I often get questions about using DSLR cameras for live streaming and I always recommend against it.
Why? Because live video is very different than production video.
If you compare a football game and film set, you will notice that they use very different tools. This has to with the different work flow of each situation.
- In a live environment, there are no retakes. Each service happens in a finite time slot. Having the right camera helps you get the best results in real time. Things like zoom and auto focus are important tools to help you get a fast result in live situations.
- In live video, camera positions are not always ideal. In a production environment, you aren’t dealing with a congregation and so you can put cameras exactly where you want them. In a live service, you probably aren’t going to put your in the middle of the center aisle. A camera with a good optical zoom lens can help you get the shots you need.
- In a live environment, lighting can be less than ideal. Unlike a production video, where you can set up three point lighting and control everything, most auditoriums are not a lit for video. Cameras that work well in low lighting will help you shoot better video. Cameras that are built for the studio need lots of light because they are designed for a well lit studio environment.
So what do I recommend?
Good quality video cameras or PTZ cameras. They have solid autofocus, smooth zoom controls, good low light performance if you pick the right ones.
But what about that one big church, whose livestream looks amazing? If you had a media budget that size and professional broadcast gear your stream might look that good. But they aren’t using DSLRs.
