Before the COVID-19 pandemic, PTZ (pan, tilt, zoom) cameras hadn't found their way into many churches. Certainly, some larger and more technically savvy churches had figured out that these cameras have many features that made them perfect for a church live stream or an IMAG (image
magnification) setup. However, they weren't often found in medium to small congregations, even those that already had some type of setup for video recording or streaming.
A Church’s Need to Remote Stream
At the beginning of this health crisis, churches of all sizes found themselves trying to reach their congregation as they were forced to stay away from their normal physical worship space. There are endless options for outfitting a live stream or video recording system, but some congregations learned about the power and flexibility of PTZ cameras. Although many people are more familiar with iPhones, camcorders, and DSLR cameras, the right PTZ camera can be easier to install, setup, and use week to week.
Easy Start with PTZ Cameras
In a rush to get something online for the church community, many pastors, staff, and volunteers didn't even know where to start. Churches face some unique challenges in choosing the right camera. First of all, many church worship spaces are large. In the long term, it isn't practical to install a camera right up front or anywhere that takes up floor space. Without the right amount of zoom, a camera placed in the back of the sanctuary gives such a wide shot that people at home can't make out any detail. PTZ cameras come in multiple zoom level options up to 30X. A PTZOptics 30X PTZ camera, for example, can easily capture head and shoulders shots from over 75 feet away and still zoom out wide enough to show the entire worship space.
PTZ cameras also have the widest range of installation and wiring options. Traditional cameras require an operator. That means they tend to take up a lot of room and are often disruptive to the worship space's look and feel. The small form factor and discrete design of PTZ cameras mean they can be installed out of the way and remain visually unseen. They can be mounted on walls, ceilings, and poles, allowing for great camera angles and no disruption.
Especially when churches are rushing to get something up and running fast, wiring can be a real challenge. Knowing that people will eventually be coming back to church, running cables across aisles and walkways isn't safe. And getting video, power, and remote control cables run through walls requires electricians and contractors. Not only is that a significant expense, but professionals like that can also be hard to find during a pandemic.
With PTZOptics cameras, everything can be handled with just one ethernet cable. You can use a PoE (power over ethernet) switch to power the camera, send audio and video back to the computer and control the camera’s pan, tilt, and zoom capabilities. Ethernet cable is inexpensive, low-voltage, and easier to install inside walls and crawl spaces than other cable types. In some cases, churches may be able to save money by eliminating the need for a professional installer. PTZOptics cameras are easy to install, and they include an installation plan that is easy for anyone to follow.
The Issue with Less Volunteers
When churches went into lockdown in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many lost access to their most valuable resource: volunteers. Suddenly, pastors and limited staff needed to run a live stream with no one to help. This is another reason PTZ cameras became such an essential part of live streaming. Using traditional cameras and camcorders requires a dedicated operator positioned at the camera to control the zoom level, pan and tilt of the camera as needed. PTZ cameras, on the other hand, can be controlled from anywhere.
In cases where the priority is using as few in-person personnel as possible, one operator can run both the video production software and the cameras. Remote camera control for PTZOptics cameras is available inside popular software like vMix, Wirecast, Livestream Studio and OBS. Churches even have the option to allow volunteers to help with camera control from the safety and comfort of their own home. With the PTZOptics Camera Control App, users can log in remotely using software like LogMeIn or Zoom and control multiple PTZ cameras from anywhere.
Churches using Zoom for sharing worship or other church activities have even more flexibility. With Zoom's far end camera control and PTZOptics cameras, any participant can be handed control. This way, someone other than the primary host can control, pan, tilt, and zoom the church camera, freeing the preacher, teacher, or group leader to lead the session.
When people begin to return to church and volunteers are available again, these same features will help the church create the best possible live stream. With the PTZOptics iOS/Android App, a volunteer can control one or more cameras from anywhere, including a pew. Or, an IP joystick could be set up to give a volunteer camera operator access to all of the presets and tactile control over all the cameras.
Expandability
During the pandemic, and even during normal times, churches often fail to think long term. A church may purchase a live streaming setup that has no capacity for expansion. Even the simple upgrade from one camera to two can mean replacing everything. PTZ camera setups are nearly infinitely expandable. Especially for a church that chooses to connect their cameras over a network using video over IP or NewTek's new NDI (Network Device Interface). It can add more cameras without the need for additional capture devices or computer ports. That means adding a camera can be as cost-effective and simple as buying the camera and plugging it into the network.
PTZ Cameras Are Here to Stay
Churches are starting to realize that this pandemic will have a permanent impact on the church as we know it. Some worry that it will never be the same. Others see the potential for taking lessons from the experience and making the church more effective in its mission down the road. Churches that invested in PTZ camera technology will find that investment worthwhile even when people start returning to church. Even when the volunteers can come back, the flexibility of these cameras and their control system offer far more options to use volunteers in the most effective way possible. Since we will always have members who want to or need to worship from home, the immersive experience made possible by broadcast-quality video and powerful zoom lenses will continue to be important.
Even today, churches that are ready to begin live streaming or seek to improve their capabilities are looking to less expensive consumer-grade cameras. As many churches have learned during the pandemic, the investment in quality equipment is worth every penny is the long and short run. Since PTZ cameras are still relatively inexpensive, they are worth a look. And the additional expense of the camera can be easily offset by the money saved in additional equipment, installation, and training. Churches can have a better live stream, at a lower cost, with less hassle now and far more expandability in the future.
