Expert’s Rating
Pros
- Superb 4K video in a number of lighting circumstances
- Excellent utility software program and configurability
- Solid mic
- Voice instructions are a pleasant contact
Cons
- Doesn’t sit as securely as Tiny 1
- “Beauty” choices aren’t price it
Our Verdict
The OBSBOT Tiny 2 PTZ 4K webcam improves upon its predecessor’s stellar video and maintains its superior array of configuration choices. Other facets, although, take a slight step again.
Price When Reviewed
$329.00
Best Prices Today: OBSBOT Tiny 2 PTZ 4K Webcam
$329.00
We weren’t certain how a lot the OBSBOT Tiny 2 PTZ 4K Webcam would enhance over its predecessor. An improved picture sensor and a few surprising AI voice controls and wonder enhancements, although, assist justify the extraordinarily excessive worth.
At an MSRP of $329, the OBSBOT Tiny 2 is arguably 10 instances the value of some funds cameras in our roundup of the best webcams. But the distinction in picture high quality and options is momentous, barring a small change to the Tiny 2’s bodily design that we’re not completely happy with. OBSBOT can be promoting what it calls the Tiny Remote Control ($49) in addition to an extendable tripod ($49.99, with a ball head for $13.90 extra) that extends to about 30 inches.
On a primary stage, OBSBOT elevated the picture high quality with a 1/1.5-inch 50Mpixel CMOS picture sensor. OSBBOT additionally improved the main target time and in-built two ISO settings: one that can kick in when your face is overexposed, and one for darkened rooms. All of those enhancements are designed to point out off your face the most effective it may possibly, with real looking shade in a number of lighting circumstances. A current replace added HDR capabilities, although, which we’d say want some extra work.
Still as Tiny as ever
Having reviewed the OBSBOT Tiny PTZ 4K webcam (about $90 much less at press time) on the identical PC, I discovered that I needed to obtain the up to date utility manually earlier than the software program would acknowledge that the Tiny 2 had been put in. The OSBBOT Tiny app then requested to obtain Tiny 2-specific firmware, which took a number of minutes to put in.
Mark Hachman / IDG
The Tiny 2 is certainly tiny, measuring 1.85 x 2.52 x 1.73 inches and weighing 5 ounces. It ships in a small zipped pouch for safekeeping.
The Tiny 2’s development looks like a slight step down from the prior era. A brief USB-C to USB-C cable, about 3 toes, connects the digicam to your PC. The digicam itself magnetically attaches to a base, held on by a steel body with an overhanging “jaw” that helps maintain it in place. It’s an easier development than the Tiny 1, and fewer safe on older, thicker shows in addition to conventional laptops.
Mark Hachman / IDG
How is the Tiny 2 webcam’s video? Gorgeous
Like the first-gen Tiny webcam, you have got a number of video modes to select from, from 720p at 30Hz (720p30) to 1080p30 or 1080p60, on as much as 4K30. The 1080p60 setting reproduces the graceful movement you’d see on TVs, whereas the 4K setting makes your particulars pop. Either seems nice when it comes to capturing pre-recorded video, however you’ll additionally stand out on Teams or Zoom calls if these codecs assist the Tiny webcam’s video codecs.
It’s a credit score to the Tiny 2 that we haven’t even talked about OBSBOT’s promoting level till now: an impartial gimbal that permits the digicam to pivot and pan to maintain you targeted. The Tiny 2 provides zoom to this as effectively, a function that some webcams assisted by Microsoft’s Windows Studio Effects have additionally used.
You gained’t discover this in your regular Zoom name—and, to be truthful, some folks choose a set webcam that doesn’t comply with them in the event that they lean right down to pet their canine. But when you wish to stroll round, otherwise you’re making a presentation in a bodily workspace, a webcam that follows you round is likely to be appreciated. The OBSBOT Tiny 2 PTZ 4K does appear to be it has a bit extra bother monitoring your face than the sooner era, nevertheless.
The worth of the OBSBOT Tiny 2 boils right down to the improved sensor, barely higher configuration and zoom choices, and the handy however barely worrying voice instructions.
Mark Hachman / IDG
An enormously important a part of the Tiny lineup’s worth is its software program, which on the Tiny 1 was almost excellent: easy, environment friendly, and easy. With the Tiny 2, the addition of recent options has muddled every part only a bit. For instance, the Tiny 2’s “human tracking” options provide each “standard” but additionally “motion” monitoring, in addition to “normal tracking” and the flexibility to give attention to you as a “closeup” or your “upper body” but additionally “headless” (!) in addition to “lower body” (?!!) modes. It may even zoom in in your desk (okay) in addition to observe your hand.
You’ll have to experiment a bit, or simply default to the usual modes. Like earlier than, the Tiny 2 effortlessly slides between extensive, medium, and slim fields of view.
Mark Hachman / IDG
The Tiny 2’s voice instructions and wonder options are simply okay
One quirk of the Tiny 1 was a hand gesture that signaled the webcam to focus in your face. While that elective gesture nonetheless stays, now you may inform the webcam to get up (“Hi, Tiny”) and “track me” or “unlock me” as a substitute.
The worrying factor in all this that “Hi Tiny” is not a standard wake phrase, like a wise speaker. You can spontaneously say “unlock me,” and the digicam will cease monitoring you. You might discover that a bit creepy, for the reason that webcam is basically all the time listening. (Other instructions embrace “zoom in closer,” “zoom out further,” and “position [one/two/three]” with preconfigured “macros” or conditions.
Otherwise, although, the mic within the Tiny 2 is excellent, and captured my voice very effectively each close to and much, even with a fan working within the background. (The Tiny 2 instances out after two minutes of inactivity, pointing on the floor, and the default setting is to show off the mic because it does so.)
The different function that OBSBOT added to the Tiny 2 PTZ 4K is a set of AI magnificence enhancements. Some of those look much like options hidden within the Samsung Galaxy Book software program, the place the AI will give your lips a refined pink hue. A person-specific setting narrows an in any other case spherical face.
The actual eyebrow raiser, although, are physique settings: sliders to reinforce or lower the dimensions of your head, shoulders, waist, and extra. Want to look “leggy”? Dial up the slider. Want to slim down? A slider does that too.
Don’t hassle, although, because the AI enhancements don’t actually work effectively sufficient to idiot anybody, and a slim waist means two various things on a feminine and male determine. Maybe it was a glitch, however a short glimpse of myself with a waist that tapered to inside my hips was greater than sufficient for me. Even worse, turning on the sweetness choices on our check laptop computer (at 4K settings) launched huge lag, bringing the video high quality right down to a crawl. The Tiny 2 additionally received scorching to the contact below load.
For us, then, the worth of the OBSBOT Tiny 2 boils right down to the improved sensor, barely higher configuration and zoom choices, and the handy however barely worrying voice instructions. That’s sufficient to justify shopping for an OBSBOT Tiny 2 PTZ 4K Webcam, though a few of its added options aren’t price as a lot as OBSBOT believes.