Product Overview
Built for professional AV and broadcast environments, the AXIS V5938 is a 4K PTZ network camera delivering 8MP resolution across a 20x optical zoom range from 4.4 to 88 mm. Designed for indoor ceiling or wall mounting in boardrooms, lecture theatres, houses of worship, and live production studios, it combines precision autotracking with simultaneous 3G-SDI and HDMI outputs, making it equally at home in a broadcast switcher workflow as in an IP video management system. Featuring NDI compliance (licence sold separately) and VISCA over IP control, the V5938 integrates into both legacy and modern production environments without additional adapters. Equipped with Axis Zipstream compression in H.264 and H.265, it manages bandwidth efficiently across high frame rate streams. It also includes a microSD card slot for local storage and Axis CamStreamer with a 3-month trial. This makes it a strong fit for organisations that need a single camera to serve live streaming, recording, and presentation capture simultaneously.
Key Capabilities
4K 8MP Resolution with 20x Optical Zoom
The AXIS V5938 captures at 3840×2160 with a 4.4-88 mm F2.0-3.8 lens, delivering a horizontal field of view from 70.2 degrees down to 4.1 degrees. Combined with 12x digital zoom for a total of 240x, presenters and speakers can be framed tightly from across a large auditorium or lecture hall without image degradation.
Autotracking 2
Autotracking 2 enables the camera to follow a moving subject automatically, keeping speakers, presenters, or performers centred in frame without an operator. This is particularly useful in unmanned lecture capture, hybrid meeting rooms, and houses of worship where a dedicated camera operator is not practical.
3G-SDI and HDMI Simultaneous Outputs
Onboard 3G-SDI and HDMI outputs allow the V5938 to feed a broadcast switcher or presentation system directly without a separate decoder. This matters in live event and hybrid production setups where both a downstream display and a recording/switching device need a signal simultaneously, reducing the total equipment count.
NDI Compatibility and VISCA Control
The V5938 is NDI compliant (licence purchased separately), enabling it to operate as a source on an NDI-based video production network. VISCA and VISCA over IP support allow integration with PTZ controllers commonly used in houses of worship, courtrooms, and broadcast studios, giving operators precise pan, tilt, and zoom control from existing hardware.
Professional-Grade Audio Connectivity
Dual XLR balanced inputs with 48 V phantom power support professional microphones and audio mixers, while a 3.5 mm unbalanced input and 3.5 mm output provide flexibility for consumer-grade equipment. Audio is encoded in AES3 for SDI, LPCM for HDMI, and multiple network formats including AAC-LC and Opus for IP streaming.
Zipstream Compression and Secure Platform
Axis Zipstream in both H.264 and H.265 reduces storage and bandwidth requirements without lowering scene detail. The camera runs on the ARTPEC-7 processor with Signed OS and Secure Boot, providing a hardened software foundation that meets the security requirements of corporate, government, and educational deployments.
Best For
- Houses of Worship: Autotracking 2 and 20x optical zoom allow a single unmanned camera to follow speakers, choir directors, or performers across a large stage or sanctuary without operator intervention.
- Corporate Boardrooms and Hybrid Meeting Rooms: The combination of HDMI output, IP streaming, and VISCA over IP control enables the V5938 to serve as a primary camera for video conferencing systems and room display simultaneously.
- Lecture Theatres and Campus Lecture Capture: 4K resolution at up to 60 fps at 1080p, paired with autotracking, makes this camera suitable for recording lectures, capturing whiteboards, and streaming to remote students.
- Live Production and Broadcast Studios: 3G-SDI output with AES3 audio encoding and NDI licence compatibility positions the V5938 as a broadcast-ready robotic camera for small to mid-size production environments.
Why Choose the AXIS V5938
Where most PTZ cameras in the networked surveillance space are designed around IP-only workflows, the AXIS V5938 bridges professional broadcast and IP video environments in a single unit. The simultaneous 3G-SDI and HDMI outputs, XLR balanced inputs with 48 V phantom power, NDI compliance, and VISCA over IP control are hardware-level features that most surveillance-oriented PTZ cameras at this price point do not include without additional converters or interfaces. The 4K 20x optical zoom lens, combined with Autotracking 2, removes the need for a camera operator in fixed-installation environments. Running on the ARTPEC-7 processor with Secure Boot and Signed OS, the camera also meets the cybersecurity requirements of corporate and institutional IT teams. The AXIS V5938 is available through Security Wholesalers for integrators and AV professionals working on presentation, broadcast, or multi-output PTZ installations.
