Comparing the Sony EVI D-10 and Sony EVI D-30 cameras for Polycom

Polycom, the leader in the video conferencing marketplace, released the Polycom Viewstation and Polycom VSX products with integrated Pan/Tilt/Zoom cameras, designed by Sony. The Polycom ViewStation videoconference products offered two different Sony cameras: the EVI-D10 and EVI-D30. There are some significant differences between these two models.
 

The Sony EVI-D30 camera was the first-generation of Pan/Tilt/Zoom camera offered by Sony, and was considered a reliable, high-quality camera. The Sony EVI-D30 and EVI-D10 cameras were available for purchase to use in stand-alone applications.
 

Polycom manufactured quality video conferencing units, but lacked the resources to build their own cameras, unlike some of their competitors. They partnered with Sony – a good product on the market, and packaged these cameras with their Polycom video products.
 

There are some differences between these two models: The Sony EVI-D30 uses a mechanical drive system to move the camera and EVI-D10 uses an electromagnetic system. The gear system employed by the Sony EVI-D30 camera causes its panning motion to be more systematic, as it passes by each notch. This may be noticeable by some users. The Sony EVI-D10 electromagnetic system is designed to be more precise - moving pixel by pixel and its panning motion should be less noticeable.
 

The Sony EVI-D30 offered a 12x zoom camera, and for larger rooms an aftermarket wide-angle lens was an available option to attach to the camera. The Sony EVI-D10 was designed with an 18x zoom capability and was manufactured with a built-in wide-angle lens. This offers a much wider field of view – and thus a wider coverage area. This functionality is a great advantage if there is a need to cover a large conference room or large group of videoconference participants.