Birddog BDX5UB X5 Ultra Black

Product Overview

The BirdDog X5 Ultra (Black) is BirdDog's flagship commercial PTZ camera, delivering 4K60 NDI®|HX3 video with a Sony 1/2.8" CMOS sensor and an advanced ultra-fine motor drive system for precise, broadcast-quality camera movement. Built for demanding live production, broadcast studios, houses of worship, and professional AV integration, the X5 Ultra combines 12G-SDI, dual HDMI outputs, USB-C UVC, and integrated NDI®|HX decoder into a single PoE+ device — reducing infrastructure complexity for multi-screen environments. Its AI presenter tracking, Halo RGB tally system, and dual e-ink labels are purpose-built for professional commercial AV deployment. TAA compliant.

Product Description

At the heart of the X5 Ultra is a Sony 1/2.8" CMOS sensor with 8.46MP resolution capturing 4K UHD at up to 60fps — a frame rate not available on standard 4K NDI PTZ cameras. BirdDog's NDI®|HX3 implementation on the X5 Ultra is certified above standard parameters, delivering 4K60 streaming with reduced network bandwidth compared to Full NDI, making it suitable for network environments that cannot support the ~140–200Mbps bandwidth of Full NDI streams.

The X5 Ultra's ultra-fine motor drive system provides pan/tilt movement up to 200°/sec with 0.1° minimum increments, significantly finer than the 0.5° typical of standard PTZ systems. This enables natural, on-air camera moves and precise reframing without jerky acceleration. The integrated NDI®|HX decoder (HDMI 1.4 output) supports confidence monitoring, return video feeds, and teleprompter signals over the same network cable as the camera output — eliminating separate decoder hardware at the camera position. The 49mm filter ring supports ND filters and polarizers for highlight control in challenging lighting.

For installations requiring tally visibility for talent, the X5 Ultra features BirdDog's Halo tally system — a large-format RGB border tally visible at wide angles and in bright ambient light. Dual always-on e-ink displays show network address and camera identification on the camera body — useful for large multi-camera installations. Compatible with the BirdDog KBD PTZ Controller, BirdDog Central 2.0, and all major NDI production platforms. Includes BirdUI, DYNO, and Central 2.0 Lite software at no extra cost. 5-year global warranty.

Key Features

• 4K60 NDI®|HX3 — 4K UHD at up to 60fps via NDI|HX3, SRT, RTSP, RTMP, and USB-C UVC; certifiably above NDI|HX3 specification.
• Sony 1/2.8" CMOS Sensor — 8.46MP with F1.6 aperture; 3D digital noise reduction and WDR for varied lighting environments.
• Ultra-Fine Motor Drive — 0.1–200°/sec pan/tilt with max 28dB noise at full speed — quieter than comparable PTZ cameras.
• Integrated NDI®|HX Decoder — Built-in decoder outputs to HDMI 1.4 for confidence monitoring or teleprompter over a single network cable.
• 12G-SDI + Dual HDMI + USB-C UVC — Full output flexibility for SDI infrastructure, HDMI displays, and USB capture workflows.
• AI Presenter Tracking — On-board AI tracking with substantial neural processing headroom for future firmware capability expansion.
• Halo RGB Tally — Large-format, daylight-visible border tally for talent engagement in live production.
• Dual E-Ink Displays — Always-on labels showing network address and camera ID; no power required to retain display content.
• 49mm Filter Ring — Compatible with standard ND filters and polarizers.
• PoE+ / 12V DC — IEEE 802.3at, 18W max; single-cable deployment.
• TAA Compliant — Eligible for government and federally funded institutional procurement.
• 5-Year Global Warranty — BirdDog's full commercial warranty on X-series cameras.

Typical Applications

• Broadcast studio
• House of worship
• Auditorium
• Conference room
• All-hands room
• Government space
• Training room
• Multi-purpose room

Technical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions