At a look
Knowledgeable’s Score
Execs
- Very good 4K video in a number of lighting situations
- Glorious utility software program and configurability
- Strong mic
- Voice instructions are a pleasant contact
Cons
- Doesn’t sit as securely as Tiny 1
- “Beauty” choices aren’t value 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. Different points, although, take a slight step again.
Finest Costs In the present day: OBSBOT Tiny 2 PTZ 4K Webcam
$329.00
We weren’t positive 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 sweetness enhancements, although, assist justify the extraordinarily excessive value.
At an MSRP of $329, the OBSBOT Tiny 2 is arguably 10 instances the worth of some price range cameras in our roundup of the very best webcams. However 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 also be promoting what it calls the Tiny Distant Management ($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 fundamental degree, OBSBOT elevated the picture high quality with a 1/1.5-inch 50Mpixel CMOS picture sensor. OSBBOT additionally improved the main focus 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 indicate off your face the very best it could, with lifelike coloration in a number of lighting situations. A current replace added HDR capabilities, although, which we’d say want some extra work.
Nonetheless 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 software 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 building looks like a slight step down from the prior technology. A brief USB-C to USB-C cable, about 3 ft, 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 a less complicated building 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? Beautiful
Just like the first-gen Tiny webcam, you could have 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 sleek movement you’d see on TVs, whereas the 4K setting makes your particulars pop. Both appears nice when it comes to capturing pre-recorded video, however you’ll additionally stand out on Groups or Zoom calls if these codecs help 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 enables the digicam to pivot and pan to maintain you focused. The Tiny 2 provides zoom to this as properly, a characteristic that some webcams assisted by Microsoft’s Home windows Studio Results have additionally used.
You received’t discover this in your regular Zoom name—and, to be truthful, some folks desire a set webcam that doesn’t comply with them in the event that they lean right down to pet their canine. However for those who wish to stroll round, otherwise you’re making a presentation in a bodily workspace, a webcam that follows you round is perhaps appreciated. The OBSBOT Tiny 2 PTZ 4K does look like it has a bit extra hassle monitoring your face than the sooner technology, 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 practically excellent: easy, environment friendly, and easy. With the Tiny 2, the addition of latest options has muddled every part only a bit. For instance, the Tiny 2’s “human tracking” options provide each “standard” but in addition “motion” monitoring, in addition to “normal tracking” and the flexibility to give attention to you as a “closeup” or your “upper body” but in addition “headless” (!) in addition to “lower body” (?!!) modes. It will possibly even zoom in in your desk (okay) in addition to monitor 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 huge, medium, and slim fields of view.
Mark Hachman / IDG
The Tiny 2’s voice instructions and sweetness options are simply okay
One quirk of the Tiny 1 was a hand gesture that signaled the webcam to focus in your face. Whereas that elective gesture nonetheless stays, now you’ll be able to inform the webcam to get up (“Hi, Tiny”) and “track me” or “unlock me” as an alternative.
The worrying factor in all this that “Hi Tiny” is not a conventional wake phrase, like a wise speaker. You may spontaneously say “unlock me,” and the digicam will cease monitoring you. It’s possible you’ll discover that just a little creepy, for the reason that webcam is basically all the time listening. (Different instructions embody “zoom in closer,” “zoom out further,” and “position [one/two/three]” with preconfigured “macros” or conditions.
In any other case, although, the mic within the Tiny 2 is excellent, and captured my voice very properly 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 opposite characteristic that OBSBOT added to the Tiny 2 PTZ 4K is a set of AI magnificence enhancements. A few of these look just like options hidden within the Samsung Galaxy Ebook software program, the place the AI will give your lips a delicate pink hue. A person-specific setting narrows an in any other case spherical face.
The actual eyebrow raiser, although, are physique settings: sliders to boost or lower the dimensions of your head, shoulders, waist, and extra. Need to look “leggy”? Dial up the slider. Need to slim down? A slider does that too.
Don’t hassle, although, because the AI enhancements don’t actually work properly sufficient to idiot anybody, and a slim waist means two various things on a feminine and male determine. Possibly 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 take a look at laptop computer (at 4K settings) launched huge lag, bringing the video high quality right down to a crawl. The Tiny 2 additionally bought sizzling to the contact underneath 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, despite the fact that a few of its added options aren’t value as a lot as OBSBOT believes.
