The User's Guide to PTZ Cameras

The User’s GUide To PTZ Cameras

4 Ceiling or Desktop plaCement 4 image Quality 4 HD vs. sD 4 pan, tilt, anD Zoom operation4 seleCting tHe rigHt solution

from the editors ofFeaturing:

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This PTZ Camera User’s Guide, sponsored by Sony, provides an in-depth look at the flexibility of pan/tilt/zoom cameras and the myriad

benefits they offer in applications across the spectrum of commercial AV. Where budgets are tight and staff is stretched, PTZ cameras

have the potential to increase the value of a videoconferencing system or lecture capture application by reducing camera operator costs

and enhancing image quality. In telepresence, the use of a PTZ camera can be as effective as face-to-face meetings; someone experiencing

transparent telepresence could be able to behave, and receive instant stimuli, as if they were in the same room. In a videoconferencing

application, PTZ cameras produce believable images with the ability to pan and zoom from speaker to speaker, or to provide a close-up of a

PowerPoint presentation. In distance learning applications, a professor can reach students around the globe as a PTZ camera automatically

tracks her movements from the lectern to the blackboard. Clearly, there are potential benefits, but how can you decide which solution is

right for your organization? CCD or CMOS? HD vs. SD? Lux ratings? This guide was designed to help you understand the finer points of

PTZ and make a more informed buying decision. FOLLOW ME ONLINE

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editor’s note ............................................................................................................................................................................. 2

FeaturesptZ Cameras Bring every sCene to liFe ........................................................................................................................... 3Ceiling or Desktop? ............................................................................................................................................................. 7tHe Heart oF tHe matter: image Quality ......................................................................................................................... 8CCD or Cmos? BotH! ............................................................................................................................................................... 8HD vs. sD .................................................................................................................................................................................. 9pan, tilt, anD Zoom operation .......................................................................................................................................... 10FielD oF view ........................................................................................................................................................................ 12lux rating ............................................................................................................................................................................ 12Control anD operation ..................................................................................................................................................... 13exposure .............................................................................................................................................................................. 13CHoosing a partner ........................................................................................................................................................... 14

[margot Douaihy, editor, AV Technology]

Editor’s Note

Table of Contents

D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 | sony.com/ptz 2

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From conference rooms and courtrooms, classrooms and

hospital rooms, pan/tilt/zoom (PTZ) cameras have made every-

day scenes come to life. Motor-driven PTZ cameras can pan left

and right, tilt up and down, and zoom in and out for close-up

or wide-angle viewing. PTZ cameras can easily be controlled by

an operator or set to automatic mode where the camera moves

through a programmed path to scan a specific area.

Factors to consider When choosing a PtZ camera

by AV Technology Staff

PTZ Cameras Bring every sCene To Life

From courtrooms to classrooms, pan/tilt/zoom (PTZ) cameras are connecting scenes with a broader audience. Motor driven PTZ cameras can pan left and right, tilt up and down, and zoom in

and out for close-up or wide-angle viewing.

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The flexibility of PTZ cameras, which can often be either desktop or ceiling mounted, provide a range of unique benefits in multiple applications. In the case of a telepresence application that uti-lizes a PTZ camera, the user’s experience can be as personal and effective as face to face meetings. Someone experiencing transparent telepresence could be able to behave, and receive stimuli, as if they were in the same room.

Since participants do not usually remain sta-tionary during a meeting, and the focus of the conversation may deviate from a group of par-ticipants to notes on a whiteboard and back to an individual speaker, a PTZ camera is ideally suited to deliver the complete telepresence experience. Similarly, in a video conferencing application, PTZ cameras produce exceptionally high quality images with the ability to pan and zoom from speaker to speaker, or to provide detailed views of the objects under discussion.

In house of worship applications, PTZ cameras can provide multiple views without the intrusion and expense of a camera operator. They are also easy to control without disrupt-ing the services and can adapt to changing lighting condi-tions.

