OBSBOT Tail Air Review: AI-Powered PTZ Webcam

The Tail Air is their current flagship model. It offers sharp 4K image quality and robust AI-powered PTZ (pan, tilt, zoom) tracking in a sleek, portable design.

Let’s examine the core features and how they perform in live studio setups and as a virtual camera operator on location.

What is the OBSBOT Tail Air?

Size & Weight

OBSBOT has developed a strong reputation as a manufacturer of excellent webcams for professionals and live-stream content creators.

The Tail Air is their highest-end release, bringing PTZ (pan, tilt, and zoom) technology with AI-powered recognition to the format.

It also allows for wireless operation, expanding its versatility for multi-camera live-streaming without requiring additional cables.

Likewise, including Network Device Interface (NDI) with NDI|HX3 for low-latency live streaming video further enhances its application for professional streaming.

The OBSBOT Tail Air has a battery that allows solo content creators to use the PTZ system for dynamic camera moves without assistance.

By removing the necessity for a camera operator, videographers can present content to the camera while moving around the scene with smooth tracking.

While primarily billed as a premium webcam, this feature is a game-changer for videographers and documentary makers who are typically restricted by locked-off tripod shots.

Additionally, the camera’s accurate object detection for tracking makes it an essential camera for solo content creators with product review or tutorial channels.

The result is a highly flexible camera that goes above and beyond conference calls and other business-critical applications offered by standard PTZ webcams.

Design and Build Quality

With a robust build quality and hard travel case, OBSBOT’s Tail Air is designed for heavy use by professional content creators.

The OBSBOT Tail Air is undoubtedly an outlier in its field, larger than most webcam/PTZ cameras but retaining a sleek form.

Constructed from durable, high-quality plastic with a matte finish that adds grip, it’s a sturdy camera with a resilient build quality.

Weighing in at 344g, it’s also comfortable to handle and light enough to reposition in the studio or when transporting quickly.

The Tail Air also comes with a travel case to protect it in transit, with an interior mesh pouch for storing adapters and cables.

Various ports around the camera’s base don’t obtrude, although the MicroSD card slot is slightly too recessed.

This makes extracting an SD card from the device a little fiddly, particularly if your nails are cut short, but this is a minor quibble.

The PTZ camera is fitted securely to the base, matching the same premium-feeling build quality and overall compact and ergonomic design.

Its six-axis gyroscope and two-axis motorized gimbal for powering the pan and tilt are also impressively made, rivaling the build quality of dedicated camera gimbals.

Setup and Installation

Setting up the OBSBOT Tail Air is incredibly straightforward, with the necessary cables for charging and connecting included in the box.

The physical device’s user interface is simple: a power button, connection ports, and lights indicating modes and remaining battery life.

OBSBOT has worked hard to bring their devices into a comprehensive ecosystem, and the Tail Air’s compatibility when installing for live streaming is in line with other products from the brand.

For smartphone control, it’s easily paired with the OBSBOT Start application, which is available on iOS and Android devices and takes seconds to install.

If you’re running the Tail Air through an office or studio setup, it can be controlled via the OBSBOT Center software, which offers a wide range of tools for multi-cam professional live streaming.

Content creators who use OBSBOT Talent can also integrate the Tail Air into their studio setup and control the camera’s PTZ features from the Talent’s touchscreen.

As with the other applications, this process is straightforward: it streamlines setups for live on-location streaming and fully integrates into OBSBOT’s comprehensive centralized control hub.

An impressive range of accessories are available for the Tail Air, including a remote with a joystick for controlling the PTZ features and a sturdy base that doubles as a charger.

OBSBOT also sells a UVC to NDI adapter and a three-in-one hub for USB 3.0-compatible webcams for complex multi-camera studio setups.

It’s also compatible with Elgato’s popular Stream Deck when connected via a USB cable for dedicated studio-based live-streamers.

The result is an impressively versatile device, and OBSBOT has clearly dedicated time to ensure the Tail Air fits into any content creator’s workflow.

Performance and Features

The Tail Air’s battery and PTZ features combined make it an excellent virtual cameraman for solo content creators.

OBSBOT’s Tail Air camera uses a 1/1.8-inch CMOS sensor with a 3856 x 2176 resolution, capturing video in 4K at up to 30 fps and 1080p at up to 60 fps.

The camera has an eight-element lens, a wide f/1.8 maximum aperture, and an ISO range of 100 to 6400, which allows you to customize it based on your setup.

Image quality in 4K is crisp and balanced, retaining clarity even when using the 4x digital zoom to full capacity and tracking around to follow objects.

While it’s a shame there’s no optical zoom (something OBSBOT will rectify with the hybrid digital/optical zoom feature for Tail Air 2), the 4x digital zoom is nevertheless sharp enough at 4K.

The Tail Air’s low-light performance is generally satisfactory, but given its primary applications in studios and brightly lit workplaces, it’s unlikely to be used often in such conditions.

Focus performance is robust, with the camera’s built-in infrared Time-of-Flight (ToF) target tracking working to maintain accuracy even with multiple subjects within the frame.

As you might expect from a compact live-streaming camera, the built-in mic lacks the dynamic range of a dedicated microphone but is more than sufficient for online conversations.

OBSBOT has seen fit to include a 3.5mm port in the base of the Tail Air, allowing users to upgrade the audio quality directly to the camera or connect a receiver for a wireless microphone.

The real draw for the Tail Air is the tracking feature, which is impressively accurate at tracking humans and objects with silky smooth pans and tilts.

This motion can be refined through the settings to alleviate any jerkiness, which is essential when the camera tracks subjects while zoomed in.

Activation through voice and gesture control is also reliable, with the latter significantly speeding up the recording process when shooting alone.

