Best PTZ Camera for Live Streaming
As technology advances, personal journalism becomes easier to execute. You can now record and broadcast events and conferences to an audience worldwide. All you need is to buy the best PTZ camera for live streaming and leverage its features.
However, that is easier said than done. Some excel in specific areas, while others offer a balanced array of features and sturdiness. So, if you don’t know what to look out for in a PTZ camera, you can choose any feature-packed pan tilt zoom camera for live streaming on this list.
The cameras are portable and connect to popular video streaming networks like YouTube. Furthermore, they guarantee excellent image quality and smooth playback, which live streaming audiences appreciate. And thanks to their range of movement, you can capture entire rooms and halls in one shot
All the products in this article are easy to operate and won’t require an entire media team. And the best part is that you can control the cameras remotely. So, if you want to organize a church program, record a business conference, hold an online class or broadcast your personal affairs, feel free to use any of these PTZ cameras for live streaming.
Reviews of PTZ Cameras for Live Streaming
If your budget can’t get you a 4K PTZ camera, you can still opt for a 1080p camera with great features, like the PTZOptics-20X-SDI GEN-2. This camera records visuals at 1920x1080 resolution and streams to an audience faster than you can expect. You can attribute this speed to its H.265 and H.264 IP and multicast streaming.
The PTZOptics-20X-SDI GEN-2 may not be a cheap PTZ camera for live streaming, but it is well worth your money. The 20x zoom will ensure that if you mount this unit at the back of the room, you can focus on the speakers on stage, while the automatic pan and tilt will follow their every move. And a 60.7° field of view will ensure you don’t struggle to fit people sitting on the fringes in one frame.
Due to its unique design and lightweight 3.1 pounds, mounting this camera is easy. The camera also lets you connect to up to 255 receivers and will deliver your videos in MPEG-H, MPEG-4, and MJPEG formats. You can broadcast from three ports concurrently.
To control this PTZ live streaming camera, you must be familiar with its web-based operating system. It isn’t complex, and you will get the hang of it quickly. Alternatively, you could control the camera with your phone.
A caveat is that the camera's live stream does not appear on some browsers. So, install VLC or IE to watch your videos as you stream.
Pros
- It comes with an IR remote control that can help you control multiple cameras with one remote.
- Even in low light, the camera produces high-quality noiseless visual recordings.
- It has ports for the connectors most people have, like USB 2.0 and HDMI.
Cons
- The package does not have an ODM wall mount bracket, so you must purchase one separately.
- Setting up the unit was not as easy as I expected, no thanks to the confusing installation information.
- The camera's joystick is finicky, often requiring you to seek alternatives.
This product is often purchased with
PTZOptics SuperJoy Joystick Controller
Cable Matters Snagless Cat6 Ethernet Cable
Roland HD Video Switcher (V-8HD)
top0 PTZ Camera Ceiling Mount Bracket
The FoMaKo 20X-SDI’s selling point is the 20x optical zoom lens, which is nearly flawless. But the wide-angle shots from the 1/2.8 inch CMOS sensor also deserve a shoutout.
I tested the camera in a large conference hall and still got most of the occupants in one shot without panning the camera. And speaking of control, out of this camera’s 255 presets, you can control ten remotely. This convenience makes this product the ideal pan/tilt/zoom camera for live streaming for small teams.
It shoots videos in 1920x1080 resolution and at 60FPS, ensuring your audience doesn't notice jitters in your videos. You can stream videos via HDMI, IP, and 3G-SDI, making it an ideal PTZ camera for streaming.
The 20x camera model from Famako uses Power over Ethernet. Furthermore, it has an H.264/ H.265 encoding that saves disk space and makes your stream faster, especially over a slow internet. Additionally, the camera is compatible with many software and applications.
Pros
- The wireless controller is precise and makes controlling the camera a pleasant experience.
- The camera's CMOS sensor efficiently removes digital noise from shots.
- Switching to different customized presets with the controls makes controlling the camera easy.
Cons
- The camera's autofocus feature is not so good.
- Zooming in to 20x reduces the quality of the video.
- Setting up the camera is difficult for new users.
Honey Optics 20x 4K Camera — best PTZ camera for live streaming
The Honey Optics 20x 4K will guarantee a smooth recording experience and excellent video quality, thanks to its ability to shoot at 60FPS.
The Honey Optics 20x 4K Zoom Sony camera offers clear shots, a fast capture speed, and flexibility, making it ideal for use in different environments. And since it handles natural lighting as excellently as it does artificial ones, the Honey Optics 20x 4K’s versatility makes it the best outdoor PTZ camera for live streaming.
Having used this camera, I discovered that I could get more people into the frame than I imagined. Its 4.42 – 132.6 mm focal length is impressive and gives it a wide field of view.
The brand’s PTZ camera system for live streaming lets you move the device manually or automatically while shooting events. With your Honey Optics 20x new 4K PTZ camera for live streaming, you can tilt 30° downwards and 90° upwards at speeds anywhere between 1.7° and 69.9° per second. Furthermore, the camera has a pan speed of +/- 170° and moves between 1.7 and 100° per second.