In distance learning applications, PTZ cam-eras allow professors to reach students around the globe while walking from the lectern to the blackboard and interacting with students within the classroom.

In industrial applications, PTZ cameras allow supervisors to monitor a factory floor of a manu-facturing process, or zoom into a single process or worker for safety or quality control purposes. In remote justice applications, PTZ cameras can help reduce the municipality’s costs of prison transport for preliminary proceedings and arraignments.

In this article, we will discuss factors to con-sider when choosing a PTZ camera and detail how

In distance learning applications, PTZ cameras allow professors to reach students around the globe

while walking from the lectern to the blackboard and interacting with

students within the classroom.

The new high definition SRG-300H and SRG-300H/W cameras which have a 30x optical lens and a wide horizontal viewing angle of 65 degrees are ideally suited for large rooms and long lens to target applications. Their wide range capability can reduce the need for additional cameras resulting in a cost savings. As a highlight to Sony’s BRC Series, the flagship BRC-H900 camera provides HD broadcast quality images for real-time distribution of lectures and other educational content for e:learning classrooms and provides outstanding color reproduction for broadcasting services, concerts, weddings and sporting events. For smaller venues, the renowned EVI HD Series incorporates a 10x to 20x optical lens, a very wide pan range of +/- 170 degrees and horizontal viewing angles up to 70 degrees.

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D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 | sony.com/ptz 5ADVerTOrIAl


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Ideal for courtrooms and hearing rooms, PTZ cameras produce high

quality images with the ability to pan and zoom to provide detailed views of the objects under discussion. Another

key consideration for remote justice applications is whether the camera’s field

of view (i.e., horizontal viewing angle) can capture all the required content.


individual models in the Sony EVI, SRG and BRC camera series can meet your specific requirements while delivering outstanding picture quality, dura-bility, reliability, and return on investment.

Ceiling or Desktop?One of the first things to consider when purchas-ing a PTZ camera is the camera mounting location and whether your application requires a desktop or ceiling mount option. In general, a small room with restricted space will require a higher field of view so the desktop option is preferred. For example, the 1080p/60 HD SRG-120DH camera

features an extremely wide 71 degree field of view—the highest in the Sony PTZ family.

To the contrary, when installing a camera in a large area which requires a higher optical zoom, a ceiling mount option like the SRG-300H, EVI-H100V/EVI-H100S or BRC cameras are favored. Examples of these applications include houses of worship, classrooms, lecture halls, and factory and industrial monitoring.

When applications are more demanding and require multiple cameras installations, it is pos-sible to combine the features and benefits of both ceiling and desktop mounted cameras. In this

“When applications are more demanding and require multiple cameras installations, it is possible to combine the features and benefits of both ceiling and desktop mounted cameras.”

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regard, it’s notable that many of Sony’s EVI and BRC cameras, and its newest addition the SRG-300H, can be desktop-or ceiling mounted, with an E-flip feature that flips the images when the cameras are mounted on the ceiling.

the heart of the Matter: iMage Quality You buy a camera usually for one reason—a qual-ity image. And that quality is derived from three components: the lens that zooms and focuses on the image, the image sensor that captures the image, and the digital signal processor (DSP) that processes the data received from the sensor. Sony’s PTZ line up uses a range of high-quality, small form

factor lenses that deliver up to 28x optical zoom in the SD line and a full 30x zoom in the latest HD cameras, along with varying levels of digital zoom. When installing an SD camera to monitor opera-tions within a factory or into a large classroom, the EVI-D90 with its high 28x optical lens is ideal for capturing an expansive wide view. When faced with challenging or changing lighting conditions, the high-sensitivity SRG-300H HD camera equipped with Sony’s Exmor® CMOS sensor and View-DR® (wide dynamic range) functionality is the sure thing. When interfacing with an HD lecture capture recorder you might also want to consider the SRG-300H or the BRC-Z700 for their picture quality and IP control option.

