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Recommendations · U2 of 8
This is an updateable recommendation page, not a course article — it intentionally includes device models and price levels, which vary by country and retailer, so check them before buying. The reasoning for why a second camera and a particular switching route are worth choosing lives in separate articles (“When Does a Second Camera Pay Off?” and “How Do You Run Two Cameras With One Operator?”); this page only says what to buy.
GROW2 takes the START system (one camera, approx. 2000 €) to a two-camera production. This is not a new system built from scratch — camera 1, the computer, the audio interface, and the YouTube stream stay as they are. GROW2 adds a second camera, its own cabling and power, and a way to switch between the two shots. At this stage, the total price rises to roughly the 2500–3000 euro level, depending on which options are chosen.
Shopping List
| Item | Default choice | Price level | Alternative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camera 2 | A fixed camcorder from the same manufacturer family as camera 1 (e.g. a Panasonic HC-V380-type model) | approx. 250–400 (local currency) | A budget PTZ/conference camera, if camera 2 needs to be movable — approx. 400–650. Full comparison: U4. |
| Mount and continuous power for camera 2 | Wall/stand mount plus a mains power adapter (if not included with the camera) | approx. 25–50 | Budget PTZ models usually include mount and power as standard |
| Cabling for camera 2 (video + power) | Same principle as camera 1: a certified cable for a short run, an active/reinforced cable or an extender for a longer run (the exact limit depends on the cable, not a fixed distance) | approx. 100–150 (short run) / approx. 150–250 (long run) | — |
| Switching route | OBS’s built-in scene switching: a second USB capture device on the computer (same type as camera 1’s) | approx. 90–140 | An ATEM Mini Pro hardware switcher in front of PC/OBS — approx. 350–450. See U8. |
| Extra safety margin | Spare cable or adapter, a small cabling buffer | approx. 50–100 | — |
| Total (GROW2, default choices) | approx. 2500–3000 |
The price level is given as an order of magnitude, not an exact price for any single country or retailer. The local price can differ noticeably from a US list price because of VAT, import costs, exchange rates, local distribution, and current offers — these vary enough by country that no single general percentage adjustment can be given reliably. Always check the price in your own region before locking in the budget.
[UPDATE REQUIRED: check the current price and availability of the budget PTZ/conference camera (a Tenveo/SZOOMSY type) in your own region before publishing — this is a relatively new product category, and there is not yet long-term church-use data for it.]
The Line Items, Briefly
Camera 2. This course’s default choice is the same manufacturer family as camera 1, because it reduces the color difference between the two shots — something especially noticeable during worship music, when the shot is switched most often. This is not a unanimous recommendation: some of this course’s specialists consider a flexible budget-PTZ model better when camera 2’s placement is not yet locked down, because its zoom range covers more than one placement distance with the same device. Both positions, along with the specific models and price ranges, are presented in full on page U4.
Mount and power. Camera 2’s role (the full stage or the worship group) does not require as sturdy an installation as camera 1’s long telephoto shot, but continuous mains power is still needed — battery operation is not recommended for a fixed, weekly-use setup.
Cabling. Camera 2 needs its own video and power cable to the control point, following the same principles as camera 1: the reliable maximum distance depends on the cable’s certification, speed class, and resolution, not a fixed number of metres — a short run can use an ordinary certified cable, while a longer run is better served by an active cable or a cable extender for reliability. This is not worth cutting corners on for budget reasons: unreliable cabling makes the whole second camera useless.
Switching route. This course’s default route is OBS’s built-in scene switching: both cameras are brought into the computer through their own capture devices, and switching is done in software the same way as switching scenes with one camera at the START level. This continues the START-level architecture directly and does not require learning a new device. The alternative is adding an ATEM Mini Pro hardware switcher in front of the computer: it removes the load risk of two capture devices running in parallel and shortens the startup sequence, but it is its own documented path with its own advantages and limitations — its effect on adding song lyrics and graphics later is especially worth reading about before choosing. Full comparison and shopping list for this route: U8.
Extra safety margin. A small reserve for a broken cable or adapter is worth setting aside at the same time as the rest of the purchase, so that a single broken part doesn’t stop the stream the following Sunday.
Total Price Estimate
With the default choices (a fixed camcorder as camera 2, OBS’s built-in switching), GROW2 typically comes to a total of roughly 2500–3000 euros on top of the START level — staying within this course’s 3000-euro target level, though without much slack. If a budget PTZ is chosen as camera 2 and/or an ATEM Mini Pro for switching, the total rises by roughly 150–450 euros more — in that case it is worth deliberately deciding which added cost (a flexible placement for camera 2, or a hardware-based switching route) brings more value to your own church.
What to Remember
- GROW2 adds a second camera to the START system, along with its own cabling and power, and a way to switch between the two shots — the rest of the system stays as it is.
- Camera 2 has two justified options (same manufacturer family as camera 1, or a flexible budget PTZ) — full comparison in U4.
- There are two routes for switching: OBS’s built-in scene switching (this course’s default) or an ATEM Mini Pro hardware switcher — full comparison in U8.
- The total price typically comes to the 2500–3000 euro level with the default choices, and somewhat higher if the more expensive option is chosen in both places.