The Meeting Owl from Owl Labs is a 360° camera, microphone and speaker that sits in the middle of the table and shows a panorama plus whoever is talking. The best alternatives are a center-of-table companion camera like Neat Center or Logitech Sight paired with a front video bar, or a wide front-of-room bar like the Jabra PanaCast 50. Choose a 360 camera when the table is long and people face each other; choose a front bar when everyone faces the screen.
What the Meeting Owl is
Owl Labs makes the Meeting Owl line (the Meeting Owl 3 and the 4K Meeting Owl 4+), plus the Owl Bar, a front-of-room camera that can work alongside an Owl. Key traits:
- Sits at the center of the table on its own stand.
- 360° lens shows a panoramic strip plus one or more speaker views.
- Built-in mics and speaker; connects to a laptop or room PC by USB, so it works with Teams, Zoom, Meet and others as a USB device.
- Setup and settings through the Owl Labs app.
- Multiple Owls can be paired in large rooms.
Owl Labs designs the Owl for table placement. If you're considering a ceiling or wall install, check Owl Labs' current mounting accessories and guidance, since a 360 camera above head height loses the eye-level view that makes it useful.
Alternatives compared
| Option | Placement | Works with | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neat Center | Center of table, with Neat Bar or Board | Teams, Zoom | Medium-large rooms wanting a face-on view of everyone | $2,972 |
| Logitech Sight | Center of table, with Rally Bar family | Teams, Zoom, Meet | Rally Bar rooms with long tables | $1,918 |
| Jabra PanaCast 50 | Front of room, 180° | Teams, Zoom, BYOD | Small/medium rooms; sees people close to the screen | $1,117 |
| Logitech MeetUp 2 | Front of room, 120° | Teams, Zoom, Meet, BYOD | Huddle and small rooms on a budget | $1,079 |
| Owl Labs Meeting Owl | Center of table, 360° | USB to laptop or PC | Portable rooms, face-to-face seating | Check Owl Labs |
Our prices can change. Yealink also makes a 360° center-of-table camera, the SmartVision 60, for Yealink Teams Rooms kits.
Pros and cons of a center-table 360 camera
Pros
- People seated facing each other are seen face-on, not in profile.
- Very quick setup; portable between rooms.
- Audio pickup starts in the middle of the table.
Cons
- Cable and device sit in the middle of the table.
- On its own, the camera sees the room at table height, so people right next to the device can appear large and close while those farther away look small.
- A standalone 360 USB device doesn't replace a room system's controller and calendar join.
Companion cameras like Neat Center and Logitech Sight solve the last point: they work with a front bar running Teams Rooms or Zoom Rooms, and the system picks the best angle from either camera. See multi-camera conference rooms and Teams Rooms IntelliFrame.
When a front-of-room bar is better
If everyone faces the display (most huddle and small rooms), a front bar gives a natural view and keeps the table clear. Wide-angle bars like the PanaCast 50 handle people sitting right beside the TV. See best video bars and wide-angle conference cameras.
Setting up a 360 camera room
- Place the camera in the middle of the table, at least a few feet from the nearest seat if possible.
- Run the USB cable under the table to the laptop or room PC; use a grommet or cable cover.
- Select it as camera, mic and speaker in Teams, Zoom or Meet.
- In larger rooms, add a second unit or a front bar so people at the far end are heard.
More options: 360 conference cameras explained, best 360 conference cameras and third-party 360 cameras.
Deciding between a 360 camera and a video bar? Send us your table layout and we'll recommend one.
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