CCD or CMos? Both!Image sensors convert the light coming through the lens into a usable signal; CCDs (charge cou-pled devices) output an analog signal that must be converted to digital by other camera components, and CMOS (complementary metal oxide semicon-ductor) chips output a digital signal. With CCDs, most of the chip’s circuitry is devoted to capturing the incoming light; sensitivity and the resultant output quality are very high. CMOS chips are highly integrated and power-efficient. They can reduce the overall camera’s size, and typically cap-ture the highest resolution images.

Sony continues to develop both CCDs and CMOS imager chips, with each new iteration

One key feature in Sony’s newest SRG cameras, called Auto Tracking White (ATW) balance, adds additional flexibility. While auto white balance sets the correct color temperature for a particular shooting environment or color temperature, ATW adjusts camera color temperature to any variance in environment conditions dynamically. Imagine in a video conferencing application that a participant turns on an incandescent lamp, changing the color temperature of the prevailing light source. Automatic white balance would not correct for this, while ATW would, helping to maintain optimal quality even under changing conditions.

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enhancing quality and performance. Sony’s new Exmor® High-Speed CMOS Sensor incorporates advanced-quality image sensor technologies and expertise accumulated through the development of CCDs to improve the light sensitivity and qual-ity of the Exmor chips.

Sony’s latest CCD and CMOS sensors are more sensitive than those incorporated into previous generations of EVI cameras, and use the latest progressive scan video imaging technology. Sony increased the size of the photodiode that captures the light, and shrank the wiring layer between the lens that focuses the incoming light and the pho-todiode. These advancements enable each pixel to capture more light with less waste, increasing overall sensitivity, and capturing high levels of detail and color information.

The final piece of the puzzle is the DSP, which ingests the raw data from the CCD or CMOS chip and processes it into a high quality image in the selected output for-mat. Along the way, the DSP can perform various functions, including but not limited to, white balance and expo-sure adjustments, sharpness enhance-ment and noise reduction. Sony is well known for its DSP technology, image quality, and reliability.

Sony’s unique combination of a high quality lens, imaging device, and DSP ensures that no matter which EVI, SRG, or BRC model you choose for your demanding application, the image quality will be outstanding. With this as background, let’s focus on some of the other factors that you should consider when choosing a PTZ camera.

hD vs. sDAs industry trends support, most PTZ-related markets are transitioning to HD. However, SD is still very popular for appli-cations with less demanding

resolution, narrow bandwidth and legacy system requirements. When considering a SD application today it is advisable to take note of an upgrade-able path to HD for the future. An ideal candidate would be an HD camera with a user selectable format that can still provide a SD signal. In the long run, selecting a camera with a clear and concise migration path that parallels with indus-try trends to HD can help reduce your long-term capital costs.

If you’re new to HD, it’s important to under-stand that there are multiple formats, which can

be confusing, particularly with nomenclature like 1080p/60, 1080i/30 or 720p/30. Typically, the first number is the height of a complete frame of the video. All HD video has a 16x9 display aspect ratio, so 1080 translates to 1920 (H) x1080 (V) resolution, and 720 translates to 1280 (H) x720 (V).

The designation of an “i” or “p” relates respectively to interlace and progressive scan video. Interlace video is captured in fields, two for each frame, one field capturing even lines, the next odd lines, and creates an interlaced frame. In contrast, with progressive scan video each frame is captured in its entirety, which is appropriate for display on computer screens and

“The final piece of the puzzle is the DSP, which ingests the raw data from the CCD or CMOS chip and processes it into a

high quality image in the selected output format.”

Sony’s comprehensive line up of PTZ cameras range from standard definition to full HD

resolution and come with a variety of video output options including HD-SDI,

HD Component, HD-DVI and HDMI. Select BRC cameras also allow for IP control via an optional IP control card. The new SRG cameras offers built-in IP control — the first in Sony’s PTZ line up.

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other LCD display devices, and ideal for most compression technologies.

