Buyer's Guide

SDI vs HDMI: Which Signal Do You Need for Capture?

SDI and HDMI both carry high-quality video — but they serve very different workflows. Here's how to choose the right capture interface for your camera and application.

Feature	HDMI	SDI (3G)	SDI (12G)
Max Resolution	4K60 (HDMI 2.0)	1080p60	4K60
Cable Length	Up to ~10m	Up to 100m+	Up to 100m+
Connector	Fragile, clips	BNC, locking	BNC, locking
Typical Use	Consumer cameras, PTZ, DSLR	Broadcast, ENG cameras	4K broadcast
Audio	Up to 8ch embedded	Up to 16ch embedded	Up to 16ch embedded
Hot-plug safe	⚠️ Can reset stream	✅ Yes	✅ Yes

When to choose HDMI capture

Choose HDMI if your cameras are consumer or prosumer — DSLRs, mirrorless cameras, PTZ cameras, camcorders, gaming consoles, laptops. HDMI is widely supported, cheap to cable, and perfectly suited for runs under 10 metres. For Zoom, Teams, OBS, vMix or university lecture capture, HDMI is almost always the right choice.

When to choose SDI capture

Choose SDI if you are working with broadcast cameras — news cameras, studio cameras, ENG cameras. SDI uses locking BNC connectors (no accidental disconnects during a live broadcast), supports cable runs over 100 metres, and is the industry standard for professional broadcast infrastructure. If your camera has a BNC output labelled "SDI", you need SDI capture.