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Livestreaming has become a huge thing in recent years. In fact, there are many people around the world whose jobs are now about livestreaming. There are some streamers in countries such as China who have become celebrities in their own right as they have the ability to use their livestreams to sell products, sometimes in the millions per stream, which is honestly kind of crazy when you think about it.
Now, back in the day when streaming was still relatively new, a lot of people still largely relied on webcams. While webcams are perfectly fine for the occasional use, they’re not necessarily the best in terms of quality or features for livestreamers, which is why those who take their streams seriously also invest in proper equipment.
If you’re thinking about jumping into the livestreaming world, or maybe you’re just looking to upgrade your video conferencing gear, then perhaps Hollyland’s VenusLiv camera could be something worth taking a look at.
Design
One thing that pops into mind when you look at the VenusLiv is how it reminds us of the camcorders from back in the day. On the front, it sports a massive circular lens which offers an 80-degree FOV, and on the side, there is a small display that you can flip outwards so that you can have a look at what’s being recorded.
Generally speaking, if you’re livestreaming from your computer, your monitor already acts as a viewfinder of sorts where you can already see yourself, but in case you’re on the go and don’t have a monitor close at hand, the flip out display can come in handy. It can also be useful for those who might not be streaming with the camera pointed at their faces and might be streaming the environment around them or using the camera to point towards a product.
In terms of size, the VenusLiv will be bigger compared to traditional webcams. It measures 178mm x 99.7mm x 94.8mm and weighs around 900g, so it’s not the smallest or lightest camera around, but we suppose that’s one of the trade-offs if you want better quality videos and features. If you’re not planning on carrying it around with you and are only going to mount it on a tripod, then its size and weight shouldn’t really matter too much.
The upside to it having a larger body is that it has allowed Hollyland to equip it with a bunch of physical controls so you can use it even without a computer connected to it. There are also a bunch of ports including a USB port and a port where you can attach an external microphone if you’re looking to improve the overall sound.
But if you plan to use the in-built microphone, not to worry as there is actually a sound card inside of the camera that will give users more control over the sound and add effects like reverb.
Easy to use and setup
A good thing about webcams is that they’re generally plug and play, meaning that you plug it into your PC’s USB port and you’re good to go. Other more professional setups that might involve the use of higher-end camera equipment like DSLRs or mirrorless cameras might need a bit more work.
For example, some non-webcam capture devices might require a capture card to interface their device with their PCs. This adds complications as there are many types of capture cards out there with differing quality, so beginners might feel overwhelmed at having to spend more money on equipment they’re unfamiliar with.
Luckily, the Hollyland VenusLiv is a mix of both. It is more professional than a webcam, but at the same time it does not require users to buy additional equipment like capture cards or audio interfaces. All they need to do is plug it into their PCs, install the necessary software and drivers, and they’ll be ready to livestream.
The built-in software also offers users a bunch of preset scenes to choose from, so if you’re new to all this or are unfamiliar with the camera’s settings, you can just pick from one of these preset scenes to get started. Of course, users can make customized tweaks if they want, but like we said, one of the selling points of the VenusLiv is its ease of use, so you can always fiddle around with the settings later on if you want.
There are also other features like real-time autofocusing so you don’t have to worry about you or your subject being out of focus during the stream. Users can also make focus adjustments quickly either by tapping on the touchscreen or the focus ring so they don’t have to fiddle around with the software.
Continuous 24/7 livestreaming
Now, one of the problems with livestreaming is that it can result in the camera getting quite hot. This is why even though some camera makers have created apps that allow their cameras to be turned into webcams, it’s not really that practical because when used for an extended period of time, it gets too hot and it will shut down.
The VenusLiv has been designed to allow streamers to broadcast 24/7. For starters, it can run in powered mode meaning that you don’t have to worry about it running out of battery mid-stream. Secondly, Hollyland has designed the camera to feature an aerospace-grade heat dissipation system.
This allows the heat generated by the camera to dissipate more effectively, which should prevent it from shutting down due to overheating, and also ensuring that performance is not affected. This is because sometimes a camera or even a computer that overheats can result in stuttering and drops in framerates which might not be ideal.
Obviously the environment you’re streaming in matters too. If you’re streaming without the air-conditioner or fan turned on, or you’re outdoors in a hot environment, this could have an impact on performance. But assuming there is sufficient cooling, the VenusLiv should have no issues streaming 24/7.
Users will also have options when it comes to streaming. For example, there is an RTMP streaming connection that allows users to stream from the camera directly to a social network like Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Twitch, or Instagram, making it perfect for on-the-go streams. Alternatively, they can rely on UVC streaming which goes through their PCs and then onto a social networking platform of their choice.
Pricing & availability
All in all, the Hollyland VenusLiv is a great livestreaming camera if you’re looking to upgrade your setup beyond the potato webcam that comes with laptops or the aging webcam that you might have bought for your PC years ago.
It is a bit of an investment coming in at $999, but if you’re keen, you will be able to grab one from the company’s Amazon store or directly from its website.
- Support for RTMP Streaming: Utilizing the Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP), the VenusLiv enables you to stream content by...
- Instant Real-Time Autofocus: The VenusLiv has lightning-fast hybrid autofocus capabilities that use both phase and contrast...
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