BUYERS’ GUIDE
BIRDDOG EYES P400 £3782/$3695 birddog.tv
The Birddog Eyes P400 is a full NDI 4K PTZ camera featuring up to 4K/30p resolution thanks to an 8.5-megapixel CMOS backlit sensor made by Sony, plus pro-level colour control and simultaneous 6G-SDI, HDMI and NDI output. When paired with a Birddog NDI encoder, the P400 provides native 4:2:2 decoding with a 4:2:0 option available for compatible receivers. Extremely fast pan-tilt-zoom and autofocus make the P400 ideal for fast-paced sports and other dynamic productions. The P400 incorporates a fast f/2 20x optical zoom lens, plus 12x digital zoom and 30x SRZ (super resolution zoom) in 4K and 40x SRZ in HD. Remote control options include NDI, Visca over IP, RS-422/ RS-232 options in SDI and an included IR controller. The Birddog PTZ Keyboard can also be added to control up to 255 cameras on a single network. The P400 can be used with the downloadable Birddog Central Lite NDI stream down-converting software, Cam Control camera settings and Comms Lite audio intercom software. An IR cut filter automatically switches to night mode to produce clear images in low-light settings. Power comes via PoE or the included power adapter. The camera also has a Restful API for DIY automation and adaptive bit rate for adjusting to different bandwidths. Birddog also offers free software for educational and not-for-profit customers.
T he Covid-19 pandemic might have fuelled the fire for remote control cameras, but that huge growth has continued as more production companies value the unique access that only small, unmanned cameras can give. Reality TV shows, sports events, gigs, corporate events and houses of worship are driving the growth of pan-tilt-zoom
camera use. What’s wanted now is high- end footage from large-sensor cameras and serious lenses to produce a look that can be almost cinematic. Then, there is Log gamma and fast frame rates for slow-motion replays, all controlled from afar by a director in front of a screen or console. Here, we showcase the cameras and accessories you need to know about.
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