Best BUDGET Live Stream Cameras For Churches 2024 

I agree! If only I had the time... 😫 One day, hopefully.

Sorry, I'm just now seeing this. I have all kinds of info and recommendations on my site. And, as always, feel free to reach out directly with any questions.

Great question! Brady takes those scores directly from my website, and I understand they can seem odd when out of context. I have a detailed explanation of how I choose scores at the bottom of every camera list on my site. In short, each camera is compared against every other camera in every category. So a PTZ is rarely ever going to score as high in terms of image quality or dynamic range to a high level cinema camera like an ARRI ALEXA. If you consider all the cameras across all six current categories on my site (camcorders, mirrorless, studio, cinema, PTZ, and POV), you'll see a pretty good balance of scoring across the board from really low all the way up to 10. But also, just because a camera seems to have many low scores doesn't mean it isn't a great value. PTZs are a bit of an outlier because they trade off a lot of things like image quality and performance for the remote operation capabilities. There is a give and take with all of these camera categories. The Canon CR-N100 isn't going to win many image quality shootouts, and manual control isn't going to compare to more expensive solutions like a Ross Furio or MRMC robotic head. But it's still an incredible value considering the things it offers at such a low price point. I believe the overall scoring system benefits those trying to decide between different styles and types of cameras. If image quality is a priority, you'll want to know what categories fair better than others for that metric. If you're more interested in live features like remote zoom or even full PTZ capability, then you'll need to expect some other metrics like image quality may have to give to get that functionality. Ultimately, it's a way to try and set clear expectations about camera strengths and weaknesses. I hope this helps clear that up a bit! And as always, if you ever have questions I am always happy to help. You can reach out through my site.

@@joelwsmith thanks so much for the thorough explanation! That helps clear up the misunderstanding.

@@lhcc My pleasure! Always feel free to reach out if you have any questions or feedback.

Yes, there are many different solutions, all with various pros and cons. First, I would caution against using a laptop for streaming. If you really know what you're doing, then you can disregard the rest of this paragraph. However, if you don't know the difference between CBR and VBR, bits and bytes, and whether you're using hardware-accelerated encoding or not, then it's very easy to get in over your head and wind up frustrated. Ultimately, I don't recommend live streaming from computers for a vast majority of situations. I see way more problems with computers and software encoding than I do hardware solutions - and hardware solutions can often be cheaper in comparison to computer systems with comparable performance. You'll still need a way to control the PTZ functions. You can't control it from a computer over HDMI. It will need a network connection, serial communication connection, or a connected hardware controller. If you're just streaming a single PTZ, keep in mind that the CR-N100 has built-in streaming via RTMP or SRT. So you can stream directly from the camera without having to deal with a capture card and encoding on a laptop. You may also want to look into using the Canon Webcam Driver with the CR-N100. It gives you video and control over a single network connection.

I always recommend pairing PTZs with the manufacturer's controller if there is one. For the Canon CR-N100 that would be the Canon RC-IP100 or RC-IP1000. Both are excellent choices.

Cant you use a dummy battery adaptor and just power with with wall power, or a portable battery?

@@sebastienbadio9208 That is a good question, not sure. I will have to investigate that.

There are definitely NP-FZ100 dummy battery adapters that can use an AC adapter to power the Sony Alpha 6600 continuously. However, a mirrorless camera is probably not going to be a great fit if you will have to get a ladder every time it needs to be powered on/off. I wouldn't recommend leaving the camera powered on long-term either, so if it were me I would look for alternative solutions.

@@joelwsmith that is one of the reasons we were thinking of going the PTZ route.

@@LutheranChurch I think a PTZ is probably a better fit for this situation. However, if you just want a static wide shot and don't need remote pan/tilt capability then the Blackmagic Micro Studio Camera 4K G2 may also be a good fit and will be slightly cheaper. It will automatically turn itself back on if it loses power while the camera is on. So if you can find a way to switch or plug/unplug power from a more accessible location then that would also work well.

All of the Canon CR-N series PTZs have optical image stabilization, including the CR-N100. But I always recommend getting stability in other ways as much as possible. Image stabilization should be an absolute last resort.

I do not recommend the Sony Alpha cameras under $2,000 USD for live streaming or long-form video recording. They overheat way too easily and they have proven to be quite unreliable for many churches that have tried using them for live streaming services.

The Sony ZV series is highly prone to overheating when recording for longer durations. I have even seen multiple instances of heat issues when the ZV cameras are just outputting HDMI and not recording internally. This is one reason why I tend to not recommend Sony for live streaming and long recording until you start spending more money for the Alpha series.

If you are only comparing low light performance, yes.

​@@joelwsmithbut the gh6 let's HDMI in a raw format doesn't it? Would you say that you could make up for that in resolve?

​@@fyfmedia No, not really. Low light performance depends more on the lens and sensor than it does on the processed information. Fundamentally, a full frame camera that has photosites roughly 4 times the size of a Micro Four Thirds camera will have much better performance in lower light situations. Also, this entire list is based on live streaming performance. So being able to minimize/reduce noise in DaVinci Resolve is basically not a consideration.

Could you purchase with your own money?

I think the reality is, there’s not really an option for a usable camera setup below what’s on this vid. Even at that $500 budget, you’re probably better off just not live-streaming and using your phone for social…

@@scooch26 I agree with this. Use your phone if you want to add video to your ministry. I recently purchased an android phone for my kids for $30 and it has a camera that works just fine.

@@warrenroberts1912 I could of course providing I had that much laying around. I doubt most people can drop a thousand on something for someone else, other than a family gift. I sure don't have extra money to buy it.

@@scooch26 We do have a camcorder, Cannon xm11 or something like that. It does ok but when you zoom all the way in it starts to have issues. It is only a 20X zoom, we need a 30X.

haven't experienced this with my lumix cameras. I suggest playing around with different output settings. I think the g7 can do 1080p and 1080i (interlaced) at different framerates. Just experiment and find out what works and what doesnt. Also try putting something else through the converter to make sure that its functioning properly as well.

working with panasonic, I've had to change the hdmi rec output option to be compatible with the intended output... I know on GH5 it's in the settings menu... G7 is similar menu setup so it should be there as well. I looked up the manual, it looks like it's under the TV connection... Set the output resolution until the image pops up... Then make sure you turn OFF the info display option.

Very common with consumer cameras like the G7. I always recommend using a scaler/cross converter when converting video signals from computers or consumer devices. I used to use three G7s and three G85s for years for multicam shoots and would always use a Decimator MD-HX when going to SDI.

The only way to get unlimited recording with the Panasonic G7 is to use the AVCHD format instead of MP4. I used to own three Panasonic G7s and I recorded many events upwards of 2 hours with no issues using that format, so I can confirm from direct experience that it is possible. However, I've also seen a "workaround" here on RU-vid to unlock the 4K recording limit (link to video below). I cannot vouch for the success or reliability of that method, so it's best to approach any hacks or workarounds like that with caution. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-RUYxZmRt0KU.html

I talk about this specifically at the bottom of every camera list on my site. The ratings are in comparison to ALL other cameras, not just the cameras in that specific category. The G7 gets great ratings when compared to just mirrorless cameras, especially at such a low price point. But the G7 can't compare to the performance of a cinema camera or studio camera at significantly higher price points and with many more features.

Cannon m50 is not very nice . Had to give mine away and switched to Sony Fx

Because the M50 is six years old and the entire Canon EOS-M system was discontinued last year...