Lumens VC-B30U – a quick unboxing of the new PTZ camera with USB 3.0 and HDMI
In the flood of cameras connected to computers via USB, there are few solutions that stand out like the new Lumens solution – the VC-B30U. But what makes this piece of equipment so special? We will try to answer this question during our unboxing. Enjoy!
Basic information
The Lumens VC-B30U is the successor to the VC-B20U model – a fairly popular PTZ camera equipped with a USB 3.0 interface. For the uninitiated: PTZ cameras are so-called rotating cameras, whose name comes from the English words: Pan, Tilt, Zoom. The rotating mechanism used in these cameras allows the lens to be pointed in the direction indicated by the operator and to zoom in/out the image. These cameras first proved themselves in surveillance, but their versatility meant that they were quickly adapted for the needs of videoconferencing systems. The USB interface present in selected solutions makes this type of camera very often an inseparable element of professional conference systems based on applications installed on a PC.
Specification – what’s new
The new Lumens camera brings with it several novelties, but perhaps the biggest improvement is the addition of an HDMI interface – thanks to which the functionality of the VC-B30U is not limited only to connecting to a computer. Thanks to the HDMI connector, the new model can be easily connected, for example, to a hardware videoconferencing system, such as Aver, Polycom, Lifesize, or Cisco.
The second major improvement is the optical zoom – in the new model we have a 12x optical zoom (in the predecessor this parameter was 5x). A larger zoom slightly expands the range of target audiences for this camera, making it also suitable for larger conference rooms or lecture halls.
Basic parameters
- 1/2.8 inch Sony sensor
- Full HD resolution (1920 x 1080) at 60 frames per second
- HDMI and USB 3.0 outputs
- Plug and Play for Windows, Linux, ChromeOS, or Mac systems
- 72-degree field of view
- 12x optical zoom
- Pan/Tilt/Zoom – horizontal: -100 degrees to 100 degrees, vertical: (camera tilt) -30 degrees to 30 degrees, zoom as above
- 128 presets available to the user (camera positions to be programmed and instantly recalled)
- PC software for camera control when connected via USB
- 3-year warranty
What’s in the box?
To keep it brief – a photo report with short comments is at your disposal.
It must be admitted that the box is large, but this is typical for professional PTZ cameras.
Among the accessories, we will find a “Quick Start” guide, a remote control with batteries, an HDMI cable, a USB 3.0 cable, a power adapter, and power cables with two types of plugs (EU and GB).
The camera is very well protected thanks to special molded inserts and protective film
The camera is made of solid plastic, while the necessary ports are available on the back of the camera: power port, RS232 input (for camera control), USB 3.0 output, HDMI output, RS232 output (for connecting another camera), infrared channel switch (useful when there are more Lumens cameras in the same room).
On the bottom, we will find a DIP switch for controlling the camera’s operating modes, as well as mounting holes, including a basic tripod thread (standard, like in cameras)
How does the new camera work?
In the article, we decided not to limit ourselves to just posting a few photos of the camera – we also have two video materials recorded using the VC-B30U for you. We recorded the first one in quite good lighting conditions (artificial lighting, weak daylight – such an aura…), while the second one with the lights off, to show how the new Lumens handles poor lighting conditions. The image was captured via HDMI, thanks to the AverMedia ExtremeCap 910 recorder.
Good lighting conditions, use of zoom, calling presets, camera rotation speed
Poor lighting conditions, use of zoom, calling presets, camera rotation speed, adjustment to changing lighting conditions
Summary
Is the new Lumens camera really a significant leap compared to its predecessor? In our opinion, definitely yes. A larger optical zoom, HDMI output as standard, good automatic operation mode, and very good performance in low light conditions make this camera an ideal solution not only for videoconferencing but also for recording lectures or training sessions.
Thanks to PTZ functionality and the ability to control via RS232, the user receives a professional camera ready for integration with any system – whether it be videoconferencing applications or control systems.