If you’re new to the surveillance camera domain, PTZ stands for pan, tilt & zoom and a single PTZ camera can cover large areas effortlessly. These cameras can zoom in up to 50x and help you catch even the farthest objects with superior picture clarity. Users can control these cameras remotely with a joystick, software, a gamepad, an app, and more. These cameras are not only less expensive, but they are also highly handy for individuals who want to broadcast videos online. The ultra-high-quality video recordings are great for web-conferencing, live lectures, and church sessions as well.
If you’re looking for cheap PTZ cameras, the PTZOptics-20X-SDI GEN-2 can be a good option for you. With this camera, you can record and stream videos of up to 1920x1080 resolution and benefit from their 10 IR/255 RS232 presets. The 20x optical zoom in this camera allows you to zoom into objects that are far away with superior clarity even in low-light settings. However, I discovered that it causes highly bright regions to burn in the final picture. The product weighs 3.1 pounds and the dimensions are 9.2 x 9.3 x 11.4 inches which is super convenient to use and mount according to me.
It can be remotely operated in basically any operating system with web-based software but the live video does not show up on most popular browsers. You will need to install VLC, IE, or JPEG to watch what you’re streaming. Initially, many users may face difficulty getting the camera up and running for streaming purposes, but their customer support is swift and assures that you will be able to perform efficiently in the future.
Recommended controller: PTZOptics SuperJoy
Overall rating: 9/10
Honey Optics was launched with the idea of providing an affordable pan tilt zoom camera to organizations that didn’t want to spend a lot on surveillance and streaming cameras. However, affordability does not mean that this company manufactures anything of low quality. Featured with superior-quality Sony 4.42 – 132.6mm, f/1.8-2.8 lens and 20x optical zoom, this camera can stream crystal-clear videos of up to 4K quality. The Honey Optics camera's usage of PoE, or the power of Ethernet, is its best feature. It means that you don’t need to use hundreds of power cables to use the camera; you just need one cable that will do it all! Its dimensions are 11.65 x 9.8 x 9.6 inches precisely.
Streaming in the same HD quality may be difficult if you lose high-speed internet or have limited bandwidth. However, all the Honey Optics cameras come with an NDI or Network Device Interface license by Newtek that will help one seamlessly transmit 4K HD video across your network. In my opinion, this is an extremely useful feature. You can easily stream simultaneously on HDMI, 3G-SDI, LAN, and USB 3.0 with this camera.
Recommended controller: FoMaKo Conference Camera PTZ Controller
Overall rating: 10/10
The Honey Optics 12x 4K Camera is yet another great option to choose from if you wish to record in smaller areas. This comes with 12x optical zoom as opposed to 20x but functions just as effortlessly. It allows you to stream with superior 4K or 2160p at 60 FPS even at a low latency across your network! With the 2D and 3D noise reduction features, you can go live with high-quality pictures. Above all, you can charge this camera while recording with only one wire thanks to the power of ethernet. You can definitely consider this as one of the most high-quality PTZ HD cameras on the market that you can buy.
Recommended controller: FoMaKo Conference Camera PTZ Controller
Overall rating: 10/10
PTZOptics cameras have dominated the market because to its high definition output quality and extensive feature set. Talking about the dimensions first, the product measures 5.6 x 6.7 x 6.5 inches. The image quality goes up to 1920x1080 pixels and can be used to stream your web conference, online videos, and church live to your audience. This camera’s 30x optical zoom will allow you to focus on objects more than 60 feet away and target a single one efficiently as well. Hence, I would suggest you buy this camera only if you want to install it in larger areas. The weight of 5.1 pounds is slightly higher as compared to several other cameras that you can purchase. You can use the product easily with a USB plug and immediately start streaming. The camera can also save up to 10 streaming settings and you can easily switch between the settings whenever needed remotely and go live.
Recommended controller: PTZOptics SuperJoy
Overall rating: 9/10
The Avkans AV-CM20-NDI is one of numerous PTZ camera systems now on the market that have been licensed by NDI. This means that when you buy this camera, you receive a simplified installation and setup for your live streams. You can easily power the camera, stream the audio as well as video and control it all through a single ethernet cable (Cat5/6). Most of the PTZ cameras need additional software like OBS before streaming live but with this camera, you can easily stream directly on Youtube or Facebook. The 20x optical zoom can autofocus on objects that are even 100 feet away and it does not lose clarity. This camera’s dimensions are 6 x 5.8 x 7 inches and it weighs 4.4 pounds. In terms of resolution, it can go up to 1920 x 1080p HD resolutions with a frame rate of 60 frames per second. The supported frame rates are 1080p59.94/29.97, 1080i59.94, 720p59.94.
Recommended controller: PTZOptics Second Generation IP Joystick Keyboard
Overall rating: 9/10
Zowietek may not be a well-known brand in the market, but with the high quality of PTZs it produces, it will become one. Talking about this specific model, it stands out because of its low price point. If you don’t wish to spend much on a camera, this could be a good choice. The PTZ camera system comes with a 20x optical zoom that is well suited for your place of worship, web conference, medical streams, and online class as well. Its dimensions are 5.91 x 5.91 x 6.59 inches and it weighs just 3.08 pounds. When you wish to record or stream videos through this, the image quality goes up to 1920 x 1080p with up to 60 frames per second. One of its key features is the advanced ISp processing algorithms that help you stream vivid, high-resolution images with a strong sense of depth and amazing color rendition.
Recommended controller: HuddleCamHD HC-JOY-G2
Overall rating: 8/10