OBSbot Tail 2 & Tail Air: A Church-Focused Review

Over the past week, I’ve had the opportunity to test two auto-tracking cameras that could potentially transform how smaller churches capture and stream their services – the OBSbot Tail 2 and OBSbot Tail Air. Unlike most reviews you’ll find online that focus on content creation, I wanted to approach this from a ministry perspective: how can these cameras help spread the gospel in your church?

The OBSbot Tail Air: Limited But Has Its Place

Let me start with the Tail Air. At around $500, this compact camera offers 4K recording and auto-tracking capabilities, but I have to be honest – I’m not overly excited about it for most church applications.

The image quality from its sensor and optics just doesn’t impress me enough to recommend it widely for church use. During testing at our youth group, the picture quality was disappointing, even in a modestly lit environment. When recording my son delivering a message, the image was noticeably soft, and I had to crank the gain considerably under the fluorescent lighting.

That said, it could still serve a purpose for:

• Bible studies that need to be streamed via Zoom
• Secondary classroom recordings
• Basic webcam use for online meetings

One significant drawback I encountered was the painfully slow file transfer system. Moving a 20-minute video from the camera took between 30-50 minutes, which is simply impractical for quick turnaround content.

The Tail Air has no optical zoom – only digital zoom that crops into an already small sensor, explaining the reduced quality when zooming in. At approximately 20 feet from the subject, it struggled to deliver the image quality I’d want for church content.

The OBSbot Tail 2: A Game-Changer for Small to Mid-Size Churches

The Tail 2 is where things get interesting for churches. This camera could potentially disrupt the small to mid-size church streaming market with its impressive feature set and lower price point compared to competitors.

Key Features That Matter for Church Use:

• 4K/60fps recording capability
• Built-in 3G SDI port
• Built-in RJ45 port
• HDMI output
• RS232 control ports
• Mic and line inputs
• USB-C charging and webcam connectivity
• Excellent auto-tracking that looks natural

I integrated the Tail 2 into my church’s livestream setup last Sunday, placing it about 55-60 feet from our stage. The results were impressive – it followed our pastor smoothly during his sermon without the robotic movement often seen with auto-tracking cameras. When I set the follow speed to the “super lazy” setting, the movement looked incredibly natural – viewers might easily mistake it for human camera operation.

Practical Church Application

Using a Stream Deck Plus, I configured both cameras for quick control during a service. I set up three presets on the Tail 2:

1. A tight shot on the right side of the stage
2. A wider establishing shot of the entire platform
3. A tight shot on the left side of the stage

The auto-tracking feature worked remarkably well, even with quick movement across the stage. The camera follows subjects reliably and maintains good focus, though it does have limitations with group tracking. When testing with multiple people on stage, it preferred to track a single subject rather than reframing for the group.

One standout feature is the ability to rotate the sensor for vertical video – perfect for creating social media content directly from your service without additional cropping or editing. You could set this up on a small tripod near your stage, and it will follow your pastor wirelessly with minimal oversight, recording vertical video natively for your social feeds.

Low Light Performance

In challenging lighting conditions, the Tail 2 performed reasonably well. When I dramatically reduced our stage lighting, the image became softer, and focusing was more difficult – but that’s to be expected with any PTZ camera in low light. The AI image processing helped compensate somewhat, though you’ll definitely want adequate stage lighting for the best results.

Is It Right for Your Church?

The decision largely depends on your space. At my church, I tested the Tail 2 from about 60 feet away from our platform, fully zoomed in for most shots. If your church is larger than this, the camera may not get tight enough for your needs. However, for smaller venues where you can position it within 40-60 feet of your stage, I believe this camera outperforms many competitors in its price range.

The Tail 2 doesn’t come with an NDI license (unlike some competitors), but you can add one for around $100 if needed. Even with this additional cost, its price point remains competitive while offering natural-looking auto-tracking and solid connection options.

Final Thoughts

While the Tail Air has limited applications for most churches, the Tail 2 represents a compelling option for smaller ministries looking to improve their live streaming capabilities without the cost of a dedicated camera operator. Its auto-tracking capability is among the most natural-looking I’ve tested, and the multiple output options make it flexible for various setups.

If you’re considering upgrading your church’s video capabilities and don’t have the volunteer base for manual camera operation, the OBSbot Tail 2 deserves serious consideration. Just make sure your sanctuary size is appropriate for its zoom capabilities before making the investment.

If you found this review helpful and need more assistance with your church tech setup, visit churchfront.com and consider joining our premium membership for group coaching calls and personalized consultations.