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).
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.
Adam Juniper
Adam has been obsessed with looking at cameras and gadgets for his whole life, and has developed a deep knowledge of special-purpose cameras, including PTZ cameras, webcams and action cams. (He's also our drone expert, and has written several bestselling books including The Drone Pilot's Handbook).
The multitude of connection sockets here can output simultaneously, so you can monitor your footage via HDMI and stream via SDI. Read more below…
Best PTZ cameras in 2024
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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 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 has continued to develop a very effective AI system. Operation is as simple as plug and play and the 4K 30fps output beats 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 your instruction, 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.
With a dedicated, and very friendly, phone app, the Start is controlled via a Wi-Fi network, or your phone’s hotspot, designed for live streaming on the go. It’s not technically a PTZ camera, but the experience is somewhat like one. It is a follow-up to the 2018 Mevo Plus, meaning that Mevo (now a sub-brand of Logitech) has had some time to listen to customer feedback. The result is a really polished product.
In terms of hardware, the tiny camera shoots either at the full 84˚ width or cropping in and tracks your face. At the same time, it records to its MicroSD card, so you’ve got a backup to edit with. You can take sound via your phone, a 3.5mm mic, or the in-built three-microphone array, which uses Fraunhofer upHear Spatial Processing.
The app is not only easy to use and connect to standard streaming platforms (Facebook, YouTube and RTMP), but offers extensive picture adjustments – either preset or manual. A paid subscription will allow you to stream to multiple platforms at once, and add live graphics.
If you’re looking to take your streaming channels on the road, this device gives you the power to broadcast anywhere, wirelessly, with impressive sound quality. You can keep going for up to six hours on a single charge, too.
Perfect for a conference room of about 20 people, or perhaps a classroom, the Logitech PTZ Pro 2 Video Conference camera plugs into your computer’s USB (Mac or Windows) via the generous 10-foot (3m) cable, and provides a more flexible and (probably) better-quality alternative than the system camera you’re used to.
A simple remote control is included in the box, and the camera can be set with presets to move between (something it does more smoothly than Logitech’s original PTZ Pro, although itcould still be better). Mac or PC users can also control PTZ and image settings via a downloadable app, and this gives the option of controlling from near or far.
It’s worth noting that Logitech does have a pricier option, the 4K Rally, which it would likely prefer you to buy (it’s near twice the price), but the PTZ Pro 2 is certified for Skype, Zoom and many other popular systems. Logitech’s devotion to certification is greatly appreciated – although, of course, it stills works where any USB webcam will. With a Kensington lock fitting, this is also a good choice in less-than-secure locations.
The best PTZ camera for large rooms like theaters or churches
Specifications
Resolution: 1080P
Zoom/optical: 30x
Frame rate: 59.94@ 1080p
Field of view: 65(wide) degrees
Size: 164 x 163 x 157 mm
Connectivity: HDMI, Ethernet, RS232 pass, RS422
Weight: 1400g
Reasons to buy
+
Long throw zoom
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Elegant design
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Digital (VISCA) and analog remote systems
Reasons to avoid
-
SDI output an optional extra (300SE)
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 discreetly in a corporate environment (or reality TV set) than some. The truly style-conscious can choose between black and white designs.
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).
Zoom/digital: 24x optical, 28x digital in 4K, or 36x in 1080P
Frame rate: 25/30fps at 4K
Field of view: 74.1˚
Size: 92 x 166 x 160mm
Connectivity: USB, HDMI, Ethernet, RS-422, SDI-3G
Weight: 1.88kg
Reasons to buy
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Built-in web browser control system
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Can be used as a webcam
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Widest lens on a PTZ camera
Reasons to avoid
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Most Panasonic software not Mac-friendly
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IP Streaming is 1080P maximum
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 an unobtrusive domed 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 fall within its remit, and there's a variety of control systems available. Its near-silent motor system genuinely impresses with its subtlety.
If this model is too expensive for you, the cheaper AW-UE40 is nearly identical, missing only the UE50’s 3G-SDI connector.
Connectivity: HDMI, BNC, Ethernet, RS232 pass, RS422, Canon XC, NDI
Weight: 2400g
Reasons to buy
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Hybrid AF
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PoE LAN
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Smaller format for easier install
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4K UHD recording
Reasons to avoid
-
Canon RCI controller is Canon-only
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3G SDI not suited to 4K broadcast
Canon’s range of PTZ cameras all offer excellent autofocus (the N500 has dual-pixel focus and face tracking). This smaller version assists its hybrid AF with a distance sensor beneath the lens, for higher reliability than contrast AF. Given how few operators seem to worry about focus, this is a crucial feature.
