The Mevo Start has excellent built in microphones that capture audio in great quality from considerable distance, and it has pan, tilt and zoom functionality – though the maximum zoom is only 2.3x so it’s not exactly a game-changer. Using the Mevo Camera App, or the Mevo Multicam App for multiple-camera setups, you can control the settings of your stream, switching between shots and editing on the fly. The downside is that they cost more, and many don’t offer audio support, meaning you also need to factor in the cost of a mic.įor wireless streaming and seamless connectivity, it’s hard to beat the Mevo Start. They are excellent for streaming large-scale events in conference rooms or lecture theatres, and are a good choice if your streaming plans are a little more ambitious than you at your computer. Short for ‘pan, tilt zoom’, PTZ cameras have motorised stands that allow them more freedom of movement than a fixed webcam. If you’re the kind of streamer who likes to tweak and fiddle with their image until happy with how it looks, the Razer Kiyo will let you absolutely go to town.
If you take the resolution down to HD 720p then you can up the frame rate to 60fps (and if you simply must have Full HD 60fps, there is a doubly expensive Razer Kiyo Pro offering this).
Many streamers and TikTokers find themselves buying a ring light to make the image of their face look the best it can – well, the Razer Kiyo webcam has a multi-step LED built right in! Allowing you to consolidate your setup earns this webcam brownie points right off the bat, and it continues to impress with full manual camera controls and Full HD 30fps video that looks excellent. We’ve included different types of streaming camera and split them up into sections – you can click to jump to the section of choice, where we’ve also included a brief explanation of each type. We’ve gone through each of the ten cameras on our list and run through their strengths and weaknesses. if you’re streaming a group conversation). Different cameras also have different fields of view, and you may want a wider one depending on your streaming setup (i.e. It’s also worth looking at the video frame rates offered – 30fps is good and fine, while 60fps is smoother, but costs more. We have included options for a broad range of resolutions, so that whatever your needs and budgets, you should be catered for. Higher resolutions, meanwhile, are nice to have, but probably unnecessary as even speedy internet connections can struggle with streaming 4K.
Anything lower than that will be passable but not the best quality (though it will come cheaper). Different cameras shoot at different resolutions, for instance, and for streaming it’s best to have access to Full HD (1920x1080 pixels). It’s important to look at each camera’s specs before making a decision. And if you want to stick with a smartphone, our best camera phones guide will help you find the best ones for video. Want a more general-purpose camera? We’ve also got a round-up of the best cameras overall.