Obsbot Tiny Review: Bringing A.I. Smarts to the Webcam
"The Obsbot Tiny is a unique webcam that could have benefited from a larger sensor."
advantages
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Subject tracking works fine
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AI-controlled panning, tilting and zooming
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Noise-canceling microphones
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Innovative gimbal design
disadvantage
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Image quality suffers in low light
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Maximum resolution of 1080p
Webcams have become an integral part of our lives – especially in the past year and a half – and allow us to collaborate and communicate remotely. While most webcams try to differentiate themselves in terms of video and microphone quality, Obsbot takes a radically different approach.
Based on the proven 1080p video standard, the $ 199 Obsbot Tiny is a personal home webcam that blends artificial intelligence, a two-axis gimbal, and subject tracking capabilities into a truly powerful solution that is normally found in larger and often more expensive devices too is to find conference room products.
It promises to be a smart tool for YouTubers, with more natural pan, tilt, and zoom functions that will make your videos appear dynamic.
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In a room where most webcams haven't changed much over the years, Obsbot's setting is a surprising breath of fresh air. Instead of relying on a humble one-piece case to house the image sensor and microphones and a stand that attaches to most monitors, Obsbot instead gives the traditional design an extreme makeover. With the Obsbot Tiny you get a mix of a traditional webcam and a gimbal, like the Osmo series from DJI.
At first glance, the design of the Obsbot may seem refreshing, but a bit over the top. After all, monitors don't need the stabilization mechanism of a gimbal as they are meant to be a stationary piece of technology and most people don't have important video calls from a noisy train or a turbulent airplane. However, in this case the gimbal is not designed for stabilized video feeds, but for controlling the cam.
The Tiny uses artificial intelligence to drive the motor in the two-axis gimbal so that the camera can pan, tilt and zoom (PTZ). This makes them one of the most compact PTZ desktop webcams on the market today, if not the most compact.
In fact, this design is similar to the Obsbot Tiny DJI's Pocket 4K with a choppy handle. The Tiny comes with a magnetic base that allows it to be attached to most metal surfaces and a magnetic mounting clip so it can be easily attached to laptops and monitors. Creatives looking to use this on a tripod can also rely on the threads on the bottom of the Tiny.
Like many modern webcams, the Obsbot can record video at FHD 1080p resolution, but the downside is that you're limited to 30 frames per second – other fps formats aren't supported. Digital zoom is supported, and the maximum zoom is 2x, which gives you some flexibility in panning and zooming for closer shots if you're willing to sacrifice some image quality in the process.
The camera has omnidirectional microphones with noise canceling technology, which worked surprisingly well when testing the device at home and in a quieter coffee shop in the afternoon.
The gimbal allows the camera to pan up to 150 degrees and tilt up or down up to 45 degrees, adding the flexibility to get the perfect shot if you're a video artist looking to stream.
A single USB cable is all you need to connect your desktop or laptop. Obsbot also included a DC connector in case your device isn't supplying enough power to the Tiny. In our tests, we didn't have to use DC power on a variety of Apple, HP, and Lenovo laptops.
Performance and image quality
It's easy to get excited about the advanced features of the Obsbot Tiny in an area that has only seen iterative improvements, but you really need to evaluate how you're doing your video calling or streaming sessions before investing in the Tiny. For example, most people sit relatively stationary at their desks during video calls, so the PTZ functions do not work at all.
If you want to turn your living room into a shark tank-like stage with easels, a whiteboard, and posters, then the Tiny makes sense. With that in mind, the Tiny makes your home presentation look more like an Apple product announcement keynote and tracks you and your movements on your “home stage” to deliver a more dynamic video.
For its tiny size, the Obsbot Tiny works really well – the performance of the omnidirectional noise-canceling microphone was solid. The group I videoconference with found that despite the background noise in a coffee shop, my voice was clean and clear and distractions were minimized.
The video quality was competent for the most part. At 1080p FHD, it was definitely sharper and less grainy than the 720p HD camera on my 2016 MacBook Pro. In general, I found the image quality to be roughly on par with Windows laptops with a 1080p webcam. That's not a huge compliment, given that laptop webcams are notorious for their poor quality.