Buyer Decision Tips
NDI Licence: The AXIS V5938 is NDI compliant, but the NDI licence is sold separately. If your production workflow depends on NDI as the primary transport, confirm and budget for the licence before installation. Without it, the camera operates over standard IP (RTSP/H.264/H.265) and via its SDI and HDMI outputs, but NDI-native discovery and switching will not be active.
Indoor-Only Installation: The AXIS V5938 carries no IP ingress or IK vandal rating and is specified for indoor use with an operating temperature range of 0-40 degrees C. It is not suited to outdoor mounting, undercover loading docks, or any environment where moisture, dust, or temperature extremes are present. If outdoor PTZ coverage is needed, a camera with a confirmed IP66 or IP67 rating is required.
Key Features & Technical Specifications
| Model |
AXIS V5938 PTZ Network Camera (50 Hz) |
| Part Number |
02022-006 |
| Resolution |
3840×2160 (4K UHD), 8 MP |
| Image Sensor |
1/2.5″ CMOS |
| Lens |
4.4-88 mm, F2.0-F3.8, 20x optical zoom, 12x digital zoom (240x total), autofocus, P-iris |
| Horizontal Field of View |
70.2 degrees (wide) to 4.1 degrees (telephoto) |
| Minimum Illumination |
0.7 lux colour at 30 IRE F2.0 / 1 lux colour at 50 IRE F2.0 |
| Max Frame Rate |
60 fps at 1080p |
| Video Compression |
H.265, H.264 (with Axis Zipstream), MJPEG |
| Outputs |
3G-SDI, HDMI |
| Smart Features |
Autotracking 2, Electronic Image Stabilization, Dynamic Contrast (WDR), Day and Night, Audio Detection, Active Tampering Alarm |
| NDI |
NDI compliant (licence sold separately) |
| PTZ Control |
VISCA, VISCA over IP |
| Audio Inputs |
XLR balanced stereo (2 inputs, 48 V phantom power), 3.5 mm unbalanced input |
| Audio Output |
3.5 mm unbalanced output |
| Audio Encoding |
SDI: AES3 24-bit 48 kHz; HDMI: LPCM; Network: AAC-LC, G.711, G.726, Opus, LPCM |
| Alarm I/O |
1 alarm input, 1 alarm output |
| Local Storage |
microSD card slot |
| Processor / Memory |
ARTPEC-7, 2 GB RAM, 512 MB Flash |
| Security Features |
Signed OS, Secure Boot |
| Operating Temperature |
0-40 degrees C (indoor use only, no IP/IK rating) |
| Dimensions / Weight |
Height 180 mm, diameter 136 mm, 1.5 kg |
| Power |
Power supply included |
| Included Software |
CamStreamer 3-month trial |
Ideal Use Cases
Houses of Worship
Autotracking 2 and 20x optical zoom allow a single AXIS V5938 to cover a full sanctuary or stage area, following speakers and worship leaders automatically. The 3G-SDI output feeds directly into the venue’s existing broadcast or IMAG system without added conversion hardware.
University Lecture Theatres
4K resolution and autotracking enable lecture capture systems to record both the presenter and displayed content in a single high-resolution stream, while HDMI output simultaneously feeds the room’s projection or display system without splitting the signal through an additional device.
Corporate Boardrooms and Executive Suites
VISCA over IP control allows the V5938 to be driven by a room control system such as a Crestron or AMX controller, while the 20x optical zoom and autotracking maintain professional framing for video conferencing participants across a long boardroom table.
Live Event and Broadcast Studios
The combination of 3G-SDI output, AES3 audio encoding, NDI licence compatibility, and XLR balanced inputs with phantom power makes the V5938 a production-ready robotic camera for studio environments where broadcast-quality audio and video must be delivered to a switcher simultaneously.
