Honey Optics 12x: Wide-Angle Video Recording and Powerful Zooming
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If you’ve covered any religious program or gathering, you know how stressful manning cameras and following the action can be. But you can take that challenge head-on with a powerful PTZ camera like the Honey Optics 12x. I'll go over everything you need to know about this camera from the dependable Honey Optics brand. I will share my experience with its 4K video quality, what to expect from the 12x zoom, the different connection types, and how to set your unit up after purchase.
Table of contents
Video
The Sony CMOS lens is used in the Honey Optics 12x - 4k live stream PTZ camera. This sensor has 8.51 megapixels and a 71° FOV, which means it can capture images within 71 degrees from a stationary position. This impressive capability is down to the camera’s 4.4 mm – 52.8 mm focal length, which suits most use cases.
The camera pans at different speeds, between 1.7° and 100° per second, suitable for fast-moving subjects and programs where the audience and speakers are sitting. Without panning the camera, I successfully captured people in a tiny hall. But if you will be shooting outdoors or in bigger rooms, the +/- 170° pan and 120° tilt range will get everyone into focus.
The 12x zoom is also outstanding. You may need to catch items or banners in the rear of the room without depending on mobile videographers. The camera can zoom in on distant objects without sacrificing quality or developing grain in those scenarios.
This camera stood true to its 4K promise, which impressed me. After recording, I played back the video footage at 3840 x 2160 resolution on a 4K monitor, and it was sharp. I didn't notice any jittery movements due to the Honey Optics 12x shooting 60 frames per second. But 4K monitors are expensive, and if you don’t need the finest video quality, you can record in full HD and save disk space. While this unit can also shoot 720p videos, I don’t recommend you go that low, especially for professional video production.
Connection
Cameras like the Honey Optics 12x send out video signals through SDI, NDI, or HDMI connections. These solutions ensure that you do not have to purchase new cables or devices owing to compatibility difficulties. There are also USB-C and LAN ports and an option for Ethernet connection. The camera records live streams just fine, and I was impressed by how little the video-audio latency was, thanks to the Honey PTZ Optics 12x-NDI protocol.
Installation
You will see a remote controller, composite output, a power brick, and the camera unit out of the box. If you don’t want to use the power brick, you can use PoE. Afterward, set your device up for first-time use.
- Link the camera and your computer to a network.
- Visit Honey Optics’ site and install a tool called UPGRADE.
- Locate your camera using the UPGRADE software.
- Set an IP address to your DHCP server with the MAC address.
- Reset the address and login to the new IP address on your computer using admin as username and password.
- Connect your HDMI cable and set your preferred recording resolution.
Conclusion
The Honey Optics 12x PTZ camera is top-quality hardware. Its wide-angle shots, UHD quality, and lossless zoom make it ideal for recording church programs and other events. If you wish to stream to a live audience, the camera will ensure no delays. And since it doesn’t suffer from the fish-eye effect when taking wide-angle shots, I recommend this mode; for people looking for a well-rounded PTZ camera.
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