Compared to a 4K webcam, like the UltraSharp webcam from Dell or the highly rated Brio from Logitech, the video quality of the Obsbot Tiny is definitely not that sharp. If you are using the camera for video recording – rather than streaming or video conferencing – this shouldn't be a huge problem, as most call services limit the upload resolution to 1080p or less.
The biggest disadvantage of a webcam as advanced as the Obsbot Tiny is that the image sensor is small. This means that the camera won't capture as much light as a larger camera, like a DSLR or mirrorless camera. In this case, it means that the picture quality quickly drops in low light and you will notice more graininess in your videos when you make video calls in darker rooms. In brightly lit environments with adequate ambient lighting, this isn't a problem, so office calls are fine, but gamers and streamers who play in darker rooms may want to look elsewhere for a streaming solution.
Due to the lack of HDR video support, if you sit in front of a bright window, you will notice some blown out lights and darker areas in the picture will lose some detail differ little when the camera is pointed at your face.
AI smart
Many of the camera's controls and settings can be set manually using software that can be installed on your PC. However, if you don't want to operate the camera yourself, you can rely on artificial intelligence to get the job done.
Like more advanced webcams, the Tiny can automatically track and frame your subject by panning and tilting the camera to create a smooth video feed with no choppy transitions. The feature works really well, although it may take a few seconds for the Obsbot Tiny to capture and locate the subject. If you're not jogging from one end of the room to the other – think of a small, steady pace on stage – then the camera can easily follow. The camera had a bit of a problem with faster moving subjects, like a baby running around the room.
Another AI-controlled element is gesture control. Instead of navigating the software or fiddling with the hardware, you can simply put your hand with your fingers outward next to your face and the camera will capture the target. The LED light strip on the base of the Obsbot Tiny will flash, indicating that it has clicked into place on you.
Once the camera has identified who to track, it uses AI. to pan and pan the camera with the motors in the gimbal anywhere in the room. The engine is not loud at all during operation, which was a nice feature that minimized annoying background noise.
If you need to zoom in, you can put your hand next to your face and use your index finger and thumb to form an “L”. This will cause the camera to zoom in 2 times for a tighter area around your face.
If you're recording a sales pitch or presentation yourself, you can create a more compelling video with a camera that can automatically pan, tilt, and zoom. The best part is you don't even have to have a cameraman to get the job done.
And while this camera doesn't have its own privacy lock, you can put the camera to sleep when you're done. In this mode, the Obsbot Tiny will point the lens down, giving you the peace of mind that it is not shooting when it shouldn't be. The LED indicator strip also shows whether the camera is in recording mode.
Our opinion
The Obsbot Tiny offers many advanced AI-powered features in one compelling hardware package. Obsbot's Tiny Webcam brings premium PTZ capabilities more commonly found in video solutions for larger conference rooms in an affordable package for home use. However, it really is only a good option for someone who needs this functionality as the image quality is not the best.
Are there alternatives?
There are plenty of capable 1080p and 4K webcams out there. Inexpensive webcams start at well under $ 100, but generally, you get what you pay for. At $ 199, the Obsbot Tiny competes with premium webcams like Logitech's Brio.
The Brio costs the same as the Tiny but sacrifices the Obsbot's more advanced AI. Features in favor of more advanced picture quality. That means you get better 4K resolution – compared to 1080p – and HDR support on the Brio.
How long it will take?
The Obsbot Tiny has a standard one-year limited warranty, but webcams are built to last for many years. Unlike smartphones, a webcam is not a peripheral designed for annual or biennial upgrades, and the Obsbot can potentially last for five years or even more. Unless the hardware breaks – due to the gimbal mechanism, the Obsbot Tiny may be more vulnerable than other competing webcams due to the number of moving parts – the device should last for many years.
Should you buy it?
Yes, although it really depends on the features you need from a webcam. If you're only using the Tiny for general video chatting, its advanced features may be over the top and you will be better off getting something with better picture quality. However, if you're recording a sales pitch or presentation, an AI-powered cameraman is a unique tool.
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