There are dozens of team sports cameras on the market today. Most of these advertise as AI-powered. True, AI-enabled devices can be easier to use than non-tech, traditional cameras.
But really, what features should you look for in a camera for team sports? And what are some of the best devices on the market? We’ve answered those questions in this post.
Features:
Why Choose:
The XbotGo Chameleon has auto tracking for 20+ team sports, like soccer, basketball, football, and ice hockey. The player tracking mode will follow a player during a game or for solo training sessions. These features allow for flexible use in a team.
Use the camera with an iPhone or Android to command your phone's camera to pan, tilt, or zoom when recording. On compatible devices, the Chameleon supports 4K video recording. Its 120° wide lens dual camera will catch all the action, even on a pro-sized court or pitch.
The camera setup is easy, involving just a phone and a tripod. You can tag or bookmark key moments, then convert those bits into a highlight reel to share with fans and family. Or, you can livestream the entire event to OBS or social media profiles such as Facebook or YouTube. Open the mobile app and pair the device with your phone. Select the sports mode, tap the live button, then choose a streaming quality that your network can support.
The streaming process is a bit different, depending on the platform. So follow the video instructions to stream on OBS, YouTube, or Facebook. Also note that the platforms have live streaming requirements such as account age and followers count.
The XbotGo Chameleon is a non-subscription camera. Hence, its pricing model is more cost effective compared to subscription cameras.
Features:
Why Choose:
The Veo Cam 3 uses AI functions to automatically pan, zoom, and center the game action without an operator. Also, the AI editor will auto-highlight key moments in the game, such as makes or misses to create reels. Like the Chameleon, it can track players and generate individual highlights by shirt numbers.
The dual 180° lenses reach far, so you can review any part of the field, not just the area in focus. The 4K capture sharpens the image quality, making it look professional. The AI handles tracking and tagging, it does not need any manual input.
Users need a subscription to livestream events on popular social media platforms. Besides Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity, the 5G variant allows faster internet connection.
You will need an active subscription to access or analyze footage. The starter plan is limited to a team of 15 and 10 recording hours per month. The team plan allows 30 users and 40 monthly recording hours.
Features:
Why Choose:
Traceup's AI tracks the action during the match, so you don't need a camera operator. Like the Veo Cam 3, the AI helps generate game highlights in the end, saving hours of manual video editing. However, Traceup is not a multi-sports camera and is primarily optimized for soccer.
Traceup uses a single main camera that shoots at 1080P, a little shy of 4K quality. Users can add their smartphone cameras in MultiCam mode for close up views or player-specific videos. The Trace AI will then join together the footage from the different cameras.
Traceup uses fixed-angle streaming where it disables features such as zooming or auto-tracking. Streaming does not need a subscription. It does not stream to social media; viewers can watch by clicking the in-app generated link.
Users must subscribe to access recorded games, PlayerCam highlights, or AI reels. See the post on soccer cameras without a subscription.
Features:
Why Choose:
The PIX4TEAM 2 camera is a robotic head that detects the players and ball and keeps them centered in the frame. The camera will pan, tilt, or zoom to follow the play.
This multi-sports camera works with sports like hockey and handball. But tagging isn’t automatic, though you can tag live using the app or after filming.
You can use the equipment with 4K camcorders or cameras to record high resolution. Users can livestream to YouTube or Facebook with their camera and encoder for free. The optional subscription is for cloud services such as extra storage and video sharing.
The device is without assisted video editing, so you must use a video editing software for this purpose.
Features:
Why Choose:
Hudl allows for hands free auto tracking. The camera pans and zooms to focus on the players or the ball during games. Hudl supports AI-assisted tagging and will recognize key player moments such as a skill, during matches.
Hudl Focus has a single 180° panoramic view camera that delivers 1080p HD video. So it's not 4K but the footage can help teams review and analyze matches or showcase their talents to scouts.
Since it requires precise setup, users prefer to mount it permanently. You can set the Hudl Focus to auto start or stop recording based on a schedule. This helps to simplify setup and use.
You will need a subscription to record, upload, or livestream to Facebook or YouTube. The device itself is pretty bare and requires a subscription. For example, the silver team plan is yearly and allows for 100 hrs storage, 720p video, and access to basic Hudl tools.
When shopping for a team sports camera, there are a few things to look out for. We have curated this camera list based on these features and we reveal them below.
AI tracking is a key feature for a sports camera. It simplifies the recording process and eliminates the need for traditional, handheld cameras. While AI functionality is good, it has to be reliable.
It will help if the camera can track key actions such shots, saves, or goals across different team sports. Also, it's useful to be able to track a single player in a team.
When it comes to video recording, a wide angle (at least 120°) camera will capture the full playing area. Meanwhile, a 4K video resolution will make the recording more professional and enjoyable.
You want a camera with PTZ (pan, tilt, and zoom) functions. Pan and tilt refer to side and vertical camera movements, while the zoom adjusts the lens to make objects look close or far. Without PTZ, you will need several fixed cameras to achieve similar coverage.
A complex gadget will need plenty of setup time and is more difficult to control. A simpler camera is easier to navigate as you can complete a setup 5 minutes before a game. You want a device with simple controls, easy access, and video editing functions.
Cover your local sports games through the live streaming feature. Parents, fans, and even scouts should be able to monitor the games live on Facebook, YouTube, or other social media platforms as they happen. The attention from such live sessions is enough to motivate young players.
Compared to subscription cameras, non-subscription cameras offer better value for money. This is especially true when you need to scale the team to accommodate new players. With some subscription cameras, each new player will attract a fee.
When shopping for a sports camera that can serve a team, you should consider its use. AI enabled cameras need not be manned, so filming is automated, resulting in better recordings.
Also, video quality, ease of use, and cost are other factors to remember when choosing a sports team camera. The XbotGo Chameleon meets these attributes while remaining affordable. Its smart features, multi-sports compatibility, and easy usage make it a popular pick.
Wish to upgrade your team sports experience? Get the XbotGo Chameleon today.
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