The final designations relates to field/frame rate. 1080p/60 would represent 60 frames per second while 1080i/60 would mean 60 fields per second. When it comes to selecting frame rate con-sider your system requirements and limitations, application particulars and consult your industry professional.

When it comes to installation, system compat-ibility is paramount. Ensure that the PTZ camera you select is compatible with your system of choice. Most cameras support one or more of four connection types: HD component, HD-DVI, HD-SD1 and HDMI. Each of these industry stan-dards have positive aspects in regards to trans-

mission, conversion and recording mediums. Whether your application is telepresence, remote monitoring or distance virtual communication, one of these industry standards can optimize your demanding installation requirements.

If your connection needs may change in the future, consider a camera like the EVI-HD1 that supports multiple HD outputs, analog component and HD-SDI. The EVI-HD1 also supports NTSC and PAL SD capture, with both VBS and Y/C video outputs.

pan, tilt, anD ZooM operationWhile all PTZ cameras can pan and tilt, the mechanisms driving the pan and tilt operations are not created equal. All models in Sony’s EVI, SRG, and BRC series utilize a motor mechanism for achieving high-speed, quiet and smooth PTZ operations to capture images. The cameras cover

“While all PTZ cameras can pan and tilt, the mechanisms driving the pan and tilt operations are not created equal.”

PTZ cameras can be controlled by an operator or set to automatic

mode where the camera moves through a programmed path to scan a specific area and track a

presenter as they move.

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a wide area and are ideal for capturing extensive scenes in that area. When comparing PTZ mod-els, make sure that the range of pan and tilt, and the speed of those motions, is sufficient for your application. Sony’s PTZ models can smoothly and quietly pan at up to 340 degrees/second and tilt up to 120 degrees/second, which should be sufficient for your demanding camera deploy-ment criteria.

fielD of viewBeyond PTZ controls, you should also assess whether the camera’s field of view, also called the horizontal viewing angle, can incorporate all required content. Field of view depends on the type of lens used (wide, macro, normal, tele-

photo/zoom) and it has an inverse relationship with the focal length of the camera. This becomes critical when lens to target distances vary and wide angle viewing is essential.

As a highlight to the Sony SRG line, the SRG-120DH has a minimum focal length of 3.9mm and a wide horizontal viewing angle of 71 degrees—making it ideal for video conferencing and tele-presence applications. The BRC-H900 has a minimum focus length of 5.8mm and a horizontal viewing angle of 59.6 degrees making it the right choice for a wide range of applica-tions such as house of worship, government and studio POV. The SRG-300H has a minimum focal length of 4.3mm and a horizontal view-ing angle of 65 degrees making this camera the

perfect choice for larger rooms and longer lens to target applications such as sports arenas and concert halls.

lux rating By way of background, 1 lux equals the light fall-ing on a one-square-meter surface from a candle located one meter away. A camera’s lux rating relates to its ability to discern high quality images in low light. In varying lighting conditions or low light environments it is critical to note a camera’s minimum lux rating.

A camera’s lux rating designates the lowest lux value within which the camera can produce an acceptable image. However, this rating is subjec-tive and set by the camera manufacturer, so a

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rating of 1 lux may mean different things from different vendors.

Sony adds objectivity to the lux rating of their PTZ cameras by specifying the lux rating, aperture and IRE level, which details the amount of light necessary to produce the stated IRE level using the designated aperture setting. For example, at 50 IRE and an aperture setting of 1.6, the EVI-H100 series produce an astounding 0.5 lux and the new SRG-300H camera achieves 1.4 lux, both of which are impressive in today’s camera market.

To put these numbers in perspective, note that a rating of .27 lux corresponds to a full moon on a clear night, 100 lux corresponds to a very dark overcast day, and that 320–500 lux approximates typical office lighting. In a typical well-lit telepres-

ence or video conferencing application, the lux rating of most cameras would be less significant than in a low light application. Conversely, when dealing with applications where varying degrees of sunlight are present such as in a house of worship or factory monitoring venue, lux rating becomes paramount.

