At my full-time job, I sometimes work in a huge amphitheater that seats up to 300 people and two smaller rooms dedicated to video conferencing and live broadcasts. I’m often behind the scenes providing technical support, especially on the video part. The smaller rooms use PTZ zoom cameras from a reputable brand, each priced at about $1,500. In this review, I’ll explore whether the Retekess TC202—at just $329.99—can stand up to those premium models.
Think of USB webcams as the quick and easy option: they’re cheap, plug straight into your computer, and within seconds, you’re on a Zoom call. That’s great for a desk setup or a small meeting room, but you hit the limits fast — no optical zoom, no real control over framing, and image quality that struggles in anything but perfect lighting.
Conference PTZ Zoom cameras, like the Retekess TC202, on the other hand, can do everything a webcam can (they still connect over USB if needed), but they go much further. You get HDMI output for direct connection to professional gear, a remote control to move the camera around without touching it, and PTZ memory presets to jump instantly between different angles. Add in better optics and smoother zoom, and suddenly you’ve got a tool that feels closer to broadcast equipment than a simple webcam. Of course, they’re bigger, pricier, and take a little setup, but the upgrade is worth it if you’re serious about video in larger spaces.
Retekess TC202 (SVBony SVPTZ) Review
Disclosure: I received this AI conference camera from Retekess to test and do an in-depth review. Although the product was offered for free, all opinions in this article remain my own, with no influence from my partner.
Retekess has built a solid reputation in the communication and conferencing market, offering a wide range of products such as service calling systems, guest pagers, tour guide kits, window intercoms, conference cameras, FM transmitters, and radios. With warehouses and service centers across the USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, Russia, and Japan, the company can deliver fast shipping and reliable after-sales support to customers worldwide.
A few weeks ago, an online marketing company contacted me to review an SVBony conference camera. Still, before we finalized the details, they offered another camera instead — the Retekess TC 202.
What’s in the Box? Retekess TC202 Accessories Overview
The TC202 comes in a not-too-fancy foam-padded recycled cardboard box with the following accessories: lens cap, 12V AC/DC power adapter, USB Type-C cable, HDMI cable, wall bracket, remote controller, and user manual.
Form, Fit, Mounting Options, and Optics at a Glance
Like most similar conference cameras, the Retekess TC202 also features a two-part design: a fixed base unit with connectors on the back for convenient cable management, and a rotatable PTZ section that houses the zoom lens. It measures approximately 144 × 144 × 166.89 mm and weighs nearly one and a half kilograms.
Its sleek metallic finish conveys a sense of durability and sophistication, while the compact design ensures it remains unobtrusive yet visually impressive. It suits professional environments such as broadcasting studios, corporate boardrooms, educational institutions, or churches.
The motorized gimbal system is engineered for precision, allowing smooth pan (±170°), tilt (-30° to +90°), and zoom (12X optical + 16X digital) operations that are essential for dynamic video capture. It also allows for tracking subjects or adjusting framing without manual intervention.
The zoom lens itself is large and well-protected, suggesting high-performance optics capable of delivering crisp visuals even in challenging lighting conditions. The “STANDBY” and “POWER” LED indicators are clearly labeled and positioned on the base, offering immediate visual feedback on the camera’s status—helpful for quick diagnostics during live sessions.
These cameras are typically not intended for frequent relocation. However, for service providers who deliver video conferencing solutions at various events, the availability of a dedicated transport case or an integrated locking mechanism would be highly beneficial, as it would help prevent accidental movement or damage to the gimbal during transport.
Connectivity Options on the Retekess TC202
On the back of the TC202, there is a wide range of input and output ports. From left to right, you have RJ45 network, HDMI-out, RS232 serial port, Type-C 3.0, LINE-in for audio, RS485, and DC 12V power port. To ensure a firm connection, the included Type-C cable has a screw that secures it to the camera’s base unit.
You can connect a monitor, external video recorder, or streaming and video production device like YoloBox ULTRA through the HDMI out.
The RS232 and RS485 ports are designed for remote camera control and system integration. They allow you to operate functions like pan, tilt, zoom, and preset positions from a central control panel, computer, or room automation system. While RS232 is ideal for short-distance, single-camera setups, RS485 supports longer cables and multiple cameras on the same network, making it perfect for larger conference rooms, auditoriums, or churches. Essentially, these ports give you flexible, reliable camera control without needing to adjust it manually.
Retekess TC202: The Remote Controller
The TC202 is packed with a TV-like remote controller designed for advanced camera systems, and it can manage up to four units. Its sleek, rectangular black design features a wide array of buttons, including a red power button at the top, four camera select buttons labeled 1 to 4, and a standard numeric keypad. Four colored function buttons (F1–F4) in red, green, yellow, and blue allow quick access to customizable features, making the remote highly versatile for different operational needs.