Courtrooms and Government Facilities
Secure Boot and Signed OS on the ARTPEC-7 processor satisfy the cybersecurity posture requirements common in government and judicial environments. VISCA control and high-resolution PTZ coverage support proceedings recording and evidence-capture workflows that demand both image quality and platform integrity.
Choosing the Right Model
- Choose this model if: You need a single PTZ camera that delivers 4K output simultaneously via IP, 3G-SDI, and HDMI, with Autotracking 2, professional XLR audio inputs with phantom power, and NDI-readiness for a broadcast or AV production workflow in an indoor fixed installation.
- Choose a different model if: Your installation is outdoors or in an environment with moisture, dust, or temperature variation beyond 0-40 degrees C. The V5938 carries no IP ingress or vandal rating and is strictly an indoor camera. For outdoor PTZ coverage, a camera with a confirmed IP66 or IP67 rating and an operating temperature range suited to Australian external conditions is required.
- Choose a different model if: You need PTZ autotracking in a wide-area outdoor security application rather than a controlled indoor AV environment. The V5938 is optimised for presentation, production, and conferencing use cases rather than perimeter or access monitoring.
- Choose a different model if: Budget does not allow for the NDI licence as an additional purchase and your workflow requires NDI as the primary transport. Without the licence, the camera operates via IP and SDI/HDMI but cannot participate in an NDI-native production network.
FAQs
- Does the AXIS V5938 output 4K via both SDI and HDMI simultaneously?
The V5938 provides simultaneous 3G-SDI and HDMI outputs. Note that 3G-SDI carries a maximum of 1080p at 60 fps, so if 4K output is required it is delivered via HDMI or over the IP network stream. Both outputs can be active at the same time, which is useful when feeding a broadcast switcher and a room display from a single camera.
- Is the NDI licence included in the purchase price?
No. The AXIS V5938 is NDI compliant but the NDI licence is sold separately. The camera will function fully over IP (RTSP, H.264, H.265), via HDMI, and via 3G-SDI without the NDI licence, but NDI-native discovery, switching, and transport will not be active until the licence is applied. Confirm the licence cost and procurement process with your supplier before installation.
- Can the V5938 be installed outdoors?
No. The AXIS V5938 has no IP ingress rating and no IK vandal rating. It is specified for indoor use only, with an operating temperature range of 0-40 degrees C. Installing it in any environment exposed to moisture, dust, condensation, or temperatures outside this range is not supported by the manufacturer and will void the warranty.
- How does Autotracking 2 work in a lecture theatre or house of worship?
Autotracking 2 uses onboard video analytics to detect and follow a moving subject automatically, keeping them centred in frame as they move across the stage or podium area. This eliminates the need for a dedicated camera operator in fixed-installation environments. The camera uses its 20x optical zoom and PTZ mechanics to track movement within its field of view without manual intervention.
- Does the V5938 have a built-in microphone?
No. The AXIS V5938 does not include a built-in microphone. Audio is captured via the XLR balanced inputs (with 48 V phantom power for condenser microphones) or the 3.5 mm unbalanced input. External microphones or an audio mixer must be connected to these inputs for audio capture. A 3.5 mm output is also provided for monitoring or speaker connection.
- What PTZ controllers are compatible with the V5938?
The V5938 supports both VISCA (serial) and VISCA over IP, which are the two most widely used PTZ control protocols in AV and broadcast installations. Any VISCA-compatible controller, including those from PTZOptics, Sony, and Datavideo, as well as room control systems from Crestron, AMX, and Extron that support VISCA over IP, can be used to control pan, tilt, zoom, and preset recall on this camera.
- Is the AXIS V5938 compatible with standard video management software?
Yes. As an Axis network camera, the V5938 is compatible with AXIS Camera Station and also supports ONVIF Profile S, allowing integration with third-party VMS platforms that support the ONVIF standard. For AV workflows, CamStreamer is included with a 3-month trial, enabling streaming to platforms such as YouTube, Vimeo, and other RTMP destinations directly from the camera. The V5938 is part of the Security Wholesalers range for professional integrators working across both AV and IP video environments.
Additional Information
AXIS 02022-006 Datasheet
