How are PTZ cameras installed?

    In this article, we will go over all of the things you need to consider when installing a PTZ camera for the best performance and composition.

    Camera position and location

    There are many ways to mount PTZ cameras, so make sure what you choose works best for your situation. Your camera’s mounting position, angle and distance from the subject greatly determine the quality of the image it can capture. For mounting, choose from a wall mount, pole mount or ceiling mount. One cool feature about PTZOptics cameras is that you can mount them inverted. You can also mount PTZ cameras within outdoor enclosures.

    When mounting the camera, consider its angle in relation to the subject you’re capturing. It’s easy to want to mount the camera in a convenient spot, but some mounting locations may result in a poor shooting angle. You also want to consider what types of shots you want to get from each mounting location. Since the camera can pan, tilt and zoom, it’s useful when capturing different shots. Those shots will inform you what locations will and will not work.

    Make sure there is the right amount of usable pan and tilt movement to get the shots you want. If you put a camera in a corner, you limit the amount of range it can cover. Likewise, if a camera is too low or around an obstruction, some range might be limited.

    PTZ cameras, like camcorders, express their amount of zoom in a multiplier, like 12x. With the amount of zoom in mind, make sure the camera’s mounting location will allow you to get as zoomed in as you need. If the camera is too far away, you will need either a camera with a longer zoom or a different mounting location.

    The last thing you need to consider before mounting your camera is where you will get power and how you will transmit the video signal from the camera. Many PTZ cameras use PoE (Power over Ethernet). It transmits video, gives you control of the pan-tilt and zoom operation and powers the camera through one Cat9 cable. This means you can use the existing infrastructure if you have a PoE network switch. 

    Video transmission

    PTZ cameras with NDI® and SRT are easy to implement; you don’t need any existing infrastructure to install. Network Device Interface protocol, also known as NDI®, is Internet Protocol video using Local Area Network transmission. With NDI®, any network input can become a video source, from a camera to a computer. PTZOptics has a wide range of NDI-supported PTZ cameras.

    Nothing is worse than having a good-looking production, but the results look horrible because of an unreliable network. SRT looks to solve this problem. SRT is an open-source, low latency video transmission protocol. SRT enables safe and reliable video transmission and distribution under different internet environments and between multiple locations. This is great for when the internet connection is spotty. It allows for a stable transmission with a variable bit rate.

    Camera control

    PTZ cameras are remotely controlled, giving more flexibility and range. With just one camera operator can control a room full of cameras. Moreover, they can also be the technical director and cut between multiple cameras. PTZ cameras can have preset shots that you can switch to at the press of a button. You can even execute pre-designed camera movements. You also get manual control of the camera’s pan, tilt and zoom movement. You can control a PTZ with a joystick, like the PTZOptics Super Joy, and even a smartphone. 

    Using a PTZ camera with one camera operator lowers the overhead needed to operate because only one camera operator is needed to control multiple cameras. With premade moves, you get consistency in production and a higher production value.

    PTZOptics has a wide range of cameras

    Consider all of this information before you install your PTZ camera. You will save valuable time and your image will benefit. To learn more about PTZ cameras, visit PTZOptics.com.

    PTZOptics is a manufacturer of robotic pan, tilt, zoom camera solutions for a variety of broadcast applications, including both video production and live streaming.