At the center of the remote, a directional pad with up, down, left, and right arrows surrounds a prominent “HOME” button, enabling intuitive navigation through camera menus or settings. It has two sets of zoom keys (+/–): slow and fast. Additional controls, such as “PRESET,” “RESET,” backlight adjustment, and focus controls (AUTO, NEAR, FAR, MANUAL), provide precise management of camera positioning and image quality.
Retekess TC202: Image Quality, Subject Tracking, Autofocus, and Zoom Performance
I’ve been testing the TC202 conference camera for a while, and the image quality is actually better than I expected. Colors look natural, and the picture is sharp as long as there’s decent lighting. You notice a bit of grain in darker conditions, but nothing too distracting.
Tracking works pretty well — it follows movement smoothly and doesn’t lose the subject too often. Autofocus is quick most of the time, though it can hesitate a little if the lighting isn’t great or the subject moves suddenly.
The 12x optical zoom delivers impressive detail at close range, revealing even the skin’s pores. But once you push it to the maximum 16× digital zoom, it becomes almost unusable — the picture is very soft and loses a lot of detail. On top of that, outdoor focusing on long-distance subjects often looks blurry, which makes the zoom feel even less practical.
Overall, I’d say the TC202 is easy to use and gives consistent results for everyday use, but don’t expect much from the extreme zoom or far-distance focusing.
Pricing and availability
The TC202 conference camera can be purchased directly from Retekess at a discounted price of $329.99 (40% off) or through their official Amazon store for $315.99. Both options include the remote control and all standard accessories featured in this review. Since the unit does not have a built-in microphone, it is advisable to consider a compatible external microphone system connected via the line input for optimal audio performance. You can also find this camera under SVBony SVPTZ.
Key features
- [Smart Conference]: The conference room camera features AI analysis algorithms for automatic speaker tracking, reducing the need for frequent screen switching and making meetings more convenient
- [High Definition Image]: Equipped with a 1080P ultra-high-definition camera module, 12x optical zoom, and 16x digital zoom, easily capturing distant views and providing an exceptional visual experience
- [Broad Viewing Angle]: The video conferencing camera has a horizontal field of view ranging from 72.5° to 6.9°, a vertical field of view from 44.8° to 3.9°, with horizontal rotation of 340° and vertical rotation of 120°, ensuring clear visibility from any angle
- [Software Compatibility]: Compatible with video conferencing software such as Zoom, Skype, and Teams, allowing for a consistent and seamless meeting experience regardless of the software used
Retekess TC202 Technical Parameters Table
| Video resolutions and frame rates | 1080P: 60fps, 50fps, 35fps, and 30fps 720P: 60fps and 50fps |
| Image sensor | 1/2.8 inch, CMOS, effective pixels: 2.07 million, progressive scanning |
| Lens | Zoom: 12x optical and 16x zoom Focal length: f3.5mm to 42.3mm, F1.8 to F2.8 Shutter speed: 1/30s to 1/10000s |
| Minimum Illumination | 0.5Lux @ (F1.8, AGC ON) |
| White balance | Automatic, Indoor, Outdoor, One-Click, Manual, Color-Changing Temperature, Backlight Compensation |
| Head Rotation Range | Horizontal: ±170° Vertical: -30° to +90° |
| Video compression | H.264/MJPEG |
| Video bitrate | 32 – 20480kbps (Variable and Fixed Rate) |
| Power | DC-input: 12V USB Type-C: 5V RJ45: PoE (802.3af) |
| Mounting options | Desktop, Tripod, Wall Hanging, Hoisting |
| Dimensions | 144 × 144 × 166.89mm |
| Weight | 1.41kg |
How to Get a Video Stream from the Retekess TC202?
According to your video rigs, you can get a video signal from the TC202 via HDMI, Type-C, or network stream. HDMI and Type-C provide (webcam emulation) a direct digital connection to monitors or capture devices, offering low-latency, high-quality video. RTSP (Real-Time Streaming Protocol) and SRT (Secure Reliable Transport) allow streaming over the network, which can be accessed using compatible software like vMix. Unfortunately, as found on professional video equipment, the TC202 does not include an SDI port.
I appreciate that the TC202 camera supports ONVIF, allowing it to be integrated into surveillance systems for continuous recording as a security camera. The default IP address for the web interface is 192.168.100.88, from where you can access the live video feed and configure stream parameters, image quality, and network settings (IP, NTP, ports, RTMP/S, RTSP, SRT, Multicast, and ONVIF).