Unlike its bigger brothers with one-inch sensors, the N500 and the new N700, the N300 is built around a 1/2.3-inch CMOS with stabilized 20x optical zoom. Digital can take that to 30x safely (or to 300x for a blocky mess). The compact size might cost, but the 3G-SDI means live 1080P can be streamed, or 4K recorded at up to 30fps. We also like that NDI output is included in the package – not a license upgrade.
The FR7 takes high-end PTZ cameras into a new space by supporting interchangeable lenses. It is a genuine game-changer for PTZ, sitting in a cinema range (and sharing a lot of spec with the Sony FX6). It even features standard 15mm rods for mountable accessories. The 10.3MP back-illuminated 35mm Exmor R sensor has ISO up to 409600, 627 phase-detection focus points, and a built-in variable ND filter.
If you want to zoom, you’ll probably want Sony’s FE PZ 28-135mm f/4 G OSS (it has powered zoom). Sony takes pride in its web/tablet app, offering extensive control including programmed operation.
Output fully supports 4K thanks to a 12G SDI connection, but there are also LAN, HDMI, and dual MicroSD / CFexpress type A cards, just as there are in the Sony FX6 camcorder.
If ever proof were needed that broadcasting tech is within the reach of all, this is it. The PTZ3 UHD supports NDI, the low-latency video over IP system created by NewTek, and indeed adds to it with Vizrt’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 be downloaded for free for platforms like OBS. When we tested the camera, Vizrt’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 position the camera with a PlayStation controller, at least if you're using a Windows system, although there is a remote in the box too!
Sure, UHD (4K) adds a chunk to the price compared with the non-UHD PTZ3, but the low-light quality the large (1/1.8-inch) Sony sensor achieves and the very long zoom range make this a sensible choice. Studios will appreciate that all the desirable connectivity, as well as tally lights, are there too.
The PTZ3 UHD was previously marketed under Vizrt’s NewTek sub-brand, which Vizrt is phasing out. You may see this camera branded as either Vizrt or NewTek, but they are the same device.
The best PTZ camera for connectivity and remote control
Specifications
Resolution: 1080P
Zoom/optical: 12x
Frame rate: 60fps at 1080p
Field of view: 72.5 (wide) - 6.9 (zoomed) degrees (12x)
Size: 320 x 181 x 110mm
Connectivity: HDMI, Ethernet, SDI, RS232 pass, RS485, USB
Weight: 1.6kg
Reasons to buy
+
Excellent lens quality
+
Extremely adaptable
+
Thorough image quality adjustment options
Reasons to avoid
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Resolution dial is a little fiddly
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 they 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 dedication to creative software development. Along with its Mac/PC app for camera control, it has a dedicated OBS plugin and makes its system open-source to help users create their ideal setup. 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.
If you don’t choose one of the near-limitless controller connections, there is an IR remote in the box that 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.
PTZ stands for Pan-Tilt-Zoom. It is taken to mean a camera which has motors so can remotely be told to Pan (turn left and right), Tilt (turn up and down) and Zoom on a subject.
Do all PTZ cameras have an optical zoom?
No. The term PTZ is so well understood for remotely controlled cameras that, even where no zoom or a digital-only zoom is available, people often still refer to them as PTZ. On this list, for example, the Obsbot Tiny 2 has a digital zoom, though at least up until 2x you might not even spot it.
What are PTZ cameras used for?
PTZ (Pan, Tilt, Zoom) cameras are used in nearly every field – remote operation of a camera can be useful in TV studios, where operators are available to track the talent. They're also great for fitting in difficult-to-reach places on sports grounds. They can be designed to take use of AI that tracks the subject, with a range of uses from webcams that don't lose people as they move about to security cameras. Even the camera on drones can usually be tilted remotely! If you can think of it, someone will have built a PTZ camera to help.
Which features should I look out for while I choose my PTZ camera?
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.
We have reviewed many of the cameras on this list personally by connecting them to a home studio. What we're looking for is how quickly the camera can move from one subject to another in different lighting conditions, as well as how easy the camera is to set up using the kind of equipment most streaming broadcasters have available to them. We think being able to handle low light, as well as high contrast, are both important – low light is very likely when there is a lack of professional lighting, true in most situations, and high contrast might still happen in, for example, the theatre. Most full reviews will feature a video sample recorded using a platform like OBS, further simulating the experience of ownership.
With over 20 years of expertise as a tech journalist, Adam brings a wealth of knowledge across a vast number of product categories, including timelapse cameras, home security cameras, NVR cameras, photography books, webcams, 3D printers and 3D scanners, borescopes, radar detectors… and, above all, drones.
Adam is our resident expert on all aspects of camera drones and drone photography, from buying guides on the best choices for aerial photographers of all ability levels to the latest rules and regulations on piloting drones.
