Now the workplace is transformed permanently which highly encourages collaboration between the workers and customers, increasing productivity in the office space whether it is hybrid or remote workspaces. Other than this, now 4k PTZ cameras for live streaming and uses of cameras with unique features are starting to increase. It makes the need to choose the camera which fits the room, table or position and also consider the number of people in the meeting spaces. It is always a complex decision when it comes to choosing the right professional camera where there are chances of shopping for low-quality or a camera which is not suitable. There are chances when the meeting room and participants are not completely included in the frame, speakers may not be identifiable, all these are common issues. You can overcome these issues with the option of choosing the right professional camera. Let’s begin with who needs such a camera.
Who prefers professional cameras?
Professional conference cameras are usually preferred for capturing high-quality images either for video conference or publication purposes. If you want to have better image quality, then make use of a professional camera which is better than the built-in webcam or any low- cost camera. It can advance image processing that involves auto-focus, noise reduction and backlight compensation for better colour representation in low-light conditions. This has flexibility where professional PTZ cameras offer flexibility, using remote control to provide a wide-angle view and focus on participants.
Shopping video conference camera? Here are the top considerations.
- Requirements: When it comes to choosing the video conference equipment, you need to clarify the conference needs. There are various considerations from who will be present in the meeting, how long and how big the room is, video quality, camera resolution, lens type and other operations including autofocus, optical image stabilization etc.
- Resolution: Measuring the camera clarity is the second necessary in the checklist. This includes meeting needs, and appropriate resolution to ensure the video quality 1080p or higher with the better quality, which is suitable if you’re looking for a conference camera for large conference rooms. In the case of small conference rooms, you can prefer the definition resolutions such as 720p which saves bandwidth and storage space.
- Video conference solution: When you’re choosing a meeting room, you need to consider the video interface like HDMI input or an HD-SDI output. In case a video conference system is a cloud product such as Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, or Zoom then you need to ensure that the camera has USB capability for your convenience.
- Which camera type do you opt for? You need to take a closer look while choosing the lenses that include size, layout of the room, number and location of participants. It is advisable to prefer a wide-angle view camera for large conference rooms and telephoto lenses for small conference rooms which present distant images. PTZ cameras are the best option if the remote participants need to view the meeting room. Since it can pan across 360 degrees also tilts up/down and zooms in/out. Usually, a fixed lens camera is not suitable for the digital zoom which has poor quality in the large meeting room and a 4K lens camera is a preferable option for the small meeting room.
- Microphones: If the conference room size is small or mid-size, then you don’t need microphones. If you need a portable, fully-functional video then prefer omni-directional mics which pick up sound where you don’t find echo interruptions. Thus, it is recommended if you want to select the camera for large conference meeting rooms, then echo-canceling microphones are convenient to shop and use.
- Conference camera’s function: Resolution and lens type are a few other features which play a great part in improving the camera performance. They are auto-focus, optical image stabilization, noise suppression and PTZ control. These features highlight the ability to focus to ensure quality, keep the picture stable, enhance the speech clarity and reduce the surrounding noise, easy to adjust the camera angle and ease meetings.
- Mobility and compatibility: In case you have multiple conference rooms and interactive displays, then you need to look for opportunities like needing to be permanently mounted or able to easily transfer. It is easy to connect the interactive displays with the video conference cameras when you choose to buy from the same brand. The second benefit is that it eliminates the risks of compatibility problems like firmware issues or lengthy installation processes which saves you from lots of trouble.
- Choice to buy mounting kits: There are various options included like ceiling mount, wall mount, tripod and table-top mount. However, you need to decide on installing the camera with the angled surface with the appropriate kits according to the meeting space, ceiling fans, and speakers in the room. The most popular is the wall mount which you can generally install higher on walls if no furniture blocks the participant’s view in conference rooms. Though video conference systems don’t allow 360-degree view angles, you can consider either connecting it to the desktop or going for a tripod.
- Brand and quality: You can choose the products or 4K video conference cameras from well-known brands. However, it is based on the requirements of the business where it can ensure the camera quality is reliable, stable performance and meets the requirements for the long-term.
- Price and cost performance: The basic concern when picking the conference camera within your budget and not just for the high-end products. Look at the products that are suitable for your business needs and economic strength.
Conclusion: When choosing a suitable conference camera, you need to prepare a certain checklist and factors mentioned above which make your business investment worthwhile and find the best camera that suits the conference rooms. It is quite complex to choose the best camera among the various brands and one needs to analyze the factors, features and affordability in today’s market. Understand your need for a professional conference camera and surf the cameras of all brands which suit your conference rooms.