Small Prompter: People Prompter or Ikan?

[Jim Brennan]

I may need to spend a little money before the end of the year and I was looking at small form teleprompters.

I know the People Prompter units have gotten good reviews around here, but after seeing the Ikan booth at NAB last year, they also seem to be a company that offers good value.

The PP DV-9 (http://www.prompterpeople.com/dv-9.php) looks a little small, but the fresnel attachment claims to make it look bigger.

The PP DV-11 (http://www.prompterpeople.com/dv-11.php) is bigger, but the msrp is $1100. I don't mind spending the extra, if it's worth it.

The Ikan PT-2000 (http://www.spec-comm.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=754) comes in between them in size, but at a lower price than either.

Any input is helpful. Thanks.

[brianluce]

I made one out of wood for $12. Can't pan with it but it works. Slap you laptop on it and you're good to go. The resale for prompters is awful btw.

[Mike McNeese]

I had a 11" prompter people...loved everything about it except that it was a little small. Since then I upgraded to TWO 17" prompters. I can safely recommend them!

However, if this is not an item that you will be using often, then consider renting...

[Jim Brennan]

We have about 5 shoots scheduled for this spring that we need it for. For the one we already did, we were renting for about 300 a day. I figure if we keep passing that (or a little less) on to the client, we pretty much get a free prompter.

If you thought the 11 was a little small, I guess I should stay away from the Ikan, or the DV-9. So far we have only had the talent about 6' from the camera, but I would hate to cheap out and really restrict myself.

Thanks for the input.

[Mike McNeese]

Yeah...we used the 11" from about 8' away and you could see the talent struggling to read. If you know that you're gonna be locked down from 6', then you could probably get by. But, the only regret you have for going bigger is paying out a little more $$$.

The fresnel magnifier is kind of a joke, btw...only seemed to make it blurrier.

[sunporchmedia]

With some ingenuity you can make a semi-diy 17" prompter for about $300 including hardware and software ($600 to buy a mounting rail system if you want it camera-mounted instead of stand-mounted...although you could probably diy this yourself for cheep). Assumes you already have a laptop. This prompter has a fairly finished, professional look. You need access to a sewing machine and some skills in order to make the hood.

I'm in the process of building mine and will be shooting with it on a paid gig next week. It is paying for itself on the first shoot. I'll post pics and instructions in the diy section when I get a chance.

[oxband]

I want to buy a 17" prompter I can put on the same tripod as my camera. I've been in touch with Stewart Instruments about making me a 17" version of this (http://www.siinc.us/hardware/m1550.htm). Any thoughts on this company? Which 17" have people used and how have they felt about it? I'd love to go DIY but I just dont know enough to. Grrr...

[groveChuck]

I have a Prompter People 17", no complaints. Been using it once or twice a month for 4 years, with large and small cameras.
The Stewart design appears similar, but appears to have a rigid hood rather than a cloth hood with drawstring for blocking light from around the back of the mirror, which I (and clients) like.
What's Stewart asking for a 17"?

[oxband]

They offered a 15" for 895. The 17" will be too heavy. The Prompter people one will be much cheaper. That said, i also need to get a converter to connect it to the Canon Vixia camcorder I'll be using. I also know nothing about Stewart and have heard, with one exception, only good things about Prompterpeople.

[groveChuck]

For a small camcorder, you'll need Prompterpeople's DV riser block.
And of course you want to be sure to have a sturdy tripod.

[film2011]

Have you thought about the iPad route. I am currently using a iPad along with the i-Prompt Pro app. My talents do not have any issues with it. Check out the website if you get chance. http://www.i-prompter.com (http://www.i-prompter.com/#) It was quite a cost effective option for me however I am only shooting small productions so I did not need a proper Teleprompter.