You’ve probably seen PTZ cameras in the background of your favorite sports broadcasts and reality shows, but there’s a chance you might not know exactly what they are or why they’re used. Think of pan-tilt-zoom cameras, commonly known as PTZ cameras, as a cross between a security camera and a camcorder. Like security cameras, they can be accessed and controlled from a computer or smartphone either on-site or in an entirely different location. The sensors inside a PTZ are much closer to ones you see in a camcorder though, producing sharper, more colorful and lifelike imagery than the sterile video out of a security camera. PTZ cameras come in all shapes and sizes, with some costing hundreds of dollars and some costing hundreds of thousands. How did they come to take over so much of television and video production? There are a few core reasons, corresponding to their greatest benefits.
While traditional security cameras were growing in use and advancing in features throughout the twentieth century, motion-control rigs were also developing in the cinema world. These rigs came about when crews put 35mm film cameras onto robotic arms that could be programmed with repeatable movements. This was a huge boon for matte work and special effects on films like the original Star Wars in 1977. Though they’re extremely complex, expensive, and breakable, these robotic motion control rigs are still used throughout the movie and TV industry today in productions that need accurate, replicable camera movements and the best of the best in visual fidelity. It’s a sharp contrast to security camera video quality, which has remained utilitarian above all, valuing clarity, sharpness, and field of view over anything stylistic or interpretive. Still, by the end of the century, many security cameras could pan, tilt, and zoom via remote commands, with an increasingly small form factor that was a lot easier to manage than the bulky motion control rigs seen on film sets.
When these two worlds collided is up for debate, but many point to Panasonic’s 1999 release of the AW-PH300, a pan tilt head that could be operated remotely and integrated with the brand’s AW-E600 box camera. It took almost another decade for these two pieces to competently merge, as 2008 marked the release of the Panasonic AW-HE100, a fully realized PTZ camera capable of IP streaming and serial control, the two key pieces of the puzzle. The AW-HE100 was quickly deployed on the CBS reality show Big Brother, and grew in use from there. The sensors in early PTZ models were much smaller than they are today, and the controls were more basic, but the television industry rapidly realized the benefits of these new cameras. Static camera angles had long been used for studio and sports broadcasting, but by replacing these with PTZs, remote operators could reframe and make focus and exposure adjustments on the fly from a central control room.
With increased use came increased innovation, and soon PTZ cameras became more compact, less expensive, and widely utilized in a variety of performance venues. The 2020 lockdown sent PTZ use skyrocketing, with many offices, government institutions, and houses of worship using them to stream and video conference. This popularity growth came alongside exciting new features like subject tracking, 4K resolution, and NDI|HX functionality. Subject tracking has proven especially popular, continuing to evolve each year. PTZ hardware has also leveled up, with larger sensors, faster movement speeds, and increased durability, especially for outdoor-use models. The larger sensors have upped the video quality of high-end PTZs to something that can easily be cut alongside standard production cameras. PTZ controllers have advanced too, with greater functionality, larger displays, and more reliable network-based communication options. PTZs have now hit the sweet spot of price and feature sets, with budget-friendly options still capable of great results, and premium options competing against high-end broadcast cameras.
So, what are some environments that could most benefit from PTZ use? The classics will always be production studios, sports, concerts, and houses of worship. You can place PTZ in difficult to reach positions where no operator could fit and have one person control multiple cameras, then intercut these cameras alongside other angles with a video switcher. You can then stream out the final product live and recording it for posterity or future editing. New environments where PTZ are finding their footing include classrooms and lecture halls to aid in online learning, hospital operation rooms to document procedures without getting in the way, and office meeting rooms that want more dynamic video calls. Cooking-based content creators are also putting PTZ cameras in their kitchen to capture unique angles and movement. If you want to add extra angles to a shoot but don’t have a ton of space or camera operators, give PTZs a try, they might just be the solution you’re looking for.
How do you use PTZ cameras? Do you find they have any unique advantages or disadvantages we forgot to mention? Let us know in the comments section. And if you have questions about PTZ cameras, feel free to give us a call, start a chat, or come visit us at the NYC SuperStore.
