Streamline Your Portable Streaming System, Part 2: Cameras

Other Camera Options for Budget Productions

When we do have the budgets for camera operators, but are still trying to travel with a portable kit, one of my favorite cameras to use is the Canon XA25 (Figure 4, below). The XA25 captures high-quality images; it has professional XLR audio inputs as well as HD-SDI outputs; it records to SD cards; and it has a 20X optical zoom. The quality of the images is fantastic as well. In 2014, Mobeon captured most of Streaming Media West with XA25s.

Figure 4. Canon XA25

A step up from that is the Canon XF205 (Figure 5, below). I've used this camera as well as its predecessor, the XF105. The XF205 is very similar to the XA25, but it’s a little larger and has a better sensor. Also, another thing is that it records to other formats, to both compact flash and SD. It also features XLR connectors and SDI outputs. If you're looking for something that's a little bit more on the pro side or prosumer side, the Canon XF205 is a great choice as well.

Figure 5. Canon XF205

Another camera I’d recommend for you kit if you’re traveling to shoot and stream events is the Sony PMW-200 (Figure 6, below). We've used this workhorse for a lot of events. We still, in fact, use the Sony EX1Rs or EX1s, which is the predecessor to this camera. Overall, the PMW-200 combines three 1/2” sensors with built-in pro functionality, including XLR inputs and HD-SDI outputs.

Figure 6. Sony PMW-200

If you do larger events such as stage events, I would recommend the PMW-200 as a camera. You could fit three of them in a typical Pelican case. We've done it. Again, the PMW-200 is a workhorse, and we’ve never had any issues with the cameras whatsoever.