According to the latest report by Futuresource Consulting, the professional PTZ camera market is showing signs of a return after four years of turbulence. According to the report, global shipments fell 8% year-on-year in 2024 and total market value saw an incremental increase of under 1% as the category enters a transitional period.
“There’s no doubt that the pandemic years did create market saturation, but we’re seeing signs of demand beginning to return,” says Shubham Kumar, Associate Consultant at Futuresource Consulting. “There’s also a clear switch from volume to value, with organisations investing in smarter, more capable systems.”
The correction phase that followed the pandemic-era boom is nearing its end, and Futuresource expects 2025 to mark the beginning of a measured rebound, led by premium products and replacement cycles. Nearly two-thirds of global professional PTZ shipments are made up of 4K models, while 93% of all units are IP-enabled, pointing towards the industry’s transition towards software-driven ecosystems.
Education, corporate and government sectors continue to account for the bulk of installations, but broadcast, live events and houses of worship are powering value growth, as end users demand broadcast-grade quality and low-latency performance.
AI and automation are reshaping how professional PTZ systems are deployed and controlled. Features such as auto-tracking, voice and gesture recognition, and intelligent scene detection are spreading across mid-tier models, enabling a single operator to manage complex multi-camera setups.
“These cameras are no longer passive devices,” says Kumar. “They’re becoming intelligent collaborators that recognise movement, anticipate behaviour and adjust dynamically. The result is a simpler workflow, better output, and a new creative freedom for users across industries.”
North America remains the largest region by both volume and value, driven by strong investment across corporate, higher education and government sectors. Europe follows, while China and wider APAC markets both account for a significant share, fuelled by competitive pricing and fast technology adoption.
Futuresource forecasts a steady upward trajectory for the professional PTZ category through to 2029, with growth anchored in premiumisation, hybrid workflows and AI-assisted automation. As IP becomes universal and software integration deepens, professional PTZ cameras are set to evolve into essential nodes within a wider connected ecosystem.
See also: Executive Insight: Climbing The Sound Ladder: Why Consumers Are Trading Up Their Headphones
