Is anyone else freaking out that 2024 is upon us? Here at Church Production, it was almost hard to keep up with all the new gear coming our way and getting sent to our church production friends for Road Tests and reviews, not to mention everything we saw and learned at Capture Summit ‘23 . We had a lot of fun, and we decided to collect some of our favorite from the year to help you make good decisions about good gear going into the new year. Here’s what we came up with:
BZBGear BG-Adamo-JR 1080p Auto Tracking PTZ Camera
This little camera is an unbelievably handy addition to any production setup. With 20x or 30x optical zoom, AI-powered auto-tracking, and the ability to stream all on its own (not to mention hardware connections for anything), you almost have to buy one.
BZB’s BG-BSHAN box camera is worth mentioning too, but the Adamo-JR is simply remarkable and should be considered alongside other smart PTZ optics well beyond its price point.
See our First Impression and subsequent review to decide for yourself.
Blackmagic Studio Camera 6K Pro
We haven’t had the chance to road-test this one, yet, but we’re all familiar with Blackmagic’s studio cameras. They continue to up the ante with improvements, and the 6K Pro is pretty nuts because you get a super 35 sensor, an active EF mount, 6K recording up to 50p, and encoding for live stream, all for under $2500. You’ll probably spend more on the lens than the camera itself, but any camera with those stats is worthy of good glass, so go for it.
Head here for the full specs from our gear page.
Canon EOS R5-C Full-Frame Hybrid Camera
Speaking of cameras, we’re in love with the R5-C. Technically, this one was released in 2022, but it’s still so good we had to mention it—a Netflix-approved, 45-megapixel, full-frame, 8K sensor that can shoot up to 60p that’s only a bit bigger than a baseball is just, like… wild. Our friends at Manna Church in Colorado Springs took it for a spin and couldn’t get enough of it. It continues to be one of our strong recommends going into 2024.
Check out the Road Test video with Manna Church and our full write-up here.
Hollyland Solidcom C1 Pro Intercom
Hollyland upgraded their original Solidcom C1 offering with the Pro version that features build quality upgrades and environmental noise cancellation. We were able to play around with the C1 Pro at Capture ‘23, and then we road-tested the system this fall. Hollyland did not disappoint. Any church production team looking for excellent wireless intercoms at an unbelievable price point needs to consider the Soldicom C1 Pro system.
Check the Road Test video with Point Church and write-up here.
NanLite Pavo Slim Series LED Lights
Our friends at NanLite have really outdone themselves with their Pavo Slim Series, cooking up something color-accurate, lightweight, and just downright small, all at an attractive price point. They are ideal for churches trying to put together a reasonable studio in a small room on a limited budget. Hopefully, we’ll get to road-test these soon, but in the meantime, you can head here for our write-up and links to the lights.
Sony a9 iii Full-Frame Camera with Global Shutter System
A mirrorless camera with a global shutter—what else do you need to hear? Of course, Sony was the first to make it happen. This comes as no surprise since the company continues to push the bounds of accessible cinema cameras and low-light technology, giving competitors a run for their money.
We’re crossing our fingers for a Road Test in 2024, but in the meantime head to our gear page write-up for the full details on Sony’s groundbreaking design.
Tascam Sonicview Recording and Mixing Consoles
Tascam has big plans for this console, making waves among competitors like Yamaha, Allen & Heath, Midas, and Behringer. Our friends at LifeMission Church took it for a spin with great acclaim, and said that in talks with Tascam, the company noted there’s lots of room in the console for future upgrades to their unique mixing and effects engine that makes the Sonciview a smart long-term investment for any smaller or mid-size church in need of an audio console.
Check our Road Test video and article on LifeMission Church.
Pixera 4 Media Server
Managing front-of-house media can be… a lot. Operators have to juggle video across LED walls, IMAG projectors, confidence monitors, ProPresenter, and more, and there hasn’t been a great way for churches to do that until Pixera decided to make it happen. The top-of-the-line Pixera 4 media server puts FOH displays in one, easy-to-edit space that takes almost no time to learn. Be sure to check out the other Pixera media servers, including a software-only version for those on a tight budget.
Head here for our Road Test video and write-up with Rolling Hills Community Church, and BRAVE Church.
Thank You
Thank you so much for reading and watching with us this year, to all of our vendor partners, and to everyone who joined us for Capture ‘23 in August. 2024 will not disappoint, and we’re looking forward to more gear, more connections, and more learning with you.
Happy New Year!