With its 4K (2160p) video quality, this camera beats every PTZ camera recording at full HD. Its 20x zoom is astonishing — you can focus on subjects hundreds of feet away without losing quality and details.
Pros
- It comes with detailed instructions to allow users to set up the camera quickly. If you run into a problem while using the camera, the company offers fantastic support.
- You can let this PTZ camera broadcast videos to up to four locations simultaneously.
- The company offers a 5-year warranty for this device, which will help you if you run into issues.
Cons
- Streaming its 4K video content will require an excellent internet connection.
- The camera does not work wirelessly, and the connection is only through Ethernet or USB.
- It is a bit heavy.
This product is often purchased with
PTZ Camera Universal Mounting Bracket
PTZOptics HuddleCam Serial Controller Joystick 3rd Generation
SABRENT USB 2.0 to Serial (9-Pin) DB-9 RS-232 Converter Cable
PowerBear 4K HDMI Cable
The Honey Optics 12x 4K is also a great option if you are looking for a 4K recording camera without caring about the maximum zoom power on the market. There's not much difference between this camera and its 20x sibling, safe for its 12x optical zoom lens.
Notwithstanding its relatively lower zoom, the Honey Optics 12x is still a fantastic 4K PTZ camera for live streaming church programs, conferences, and events. I would recommend going for this device if you want a performance similar to the Honey Optics 20x 4K model without spending as much.
Pros
- The pan, tilt, and zoom work excellently over a local network and an IP remote.
- The camera’s 2D and 3D noise reduction are impressive, especially as you approach maximum zoom.
- You don't need a standalone power cable; you can power and transmit data using a CAT5/CAT6 cord, like NDI cameras.
Cons
- You will have to spend extra on an external mic.
- Mounting the camera on irregular surfaces is a bit tricky.
This product is often purchased with
PTZOptics HuddleCam Serial Controller Joystick 3rd Generation
PTZ Camera Universal Mounting Bracket
Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini Pro HDMI Live Stream Switcher
Cable Matters Snagless Cat6 Ethernet Cable
Logitech offers affordable cameras for those seeking consistently decent shots. Though Logitech PTZ Pro 2 isn’t a high-quality 4K PTZ camera for live streaming, at 1080p, its videos are sufficient for most scenarios. Even in dimly-lit rooms, you can get good videos for live streaming.
You can use the camera to live stream without worrying about your audience’s viewing experience. And it has digital image stabilization to ensure that your feed doesn’t appear jumpy if you ever need to move the camera around while recording. However, I’m not a fan of its 30FPS frame rate, especially as 60FPS has become the standard.
This PTZ camera for broadcast connects using USB, like most gadgets. While the Logitech PTZ Pro 2’s optical zoom does a good job, its wide field of view deserves all the hype.
If you are worried about unwittingly cropping people out of shots, you can rest assured that this device won’t give you that issue. Considering how much you can get from this camera for the price, it is the best budget PTZ camera for live streaming.
Pros
- The lens focuses on subjects quickly.
- The remote controller has three presets, which are handy for quick operations.
- Setting up the camera is easy, and I had mine up and running in 5 minutes.
Cons
- The panning motion freezes up sometimes, which is annoying.
- You will notice detail loss upon zooming in on a subject or area.
- The camera does not have an automated voice tracker.
This product is often purchased with
MXL Mics MXLAC404
PTZ Camera Mounting Bracket
Amazon Basics High-Speed HDMI Cable
USB Extension Cable
The PTZOptics 30X-SDI is a unique IP PTZ camera for live streaming because it takes zooming to another level — the 30x level. You can zoom in on subjects over 300 feet away, which is helpful when recording videos in open fields.
The device has local storage for saving and retrieving pictures and videos. And if you want to record sound with your live stream, you can connect a mic via the 3.5 mm audio jack.
The lens is a Sony hardware with a wide 60.7° field of view. It also has a 2.28° telephoto lens, ensuring that it delivers some of the widest-angle shots of cameras in its class. Add that premium hardware to its excellent low light shots and 60FPS frame rate, and you have a device that narrowly misses out on being the most feature-packed PTZ camera.
You can control the 30X-SDI PTZ camera for live stream sessions with an IOS or Android device. Its compatibility with popular video production tools and simultaneous streaming over the RJ45 LAN port makes this PTZ broadcast camera a fan favorite. But it only leaves a little to be desired in its video resolution, as it records 1080p videos, not 4K.
Pros
- Zooming does not affect the camera's picture quality.
- The plug-and-play design makes connectivity fast.
- Direct streaming to any CDN is easy.
Cons
- If you operate two cameras with one remote, the performance could drop when they are in proximity.
- The camera struggles to focus sometimes.
- To turn off the camera, you must be at the front of the camera; you cannot put it off from the side.
Buyer’s Guide
Are PTZ Cameras Good for Live Streaming?
Due to the excellent zooming capacities of PTZ cameras, their high frame rates, connection to popular and private streams, and video encoding technologies, they are ideal for live streaming. Their remote pan, tilt, and zoom functions are perfect for people with a project or event to stream and are looking for a way to do so without hiring an entire media team. But before buying any product believing it is the best PTZ camera for broadcast, check the features listed here.
