Updated query for overhead PTZ camera for stage work

RWillats

I've been looking for a camera for exactly this kind of live, overhead stage capture: Re: [Good overhead PTZ camera for stage work?](/topic/5550/good-overhead-ptz-camera-for-stage-work) Unfortunately, this thread is a little out of date, and I was wondering if anyone has any new recommendations.

I'm hoping there's something around $500?

Armando

@rwillats Insta 360 Link

DusX

@rwillats

I am leaning toward the obsbot cameras at the moment.. take a look at this forum thread: Obsbot Tiny 4K: OSC controllable gimbal webcam | TroikaTronix Forum

RWillats

These both look great, thank you.

I wouldn't consider myself a camera-guy, so this concern may be totally unfounded: Are the focus lengths for these kinds of suped-up webcam options not going to be too shallow to capture the stage (~35ft away) in focus?

mark_m

@rwillats

I've just been working with the Obsbot Tiny 4K as an overhead camera on a smallish (5 x 4m) stage with the camera positioned approximately 5 metres above the stage.
For a wide shot, it works fine. It worked well for blob tracking purposes.
But since the zoom is digital, the image results get poor as you zoom in, particularly in low light.
I was, I admit, disappointed.
But then, what did I expect for such a cheap device which is aimed at shooting faces from a metre or so away?

Obsbot new Tail Air looks like it might be much better at distance:
https://www.obsbot.com/store/p...
I'll be holding off getting one until I've seen some proper reviews.
However at your budget its one of the few cameras available.

RWillats

@mark_m I'll check it out, thanks. I was considering things like the Tenveo 4k PTZ Wide Angle Conference Room Camera with 12x optical zoom but a lot of elements get simpler with the OBSBot

mark_m

@rwillats

I hadn't run across the Tenveo before. Have to say it looks very useful, particularly the SDI version. And very reasonably priced!
One of the issues I'm constantly facing - I use overhead cameras in all my work - is the length of the cable runs required, often exceeding HDMI or USB3 distance, and requiring extenders. Not such an issue with SDI.
My dream camera would be a 4K camera with PoE (power over ethernet) sending NDI, so that I only require a single cable for signal, control, and power. Annoyingly Tenveo don't yet seen to have NDI versions of their 4K cameras, thought I'm sure that'll come.

GertjanB

@mark_m

I'm waiting on the obsbot tail air that would arrive this weekend, this has a PoE adapter and should sends 4K NDI (i don't think over a network cable only wifi)

Ive been using panasonic AW-UE70WEJ 4K PTZ camera's in the past, only one cable, PoE and NDI.

mark_m

@gertjanb

Thank you!

I would love to hear your experiences of the Obsbot Tail Air, especially how well it works with OSC.

Also curious to know if this works with it: certainly makes my Tiny 4K easier to use than Obsbot's own OSC implementation.
https://github.com/johnebgood/...

knowtheatre

@GertjanB How's the TailAir treating you? I'm playing with one right now, and NDI into Isadora is working fantastically, but I can't seem to configure the TCP connection for control. Any tips? The documentation and desktop software is pretty sparse, and I just can't work out why I'm not sending commands. I couldn't even get it to work using their own TouchOSC example files, neither the TCP or UDP.

GertjanB

@knowtheatre

Hi, It's working great, its working well. I haven't really used the OSC signals to control the camera. I find the app very helpfull and we also used the remote.

I have tested the OSC signals and it works well. You can find a link to a list with osc signals in the obsbot start app.
In order to be able to send osc signals you have to activate OSC in the desktop app. (The osc is not send to the camera but to the desktop app)
So when using TouchOSC you have to send the to the IP adress of your computer.

knowtheatre

@gertjanb

Aha! Thanks for the info. I was trying to connect directly to the camera, rather than the app. The app is a little glitchy for me, and I'd rather use the control functionality of VISCA, but I might have to go the OSC route.

GertjanB

@knowtheatre

It took me some time to learn how to work with the mobile app but once i got to know it i works great, especially the AI funcitons. I used it in a danse show to track a dancer. The app was the easiest to activate and deactivate the tracking.

RWillats

@gertjanb

Thanks to all. There's a Tail Air on the way in the mail--I'm excited

Armando

@rwillats Hello, have you reveiced it ?

RWillats

@armando

I did, yes! Overall, I'm loving it.

It isn't crucial for my upcoming project, but I've had limited success with OSC. I can only seem to get one command to work, but that command works reliably. So I'm confident the connection is being made... Because I like the camera so much, I'm imagining using it for more projects in the future for which it would be great to resolve the OSC strangeness.

Armando

@rwillats Hello,

since the obsbot tail is a UVC compatible camera it will probably work with a new actor that is going to come out in the 4.0 version. It is called Video in ptz image control. Can you tel me more bout sound inputs. So you use them ?How do I mix them into Isadora ?

Cheers

RWillats

@armando That sounds exciting--I hope it's available soon. I'm afraid I don't use the sound from the camera. In my experience, the microphones in them are always worse than a standalone mic (even a cheap one) that I have elsewhere in the space. I haven't tested the sound on the Tail Air myself, but the reviews of the audio don't look great.

Armando

@rwillats You can have great sound puttin an external mike into the mike input of the tail. The actor I am talking about will be inserted in the v 4 that is coming out very soon. Do you have more than one tail ?