The NEW PTZ3 from NewTek is the first PTZ Camera to offer NDI®|HX 3.
Offering advanced flexibility and simplicity, the PTZ3 will be the first camera on the market to use NDI’s latest development.
Users can select NDI®|HX 3 as an option for better video with reduced latency – using a fraction of the bandwidth. Also unique to the PTZ3, is professional-level audio connectivity, raising the bar for audio quality in PTZ cameras everywhere.
The PTZ3 is an affordable, IP-based, pan-tilt-zoom camera that delivers high-quality, high-definition video to the network and interoperability with any of the thousands of applications that support NDI. With single cable connectivity, the PTZ3 allows everyone, including video professionals, technology managers, and A/V systems integrators to explore new ways to expand, grow, and evolve productions using their network, while simultaneously streamlining integration and installation by incorporating power over Ethernet.
The all-new PTZ3 is the very first NewTek camera to offer Professional XLR audio connectivity as well as tally, control, power, audio, and video all using a single cable. The new PTZ3 will ship with ceiling and wall mounts and is available in black or white to better match where the camera is needed, whether it be for a studio, classroom, hospital, corporate meeting space, or live event venue.
The PTZ3 is priced at $2,795 US MSRP – International pricing may vary.
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PTZ3 Camera – Our Product Review
NDI PTZ cameras are everywhere. Every manufacturer has joined the trend and is producing a camera that has NDI built into it. However, this wasn’t always the case. First, NewTek had to build a codec specifically for the embedded camera market – since camera-based processing can’t typically support the full NDI codec.
About a year after NDI came on the scene in 2016, NewTek introduced NDI HX – a codec specifically built around the processing available in today’s PTZ cameras. HX introduced PTZ control to the NDI stream so you could see and control the cameras. HX itself has gone through some changes over the years. In 2019, HX2 was released – boasting better compression and lower latency.
NewTek is now introducing HX3. Which moves the HX needle ever closer to its Full NDI older sibling. Better compression and lower latency are to be expected from a new NDI variant. To separate it from its cousins, HX1 and HX2, they dubbed it NDI|HX Ultra.
HX Ultra is not the only feature that makes this camera different. NewTek added soft starts and stops to camera movements to make the camera even more useful during production.
FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS
ZOOM: This is a 1080p60 camera with a 20x Optical and 2x Digital zoom. The digital zoom is a first for a NewTek Camera and should be used sparingly, but it does allow you to get up close when needed.
POWER: The camera is POE+ powered or can be used with the included power supply.
OUTPUTS: It has both SDI and HDMI outputs, as well as serial control for ‘old schoolers’ who like to run a lot of cables.
AUDIO INPUTS: The biggest change is in the form of the Mini XLR input on the back panel of the camera. There is still the line input, 3.5 mm input, but the inclusion of a mini XLR allows users to rethink how they treat audio in their NDI workflows.
Imagine sending a PTZ3 camera down to the CEO’s office. You won’t need to send a full sound board to deal with audio. You only need to plug in your mic with the included adapter, and the audio will be embedded into the NDI stream in sync to its final destination. ( Check our Audio Bridge podcast )
SOFT START/STOP: Okay. Now, for the really important new feature – soft starts and stops on PTZ presets.
Most PTZ cameras on the market today support presets. This is a predefined location that, with the touch of a button, the camera will move to. Most often the only control you have in these presets is the speed at which it makes the move.
As you can see these moves tend to be rather jarring and not entirely usable in production – unless that production is Blair Witch 11. The camera’s only goal is to get to its position as quick as possible.
NewTek’s PTZ3 has an added ‘Soft start and stop’ feature. The camera speed ramps up into a preset move and ramps back down into the finish of that preset position, so the move can actually be used during production…
No speed cam footage here. No camera whipping about wildly while on air.
COLORS: The reason to buy NewTek’s PTZ3 camera are black and white (also the new colors choices).
Our take is that the new audio inputs, HX3 codec, and smooth movements should be the real reasons to grab these cameras and place them in your next design.
Don’t hesitate to call us at Exertis Broadcast. We’re here to help. 415-256-2800
