Cameras for Live Streaming
When considering which camera suits your live streaming needs there are various things to look at. Balancing your budget vs. your technical requirements can be tricky, so we decided to put together a guide to help you consider the right factors! Below is a list of things to consider when choosing a camera, as well as which settings to use:
Resolution
Resolution refers to the number of pixels in an image. A 1080p (Full HD) resolution means the image has 1920 pixels horizontally and by 1080 vertically (1920x1080). A higher resolution will result in a more detailed image, but will also require exponentially more bandwidth.
Today, most cameras support a minimum of 1080p resolution. This resolution is very commonly used for live streamed content, as it generally gives a good balance between bandwidth usage, quality and equipment cost.
The next step up in terms of quality is 4K resolution. As technology advances, cameras supporting 4K resolution continue to become more affordable. While 1080p may be enough for most live streaming application, investing in a 4K capable camera can help you future-proof your equipment. When deciding whether to use 4K resolution or not for your live streams, you need to make sure your whole video chain supports 4K resolution, including production software/hardware, streaming platform and video player.
Frame rate
Frame rate, or frames per second (FPS), refers to the number of static image frames are rendered during every second of your video. A higher frame rate results in smoother movements of your image, but requires more bandwidth.
The frame rates supported by the cameras available to you may be dependent on your location. For live streaming, the most commonly used frame rates are 25 and 50 FPS, generally used in Europe, while 30 and 60FPS are typically used in the US. When choosing whether to use 25/30FPS or 50/60FPS for your live streams, you need to consider both the technical aspects, i.e. whether your video chain supports higher frame rates, as well as what is suitable for your content.
For sports, 50/60FPS is generally the better choice, as the higher framerate helps give detail to the fast motions happening in most sports. See example comparison here.
For live music, one frame rate is not necessarily better than the other. A concert shot at 25FPS will have a more “cinematic” feeling to it, while the same concert shot at 50FPS will look smoother. See example comparison here.
For content other than sports and music, 25/30FPS is most commonly used, but ultimately it is up to your preference.
Lens
A good lens is essential to capturing quality video content. Cameras can either have a single fixed lens, or they may have interchangeable lenses. The second option gives you more flexibility, but is typically more expensive.
The science of optics is a complicated one, but below are some of the key features to consider when comparing lenses.
Optical zoom ratio determines your camera’s capabilities to zoom in on your subject without resorting to digital zoom.
A longer focal length makes for a narrower field of view and increased zoom capabilities, while a shorter focal length will provide a wider field of view and a shorter zoom range.
A larger aperture allows more light to enter the lens, which can result in brighter, more vibrant images, but will make for a shallower depth of field. Most lenses will have a range of aperture settings that you can experiment with. See this great article for more details on aperture.
Image Stabilization helps to reduce the effects of camera shake, resulting in sharper and clearer images.
Sensor
A CMOS sensor is an electronic chip that converts photons to electrons for digital processing.
Larger sensors capture more light than smaller ones, and the sensor size directly affects a camera’s low-light performance and it’s signal-to-noise ratio.
Connectivity
It’s important to consider the available output connectors on your camera. Some cameras only have and HDMI output, but due to a short transmission range of HDMI, we strongly recommend having a camera that also has an SDI video output. Many modern cameras will also feature an ethernet port for delivery of video over NDI or other network protocols. Broadcast-grade cameras may include fiber connectors.
Having XLR inputs on your camera can also be beneficial, as that allows you to connect microphones directly to your camera.
Physical size
While not always 100% true, higher quality cameras tend to be bigger. Sometimes a compact camera is needed due to space restraints, so the physical size and weight of the camera may be of importance, depending on your situation.
