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Recommendations · U3 of 8
This is an updateable recommendation page, not a course article. It was last checked in September 2026 against manufacturer websites and international retailers (including B&H Photo, AVer USA, and Marshall USA) — prices and availability change, so check them before deciding to buy.
This page collects concrete model options for camera 1 (the church’s main camera, framing the speaker in a medium shot from about 20 metres away). The requirement every model here must meet — a minimum 35mm-equivalent focal length of 600mm — is explained in the article “How Much Zoom Do You Need?”; it is not repeated here. All the models below have also been assessed against the seven criteria from the article “What Criteria Decide the Church’s Main Camera?” (continuous power supply, reliable HDMI output, sufficient optical zoom, suitability for a fixed installation, ease of use for a volunteer).
Model Options by Price Tier
| Model | Price tier | 35mm-equivalent focal length (telephoto) | International availability | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic HC-V900 | Budget, approx. 850 USD/EUR level (B&H Photo approx. 848 USD, September 2026) | 600mm, manufacturer-stated | Widely and currently sold globally | Hits exactly the 600mm minimum — no generous margin. 1080p, not 4K. |
| Panasonic HC-VX3 | Mid-tier, approx. 1000 USD/EUR level (B&H Photo approx. 998 USD, September 2026) | 600mm, manufacturer-stated | Widely and currently sold | Same optics as the HC-V900, plus 4K recording. Does not add optical range — only higher resolution. |
| AVer PTZ330UV2 (PTZ route) | Premium, roughly 2,600–3,300 USD/EUR level (one retailer showed approx. 3,100 USD in September 2026) | Approximately 800–900mm — calculated from the camera’s stated field of view (2.5° telephoto), not a figure the manufacturer states directly | Widely and currently sold (confirmed on the manufacturer’s own site) | A genuine margin above 600mm. Designed for fixed installation, preset-based control. Because the focal length is a calculated estimate, a practical test before purchase matters especially for this model. |
Models to Remove From the List in This Update
Two previously researched options no longer qualify, and this is worth flagging clearly so that the next person updating this page does not propose them again without re-checking:
- The Sony PXW-Z190 has been discontinued. The manufacturer has replaced it with the PXW-Z200, but the PXW-Z200’s larger 1-inch sensor produces a shorter 35mm-equivalent focal length (roughly 480mm optically) with the same 20x zoom as its predecessor — it no longer meets the 600mm requirement and so cannot replace the Z190 on this list. The Z200 is also more expensive than the Z190 (approx. 4,700 USD), which further confirms that this route does not fit a system at this budget.
- The Marshall CV730 (all variants, including the newest CV730-BHN/WHN) has been fully discontinued according to the manufacturer’s own website. Contrary to an earlier assumption, the CV630-NDI is not a usable successor — it has itself been discontinued, and it was always in a different optical class (25x, a shorter 120.5mm telephoto, a smaller sensor) than the CV730, not the same range. Marshall’s current long-range PTZ model is the CV625-TBN/TWN (25x, an actual telephoto of 171.95mm, calculated at roughly 830mm equivalent — not a manufacturer-stated figure), which is designed primarily for AI auto-tracking with a dual camera and costs roughly 3,300–3,400 USD — more expensive than the old CV730 was. [UPDATE REQUIRED: if the Marshall route is to be kept on this list, it goes through the CV625-TBN/TWN — request written confirmation from the manufacturer or a retailer of the actual 35mm-equivalent focal length before publishing, because the figure given here is calculated.]
Choosing Between These Three
The budget and mid-tier models share the same optics, so choosing between them is not a question of shot size — it is a question of whether 4K recording is needed or 1080p is enough. Neither exceeds the 600mm requirement with any margin, so shot design must be a loose medium shot with both, not a tight framing. The premium route (PTZ) brings a genuine margin in focal length and preset-based control set up in advance, but the price is roughly triple, and the focal length itself is a calculated estimate — this combination is worth choosing when a church has both the budget and the willingness to confirm it thoroughly through testing before buying, not when the budget is tight.
Reminder: A Practical Test Is Required, Not Optional
Every figure above — including the ones the manufacturer itself states — has been measured in a way that may not match your own sanctuary exactly. This course’s technical reference sets a practical optical test on site as a required condition before purchase, not a recommendation: the camera is brought or borrowed into your own room, filmed from the actual distance at the speaker’s position, and the result is viewed on your own screen. This applies especially to the PTZ option, whose focal length on this page is a calculated estimate — also ask the seller or manufacturer for written confirmation of the actual 35mm-equivalent focal length, if possible.
All prices are indicative and from US retailers — the local price can differ noticeably because of VAT and import costs. Use the figures on this page as an order of magnitude, not an exact budget.
Next step: U5 — Computer and capture device: what’s worth buying?