The Increased Role of PTZs
By Adam Noyes
PTZ Cameras have long been an integral part to the streaming landscape, with options available from PTZOptics, BirdDog, Panasonic, NewTek and more.
The ability for mechanical panning, tilting and zooming gives live streaming teams tremendous flexibility without adding camera operators, or additional resources. This means that they also make for great capabilities in a world where capacities have been lowered, and more and more workflows are taking place remote.
For those streaming to Zoom, using a PTZ camera with your webcam can also be a great idea, as it adds for more motion and movement and more that can be shown to your participants.
Check out some highlights from this article from AVNetwork.com to learn more.
When setting up rooms or venues for video, integrators want to avoid having to budget for a full-time camera operator if at all possible. That’s one of the reasons remote video capabilities are so attractive.
With pandemic safety protocols forcing many industries to turn to remote video options, pan/tilt/zoom (PTZ) cameras may offer an ideal solution for those looking for better video quality than your everyday webcam. From conference rooms to theaters, these little dome-like cameras can make it look like you have a full production crew on call.
When it comes to engaging a remote audience, production value matters. “Video production expertise, however, is in short supply,” said Paul Richards, director of business development at PTZOptics. “The pandemic has forced many organizations to massively scale live streaming or virtual event operations, or start from scratch, without increasing staff. Adopting and integrating new technology, along with the accompanying staff upskilling required, can be a daunting prospect.”
PTZ at Work and School
PTZ cameras are ideal for distance learning, and for use within a network of conference and meeting rooms. With the pandemic forcing many companies and schools to turn to live streaming for meetings, events, and classes to keep attendees safe, PTZ cameras offer a cost-effective and efficient way for them to achieve that workflow. PTZ cameras offer organizations of any size the ability to live stream events through the use of pre-programmed shots and presets to capture video, alleviating the need to hire an on-site video technician. Another benefit: PTZ cameras’ wide-angle lenses allow users to capture the entirety of a large room all at once.
“Equipping classrooms and meeting spaces with advanced automated camera solutions today will enable flexible work and learning environments into the future. Corporations and schools that adopt this technology will be the ones to attract students and workers,” said Rony Sebok, vice president of technology at 1 Beyond.
Eddy Boyette, eastern zone manager at Lumens Integration, agreed. “In both the corporate and education sectors, PTZ camera orders have increased dramatically. The key emphasis when selecting our products is the superior image quality and the extremely low latency,” he said. “Education institutions are working on hybrid classrooms and students need to be able to see the material clearly when learning from home. Businesses are hosting virtual events, and high-resolution IP cameras allow the best video experience for the viewers. It’s amazing to see where we first started and know that our cameras are contributing a visual experience for everyone.”