Teleprompters

[Dean Sensui]

I saw this demo'd at NAB a couple of years ago and thought it worked very well.
The ProPrompter Portable Teleprompter. Affordable Mobile Teleprompters | Bodelin Technologies

It's also available via B&H Photo.

[Al Gardner]

Nick,
*****Are there advantages to renting in a 'proper ' unit or do the iPad based devices work OK (for a small scale, simple project)?********
I have a couple of standard LCD prompters, 15 and 17 inch.
I am looking at a Ipad style device, to use for as you say "small scale simple projects. I was the camera operator on a shoot the other day with "professional high cost talent" and the prompter guy brought a ipad prompter. Allbeit a novel idea , the lack of complete finite control just served to irritate the hell out of the talent to the point the client was visibly and verbally upset.
But that doesn't mean it wont work on the type of jobs you speak of.
On my prompters I use ScriptQ software that's loaded with features to keep the client happy. One of the worst things that can happen with pro talent is the inability to go back to a particular part in the script like pronto.
That said, I will probaly invest in one of the solutions available.
I do like the LCD4Video 10' prompter. This is not a ipad prompter. But you can take it to any machine shop and for under say $50 bucks have it modified to fit any 10 inch screen including the ipad. This will also allow me to use my Samsung galaxy 10 inch pad as well.
If you do go with an ipad type i would certainly by a wired controller from DataVideo. Nothing beats a wired controller for finite absolute control. Forget wireless and forget Bluetooth. While they can work they are both prone to failure.
I will invest in one. I'm in conversations with the guy over at onetake Pad Prompter as he is investigating wired controllers right now. He is also open to designing a prompter for other devices such as android.
hope that helps
Al

[Mitchell Lewis]

Dean: The ProPrompter is the unit we use. It works well, along with their awesome software that lets you control everything from a remote iPhone/iPad. Our only complaint is that the mirror isn't tall enough to shoot full body shots. If you're shooting from the waist up, it works great. I've heard that ProPrompter is coming out with a new model with a taller mirror just for this reason.

[Olof Ekbergh]

I use Presentation Prompter all the time it works great on a MBP and I output to an HDMI monitor directly from the MBP, I use an Ikan VX9 for a prompter right under the lens.

NextForce Software