OBSBOT’s Start app is rich with options, and it features an intuitive user interface with a pleasantly shallow learning curve to master.

The on-screen camera joystick triggers the camera movement with minimal lag, and the remote control peripheral performs equally responsively.

The Tail Air also comes with a selection of preset shots, filters, and a photo mode, all of which add value to its impressive overall performance.

User Experience

The OBSBOT Tail Air is a fun and responsive PTZ camera that opens up many new creative opportunities for content creation.

There’s a great sense of creative potential when using the Tail Air, which comes from a combination of the user-friendly app interface and engaging hand gesture activations.

Its fluid workflow makes setting up shots fun and dynamic, experimenting with thresholds to smooth out the AI tracking and achieve a distinct visual style.

Likewise, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity make mounting a breeze, with the standard tripod screw presenting creative shooting opportunities that would otherwise be difficult to set up.

This consistently user-friendly approach makes Tail Air appealing for live streaming, gaming, and remote educators who need some flexibility.

At the same time, experienced live streamers have plenty of settings to fine-tune their broadcast and deliver complete integration into a broader system of cameras.

Connectivity

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless connectivity combined with HDMI inputs provide exceptional flexibility for shooting scenarios.

Since the OBSBOT Tail Air is billed as a premium camera for content creators, it’s not surprising that it has connectivity options for studio and on-location video recording and streaming.

This connectivity is delivered through physical ports and wireless connectivity options, allowing users to position the camera wherever needed.

Wired options include micro-HDMI and USB-C for direct connection to a laptop or computer and PoE-supported Ethernet cable for power and data transfer.

If you’re considering the latter, be aware that you’ll need to pay for the USB-C to ethernet adapter to take advantage of this connection.

NDI|HX3 support for network connection also allows the camera to be used in low-latency video feeds and integrated into large live production setups.

The Tail Air’s wireless connectivity opens up new possibilities, whether in the studio or shooting content on location using your phone’s mobile data.

Studio-bound content creators can quickly set up the camera for new angles without fiddly cables, mounting it for product reviews in conjunction with the object tracking feature.

Likewise, pairing it with Bluetooth for outdoor use allows for impressive versatility for solo content creators who want a virtual cameraman to bring additional motion to otherwise static tripod-mounted shots.

As with all OBSBOT cameras, the Tail Air is designed to work within the brand’s ecosystem, connecting to the OBSBOT Talent through USB-A, Micro HDMI, or NDI (Network Device Interface).

This integration allows multiple Tail Airs to be combined with other cameras, such as mirrorless and webcams, for highly dynamic multi-camera live streaming and podcast setups.

OBSBOT has thought carefully about this integration and the diversity of applications the Tail Air can be used for, with a comprehensive connectivity profile that meets all requirements.

Price and Value for Money

Coming in around the US$500 price point, the OBSBOT Tail Air is more expensive than other live-streaming cameras, but this additional cost is reflected in its premium build and performance quality.

This is particularly true for committed videographers looking for an exceptional PTZ camera for regular content creation and needing a camera that delivers plenty of scope for coverage.

The Tail Air’s consistently reliable AI tracking and impressive image quality make it an excellent option for dynamic B-roll in professional setups or at live events.

While it might be overkill for typical home offices, businesses that require a PTZ camera for conference calls and presentations will find it a worthwhile investment.

There’s also a good selection of peripherals available for the Tail Air that enhance its functionality, such as an adjustable clamp arm to mount for product reviews and the OBSBOT 360° rotation base to expand the battery life.

How I Tested the OBSBOT Tail Air

Home-based and on-location tests were conducted to assess the OBSBOT Tail Air’s performance.

When testing the OBSBOT Tail Air, I recorded footage in various locations and lighting conditions to assess image quality, AI tracking accuracy, and other features.

For studio-based streaming, I tested the facial and object tracking, along with the zoom mode, in various lighting, altering the zoom’s tracking mode and testing hand gestures.

Additional footage was recorded outdoors to improve tracking accuracy at a distance and when the subject was hidden when walking behind obstacles.

This allowed me to assess any connectivity issues when using a mobile device as a hotspot, along with wireless connection tests at home.

Core Tail Air features were tested on a desktop PC, Android smartphone, and through the OBSBOT Talent live-streaming switcher to check for any latency issues (no discernible issues arose).

Alternatives to the OBSBOT Tail Air

The OBSBOT Tail Air is an impressive camera, but it may be overkill for casual consumers who don’t require its level of integration and professional streaming capabilities.

An affordable alternative from OBSBOT is its little brother, the Tiny 2. It retains the AI-powered PTZ system and similar form on a much smaller scale, which is ideal for a home office desk.

For those considering the Tail Air for meetings and presentations, the Logitech Tally Conference and Nearity V415 offer pan and tilt functionality, albeit at a higher price and without the broader range of applications.

In general, however, no other camera has the same combination of features as the OBSBOT Tail Air, notably its impressively comprehensive combination of shooting applications for content creators.

OBSBOT Tail Air Review | Conclusion

Packed with features that make it a great deal of fun for live streamers and videographers, the OBSBOT Tail Air is a worthy addition to any content creator’s filmmaking setup.

Its shortcomings, notably the limited battery life and underwhelming low-light performance, are by no means deal-breakers and can be resolved with accessories.

While the price point may be off-putting for casual users, Tail Air is a versatile camera for expanding shot coverage in live streaming.

For streamers already invested in OBSBOT’s suite of hardware and software, the Tail Air is a must-have addition for any expanding multi-camera setup.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

OBSBOT Tail Air

AI-powered 4K PTZ camera with smart tracking that’s perfect for serious content creators.