[NDI & PTZ Camera Introductory Extra] PTZ Camera Birddog Eyes P200 additional verification of this class

In the September issue of "Manual for Successful Live Streaming", we delivered a report titled "Introduction to NDI & PTZ Cameras" (click here for the linked webinar), but among PTZ cameras, it is the only PTZ camera that is not NDI|HX. , we will deliver a follow-up article about the NDI-compatible model, BirdDog's Eyes P200.

Lecturer: Yuto Izumi (Interviewer: Ichiyanagi, Editorial Department)

ーーThank you for the webinar featuring the September issue. Before the webinar, I spent about a month collecting and verifying PTZ cameras that can be purchased from various companies in the 300,000 yen range, and interviewing manufacturers. BirdDog Eyes P200 (hereinafter referred to as P20) was not suitable for the period, so I borrowed it again later and verified it. Actually, only the P200 is the only one in this class that supports NDI instead of NDI|HX, so I would like to use this device as an example to review and add an additional report. First of all, please tell us again about the actual benefits of supporting NDI and how it differs from NDI|HX.

First of all, the amount of delay is small because it is NDI. Even with NDI|HX, it doesn't matter that much for normal live streaming, but for example, it doesn't matter when using it in combination with a camera with an SDI or HDMI connection. In addition to the camera, there are times when you switch between output from a PC, so it's an advantage for content such as e-sports where the amount of delay is a concern.

The rest is image quality.

ーーIn the report published in this magazine, you put together a table, but the transfer rate is quite different. If NDI is equivalent to ProRes, NDI|HX is about the same as MP4 with H.264 compression.

NDI can handle resolutions more flexibly than NDI|HX. For example, if you watch it on a smartphone, it may not change much, but it will change quite a bit when projected on a large screen. For example, jaggies can be seen around the face, or the picture will look flat and blurred. In the past, we didn't pay much attention to image quality in live distribution, but in the future, the number of cases where image quality becomes important is increasing, and some people are discerning. If you look at it from that perspective, you can send NDI at the same image quality as ProRes (NDI|HX is H.264, NDI|HX2 is H.265), so even in the field where high-definition image quality such as 4K is required, With NDI, even professionals will be able to produce satisfactory images.

With that in mind, wouldn't it be nice to have an NDI PTZ camera in this price range?

ーーDo you have any other points to compare PTZ cameras?

That sounds like a motor. Of course, it's better to be quiet, but in this class, there are some things that bother me about the pan/tilt and motor sounds. If you hear it nearby, it sounds like jee. The P200 doesn't have that sound. It's cheap, but it doesn't feel worth it.

What are the other differences?

It's the zoom factor. The 30x zoom was the only one in the comparison. It's about 10 to 20 times, so 30 times is quite rare. Because it is an optical zoom, noise is less likely to appear.

Also, all models have HDMI and SDI outputs, so there is no difference in that area.

ーーIs the setting a bit unique?

Although it is unique, Because it is a native NDI, there are parameters that NDI|HX cameras do not have. For better or for worse, other models only have simple settings.

This will appear when you first open it, so you may be a little intimidated (laughs).

ーーIt is true that this is the first dashboard and it is rather curt.

The contents are simple and there are no useless functions. Up to nine parameters can be set for the PTZ camera. However, rather than setting it here, you will probably create a preset from the NDI Studio Monitor or the Wirecast side of the distribution application.

This is the pan/tilt speed setting.

And here is the SYSTEM parameter, and as I explained in lectures and magazines here, you can choose multicast or unicast. NDI|HX cameras don't have these settings.

You can set here to determine the NDI bandwidth and bitrate to send.

For example, you can choose to lower the frame rate to reduce the bit rate.

ーーIsn't this on the NDI|HX camera?

No. The ability to change the frame rate here is a feature of the NDI camera.

That means you can do things like adjust the bandwidth when connecting various things with NDI. But you can't do that without some knowledge of NDI. By the way, what happens when the NDI bandwidth is exceeded?

The frame rate of the image drops and the movement is lost, or the lower half of the screen is missing.

ーーIs there something like checking and monitoring the bandwidth?

Actually, this is only included in the magazine, but it is not possible to check individual bands, but TCP Monitor Plus for Windows, which can monitor wired LAN and Wi-Fi transmission and reception bands I have an IP network monitor app.

I think you should check this out during the live stream.

This can also be displayed as a mini-monitor from the taskbar, so it's a good idea to use it to monitor while streaming via Wirecast, for example. I leave it on during live streaming.

ーーI see. From my point of view, I grew up with "video systems" in my head, so my knowledge of IP transmission systems is really fuzzy. Read and review the articles in this magazine. thank you very much.

Click here for VIDEO SALON September 2021 issue