In addition to the Sony HD cameras desig-nated earlier, Sony offers two SD cameras with similar performance; the EVI-D90 produces 0.65 lux at 50 IRE at an aperture setting of 1.35, and the EVI-D80 produces 0.4 lux at 50 IRE at an aperture setting of 1.4.

Control anD operationPrior to finalizing your camera selection, deter-

mine how much or how little operator inter-face and control of the camera you will

need. Sony cameras offer flexibility by providing automatic settings under various conditions as well as allow-ing for manual control for greater operator interface. Sony cameras can automatically select the parameter for ultimate picture quality or allow you to customize operations when and as needed.

Most PTZ cameras offer automatic and manual white balance, which are often

supplemented with indoor and outdoor presets. One key feature in Sony’s new SRG cameras, called Auto Tracking White (ATW) balance, adds additional flexibility. While auto white balance sets the correct color temperature for a particular

shooting environment or color temperature, ATW adjusts camera color temperature to any variance in environment conditions dynamically.

Imagine in a video conferencing application that a participant turns on an incandescent lamp, changing the color temperature of the prevailing light source. Automatic white balance would not correct for this, while ATW would, helping to maintain optimal quality even under changing conditions.

In response to the growing demand for IP enabled devices, Sony’s SRG cameras feature built-in IP control (VISCA over IP technology) that you can easily access from multiple locations and/or over large distances. Sony’s BRC-H900, BRC-Z700 and BRC-Z330 also offer IP control via a sepa-rate IP card. Sony’s optional RM-IP10 controller allows for flexible configuration and enables the installation of up to 112 units of BRC and/or SRG cameras.

exposureRegarding exposure, most PTZ cameras offer fully automatic modes, plus manual controls over shutter speed, aperture and gain. For superior control over depth of field and/or picture clarity,

“Sony’s new SRG cameras feature built-in IP control.”

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A primary consideration for a PTZ camera purchase is the mounting location. Many of Sony’s PTZ cameras can be desktop-mounted or ceiling-mounted.


you should also insist upon shutter and aperture priority modes, plus exposure compensation so you can adjust brightness in all automatic or semi-automatic modes. Also helpful are modes like backlight compensation, which produces optimal exposure on a subject framed by very bright lights.

Cameras operating under a range of lighting conditions also benefit from features like low illu-mination chroma suppress mode, which reduces color saturation in low light, reducing chroma noise. Another useful low light-related feature is Auto ICR Mode, which automatically removes the infrared cut filter to improve low-light sensitivity, and restores it when a preset or user defined level of brightness is achieved, improving picture qual-ity in normal light.

To assist your installation and hands-on cam-era configuration, check whether the cameras you are considering include an IR remote commander unit, and determine which configuration options it can control. Sony supplies an IR remote com-mander unit with every EVI, SRG, and BRC model. Also make sure that all operation controls, from PTZ functionality to exposure and white balance adjustments, are accessible via an industry stan-dard, comprehensive and well-documented con-trol protocol. In this regard, all Sony PTZ cameras support its industry standard VISCA™ protocol, an RS-232C interface that provides for easy con-nectivity to a variety of peripheral products, with exceptional fine-tuning capabilities for all camera features.

Another feature to look for is memory backup of presets for your selected camera presets, includ-ing AE mode, white balance as well as presets for pan/tilt/zoom and focus positions.

Choosing a partnerWe’ve explored PTZ cameras feature by feature, but cam-era performance and reliability relates to overall construction and Sony stands behind this. In the unlikely event of a camera failure, all Sony PTZ cameras are backed by a one-year parts and labor warranty. Sony’s full line of PTZ cameras are ideal for a diverse range of applica-tions where imaging excellence, proven reliability, and ease of installation are key.

In house of worship applications, PTZ cameras can provide multiple views without the intrusion and expense of a

camera operator. They are also easy to control without disrupting the services.

sony sony.com/ptz

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The User's Guide to PTZ Cameras