I did the same a year ago, as we started with a USB webcam. Knowing in-person would resume eventually, and streaming would continue, I looked at camera options. For future-looking, I decided on NDI PTZ cameras. HDMI has its own issues, and requires a capture card. SDI is ancient and less flexible wiring. USB distance limitations preclude using same technology if/when you go to multi-camera in Sanctuary. And I'm a IT Pro, so Power-over-Ethernet, routing, ACLs, terminating my own Ethernet cables (which I've done in the CAT5 days, but no more), etc don't intimidate me. And I know why to avoid using WiFi for stability/reliability/consistency (yes, I know how to do so over WiFi, and have a portable camera setup for outdoor activity (ex. Palm Sunday procession around property along street) but also means I know why to avoid WiFi otherwise)
Our back of Sanctuary (choir loft with pipe organ) is about 50ft from the alter, so I needed a 20X optical zoom camera (PTZOptics has a nice calculator to determine needed zoom range for a given distance and framing target .. ie full body vs upper body shot). Our Sanctuary is wider than deep, so Pulpit and lectern are approx 25ft away from centerline, so a fixed view camera would NOT work (but a single PTZ would).
I looked at Security Cameras (due to price).. but terrible movement motors, low image quality, often only 15fps, etc meant I quickly dismissed them. If it was that or nothing, I'd reconsider... depends on budget and viewer expectations
So a 20X NDI PTZ camera it was for us (I'm I've been pleased with my choice)
- During my research, PTZOptics had some supply issues, and for the same price I could get a Panasonic AW-HN38 which had the added benefit of much better motion control (ex diagonal movement). Equivalent Sony PTZ cameras are significantly more expensive, and local VARs could not explain any benefit/value for paying more for the Sony's in our environment. So Panasonic it was. A nice extra was Panasonic's Virtual USB driver that collects the NDI feed from the camera and makes it appear as a local USB connected device (avoiding NDI plugin, etc)
- Then there is your stream resolution to consider. Streaming in 4K is VERY rare, and to keep viewership engagement (and where are users are at the time) and comments consolidated we chose a streaming platform that is 720p. Hopefully before long, we'll upgrade to 1080p. I do NOT expect 4K streaming in next couple of years, so... no need for price premium of a 4K PTZ camera today (beauty of NDI is that if we do upgrade at some point, current camera can simply be moved to create alternate angle view)
Now, I've noticed the recent PTZOptics knock-off cameras for 1/2 price. And we could use a 2nd NDI camera, so it is tempting
HOWEVER, the ones I've looked at so far lack a corporate presence, decent English translated interfaces, reported buggy implementations, etc. They have all the appearance of early fly-by-night operations, so I wouldn't count on firmware updates over the life of the device (if beyond a year) [which may or may not be an issue]. I've seen on large presence vendor on Amazon disappear already. The Internet reviews/comparisons of these camera I've seen only cover the basics and not
- noise level and quality of motor movement
- rely on using other vendor (usually pointing to PTZOptics themselves) for camera control s/w like OBS plug-in or joystick controller
- low-light (common in House of Worship) image quality
so I've reached out directly to one vendor (only has a gmail address??) and will see about getting a test unit.. but no idea when that will be. For the time being I'm VERY cautious about the knock-off PTZ cameras. Hopefully it will lead to a shake-up in market pricing and Tier 1 vendors will come down in price... we'll see
