BUYERS’ GUIDE
AUTOCUE EXPLORER 17IN £2700/$2613 autocue.com
The 17in Autocue Explorer teleprompter is hugely popular as it’s large enough to be readable in most spaces up to around 6m/20ft away, but doesn’t overwhelm a smaller space and is not too pricey. It’s also compact enough to transport to locations. A 19in version is also available. The Explorer series is designed with minimal parts that slot together and quickly adjust without tools. The mounting kit will work for camcorders, digital cine cameras, mirrorless, DSLRs and most lenses. If you use a PTZ camera or a box lens, Autocue has some specific mounting options. The unit has HDMI, VGA and composite input connections to use with broadcast devices, as well as an included HDMI cable to connect a laptop. The screen has 400 nits of brightness with a 1000:1 contrast ratio and 1280x1024 pixel resolution. It can be powered by mains or 12v DC. As the prompter is mounted underneath the monitor, it’s easier to balance on your tripod. Fix the camera to the carriage with the 1/4in-20 or 3/8in-16 screws and adjust the base to lens centre height from 51-140cm/2-5.5in. Moving the carriage along the 19mm rods allows even larger cameras to balance. A medium-sized hood with collapsible fabric lens seal ensures light doesn’t peek through the 70/30 beamsplitter glass.
The kit comes with a one-year licence for Autocue’s Explorer Software, which costs £195/$223 per year afterwards. Included are functions you would find in high-end broadcast prompting software, except it omits the function to edit and prompt at the same time.
Pros: A real Autocue! Cons: Software costs extra
The Pioneer series from Autocue features broadcast-standard teleprompters in different sizes, as well as fully featured software that allows scripts to be edited while prompting continues. This is the sort of thing live TV news presenting needs, as changes can be made while the talent continues talking. There are 19in Studio versions to fit box or standard lenses, a 12in version to be used on the end of a jib, while a 17in Portable option is the most useful, allowing usage on location or in a studio. It’s a bit big to fit on a jib, though. The high-bright monitor features a 6m/20ft reading range, with a brightness of 1500 nits, 1280x1024 pixel resolution on a 4:3 aspect ratio display. It has SDI, composite, HDMI and VGA AUTOCUE PIONEER PORTABLE 17IN £5400/$5178 autocue.com
input connections for integration with broadcast devices, as well as to a laptop with an HDMI cable. SDI and composite loop-through outputs offer expanded connectivity. Fitment is identical to the Explorer version, with a 19mm rod set that has a 5kg/11lb counterweight for great camera balance. It uses Autocue’s medium hood, which allows for all but the widest-angle lenses and packs more easily than its larger siblings. Formed from a lightweight composite, the hood holds Autocue 70/30 beamsplitter glass that displays the text clearly while keeping it invisible to the camera. The monitor supports vertical and horizontal image flip. The Autocue comes with a one-year subscription to the Pioneer software, which then costs £714/$689 annually.
Pros: Super-bright and great software Cons: Pricey if you don’t need the functions
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