When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
Providing Pan/Tilt/Zoom for conferencing, streaming video, and broadcasting, these are the best PTZ cameras Network Ptz Camera
The best PTZ camera will help boost the quality of your streaming, web conferencing, or video production. We have tried cameras from the pinnacle of broadcast standards to more accessible (and portable) options, and this guide will help you choose the best Pan/Tilt/Zoom camera for your needs, at the best possible price.
PTZ cameras come with motorized stands which allow for remote control, AI automatic operation, or both. Their popularity has boomed in recent years, and that's no surprise. Almost any scenario where a webcam can be useful, including Zoom calls with presentations and streaming content on social media, can benefit from a camera that can follow you – especially if you like to use the whole space.
Alongside the growth of small studio streaming, many bigger venues, from churches to board rooms have also seen the benefits to be had of reaching a bigger audience – and doing so well. This list has PTZ options for every need (save for our best security cameras list, which is separate). Mounting options are one important thing to consider. Resolution is another. Connectivity is critical, too: you'll want to know what quality video signals you can get out via what sockets, and whether it’s possible to attach a microphone for pro-quality sound. This is especially important if you’re using the PTZ camera to create a live stream over IP.
Below, we've listed the best PTZ cameras available today, for a range of uses. We've included the facts and figures you'll need to choose between them, plus links to the best prices, updated in real-time.
Why you can trust Digital Camera World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out how we test.
The AW-UE50 is an excellent camera well-suited to the needs of the modern broadcaster thanks to the inclusion of IP, USB-C, and SDI video output. With a subtle dome-like design, it’s compact, manages 24x optical zoom, and can even be operated via a single (PoE+) cable.
The wide-angle field of view (74.1˚ horizontal at the wide end) means smaller venues aren’t an issue, and there's a variety of control systems. Its near-silent motor system genuinely impresses with its subtlety. And the dark UI makes operating the camera from the web interface without distraction practical.
NOTE: If this model is too expensive for you, its similar sibling, the AW-UE40, lacks only a 3G-SDI connector so might make a cheaper alternative.
Read our full Panasonic AW-UE50 PTZ review for more details
The SRG-300H is an excellent camera with one of Sony’s EXMOR sensors, operable in light down to 1.4 LUX (f/1.6). This offers a wide dynamic range and, paired with Sony’s XDNR digital noise reduction and 30x optical zoom, produces great streaming-friendly video.
Despite the generous optical zoom, Sony’s mechanism maintains autofocus as you zoom, resulting in much more professional-looking footage than many PTZ systems which need to hunt again after zooming. Indeed a broadcaster-friendly version with lockable SDI connectors is available (the Sony SRG-300S).
Ceiling, desktop, or tripod mount are no problem, and some may find the physical switch for image mirroring handy. There are some thoughtful aspects to the design, too, which sit more discretely in a corporate environment (or reality TV set) than some, and the truly style conscious can opt for black or white.
Overall, this is a top-notch system that doesn’t disgrace a brand much loved by broadcasters. And this tells in both build quality and operation (even the IR remote feels robust).
If you’re looking for an overpowered webcam that can lock its framing on you, even if you need to move around a little, then you’ve found it; the Obsbot Tiny 4K. This is the third in the generation of webcams from Obsbot – a company founded on AI tracking cameras including the Tail. Last time the big new feature was 4K, which this still offers, but the latest upgrade is a larger dual-ISO sensor that produces excellent image quality.
Obsbot exists thanks to the enthusiasm of Indiegogo backers and they have continued to develop a very effective AI system. Operation is as simple as plug and play and the 4K 30fps output beat most webcams. Streamers will in essence get a camera operator they can direct, even using voice commands, ideally suited for live events via OBS or Twitch.
The HDR and other qualities can also be seen as a benefit for home workers with inconsistent lighting. Support of scaleable H.264 encoding keeps quality good, while tracking is engaged and disengaged by hand gestures or voice control. An LED lets you know the AI understood it, which quickly becomes natural to use. Even more instinctive is the privacy mode; just grab the camera and point the lens down! We also appreciate the included hard case so you can use it wherever you go.
See our full review of the Obsbot Tiny 2 (or the predecessor the Obsbot Tiny 4K review )
If ever proof were needed that broadcasting tech is within the reach of all, this is it. The camera supports NDI, the low-latency video over IP system, and indeed adds to it with NewTek's own NDI|HX protocol which can even transmit quality video over wi-fi. We also appreciated the tidiness that functioning PoE offers.
NDI components can all be downloaded for free for platforms like OBS, and when we tested the camera NewTek's software worked just fine in Chrome on Mac and PC (not on Safari, however). With a bit more time it's also possible to control the camera with a PlayStation controller, at least if you're using a Windows system, though there is a remote in the box too!
Sure, UHD (4K) adds a bit to the price compared to the, but the low-light quality the large (1/1.8-inch) Sony sensor achieves and the very long zoom range makes this a sensible choice. Studios will appreciate that all the desirable connectivity, as well as tally lights, are there too.
• Read our full review of the NewTek PTZ3 UHD
If you want a camera with a full range of connectivity and remote control options, including iOS and Android apps, the PTZ Optics SDI series (also available with 20x and 30x lenses) is the ideal choice.
These cameras have all the sockets you could want, and these work simultaneously. That means you can send HDMI to a nearby monitor for your talent while using 3G SDI or LAN streaming. You can also set the resolution and frame rate with a physical switch as you set up your broadcast.
The firm, whose name gives away its devotion to PTZ tech, is also known for its devotion to creative software development. So along with their Mac/PC app for camera control, they have a dedicated OBS plugin and make their system open source to help users create their ideal system. This, in turn, yields useful features that traditional broadcast brands might not have thought of, such as compatibility with Xbox controllers in lieu of expensive broadcast joysticks.
Pan Camera If you don’t choose one of the near limitless controller connections, there is an IR remote in the box which has a very thorough range of options – including slow and fast zoom rockers, auto and manual focus, camera select, and the keypad you need to choose one of the 255 preset positions.