
+ * can use for streaming. This function is to get a video device in this list by
+ * specifying an index.
+ *
+ * @param i Index of the video device to get
+ */
+const struct device *video_get_dev(uint8_t i);
+
+/**
+ * @brief Get the number of registered video devices
+ *
+ * The video subsystem keeps a list of registered video devices that application
+ * can use for streaming. This function is to retrieve the size of this list.
+ *
+ */
+uint8_t video_get_devs_num(void);
+
 /**
  * @defgroup video_pixel_formats Video pixel formats
  * The '|' characters separate the pixels or logical blocks, and spaces separate the bytes.
diff --git a/samples/drivers/video/capture/boards/frdm_mcxn947_cpu0.overlay b/samples/drivers/video/capture/boards/frdm_mcxn947_cpu0.overlay
deleted file mode 100644
index db18ee736c4ff..0000000000000
--- a/samples/drivers/video/capture/boards/frdm_mcxn947_cpu0.overlay
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,11 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright 2024 NXP
- *
- * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
- */
-
-/{
-	chosen {
-		zephyr,camera = &video_sdma;
-	};
-};
diff --git a/samples/drivers/video/capture/src/main.c b/samples/drivers/video/capture/src/main.c
index 501ebd8794ab5..8c8356e4f04bf 100644
--- a/samples/drivers/video/capture/src/main.c
+++ b/samples/drivers/video/capture/src/main.c
@@ -92,22 +92,24 @@ int main(void)
 	size_t bsize;
 	int i = 0;
 	int err;
-
-#if DT_HAS_CHOSEN(zephyr_camera)
-	const struct device *const video_dev = DEVICE_DT_GET(DT_CHOSEN(zephyr_camera));
-
-	if (!device_is_ready(video_dev)) {
-		LOG_ERR("%s: video device is not ready", video_dev->name);
-		return 0;
+	const struct device *video_dev = NULL;
+	const struct device *const vsg = device_get_binding(VIDEO_DEV_SW);
+	uint8_t vdevs_num = video_get_devs_num();
+	bool found_vdev = false;
+
+	/* Get the 1st video HW available, otherwise fallbacks to video sw generator */
+	for (int j = 0; j < vdevs_num; j++) {
+		video_dev = video_get_dev(j);
+		if (device_is_ready(video_dev) && (vdevs_num == 1 || video_dev != vsg)) {
+			found_vdev = true;
+			break;
+		}
 	}
-#else
-	const struct device *const video_dev = device_get_binding(VIDEO_DEV_SW);
 
-	if (video_dev == NULL) {
-		LOG_ERR("%s: video device not found or failed to initialized", VIDEO_DEV_SW);
+	if (!found_vdev) {
+		LOG_ERR("No video device ready!");
 		return 0;
 	}
-#endif
 
 	LOG_INF("Video device: %s", video_dev->name);
 
diff --git a/samples/drivers/video/capture_to_lvgl/src/main.c b/samples/drivers/video/capture_to_lvgl/src/main.c
index 201e0a8bed904..819d500c2ae1c 100644
--- a/samples/drivers/video/capture_to_lvgl/src/main.c
+++ b/samples/drivers/video/capture_to_lvgl/src/main.c
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@ int main(void)
 	const struct device *video_dev;
 	size_t bsize;
 	int i = 0;
+	const struct device *const vsg = device_get_binding(VIDEO_DEV_SW);
+	uint8_t vdevs_num = video_get_devs_num();
+	bool found_vdev = false;
 
 	display_dev = DEVICE_DT_GET(DT_CHOSEN(zephyr_display));
 	if (!device_is_ready(display_dev)) {
@@ -33,19 +36,19 @@ int main(void)
 		return 0;
 	}
 
-#if DT_HAS_CHOSEN(zephyr_camera)
-	video_dev = DEVICE_DT_GET(DT_CHOSEN(zephyr_camera));
-	if (!device_is_ready(video_dev)) {
-		LOG_ERR("%s device is not ready", video_dev->name);
-		return 0;
+	/* Get the 1st video HW available, otherwise fallbacks to video sw generator */
+	for (int j = 0; j < vdevs_num; j++) {
+		video_dev = video_get_dev(j);
+		if (device_is_ready(video_dev) && (vdevs_num == 1 || video_dev != vsg)) {
+			found_vdev = true;
+			break;
+		}
 	}
-#else
-	video_dev = device_get_binding(VIDEO_DEV_SW);
-	if (video_dev == NULL) {
-		LOG_ERR("%s device not found", VIDEO_DEV_SW);
+
+	if (!found_vdev) {
+		LOG_ERR("No video device ready!");
 		return 0;
 	}
-#endif
 
 	LOG_INF("- Device name: %s", video_dev->name);
 
diff --git a/samples/drivers/video/tcpserversink/src/main.c b/samples/drivers/video/tcpserversink/src/main.c
index da3f9e4a8319e..49445c6dab1fc 100644
--- a/samples/drivers/video/tcpserversink/src/main.c
+++ b/samples/drivers/video/tcpserversink/src/main.c
@@ -42,21 +42,24 @@ int main(void)
 	int i, ret, sock, client;
 	struct video_format fmt;
 	struct video_caps caps;
-#if DT_HAS_CHOSEN(zephyr_camera)
-	const struct device *const video = DEVICE_DT_GET(DT_CHOSEN(zephyr_camera));
-
-	if (!device_is_ready(video)) {
-		LOG_ERR("%s: video device not ready.", video->name);
-		return 0;
+	const struct device *video = NULL;
+	const struct device *const vsg = device_get_binding(VIDEO_DEV_SW);
+	uint8_t vdevs_num = video_get_devs_num();
+	bool found_vdev = false;
+
+	/* Get the 1st video HW available, otherwise fallbacks to video sw generator */
+	for (int j = 0; j < vdevs_num; j++) {
+		video = video_get_dev(j);
+		if (device_is_ready(video) && (vdevs_num == 1 || video != vsg)) {
+			found_vdev = true;
+			break;
+		}
 	}
-#else
-	const struct device *const video = device_get_binding(VIDEO_DEV_SW);
 
-	if (video == NULL) {
-		LOG_ERR("%s: video device not found or failed to initialized.", VIDEO_DEV_SW);
+	if (!found_vdev) {
+		LOG_ERR("No video device ready!");
 		return 0;
 	}
-#endif
 	/* Prepare Network */
 	(void)memset(&addr, 0, sizeof(addr));
 	addr.sin_family = AF_INET;