GEAR BUYERS’ GUIDE
VOXBOX AIR £1295/$TBC primelightdesign.co.uk
VOXBOX PRO £1375/$TBC primelightdesign.co.uk
ZEEPROMPT ZP12 £1385/TBC primelightdesign.co.uk
Connecting with viewers by having the interviewee talk directly down the lens creates a powerful, dramatic effect. This is best achieved using a system with a shoot-through mirror and large lens hood, allowing the interviewee to address a reflection of the interviewer. Portable versions are now available, including options from Primelight Design. The Voxbox Air is a lighter, more compact and cheaper alternative to the Pro version. Its foldable, lightweight build uses a beamsplitter to ensure the subject speaks directly into the lens, but the mirror system means they see the face of the interviewer. The Voxbox Air mounts to standard 15mm rails. Simply attach the side mirror, adjust it to the correct position and you’re ready to shoot. For rigs without 15mm rails, the kit includes a 16mm receiver for mounting to a standard light stand. The foldable design is space-efficient, with a strong and light carbon-fibre- reinforced polymer frame. The entire kit weighs just 3.9kg/8.6lb, including the bag. The Voxbox Air also functions as a teleprompter, with a tablet holder clipping onto the top. It supports standard 4x4in and 4x5.6in filters. Pros: Fast to use and effective Cons: Air more susceptible to damage than the Pro
The Voxbox Pro Mark II is the most expensive and rugged of the Voxbox down- the-lens interview kits. But for your money, the complete kit comes in a hard case and it can be left fully assembled for super-fast use on set. It slides directly onto standard camera rails, and the height is adjustable. It comes with a set of soft doughnut-shaped seals to seal the light between the lens and the box. The box can also be fitted to a light stand, ideal for smaller cameras. It comes with a clamp-on side mirror that can be adjusted to various positions, allowing the interviewer to sit at an angle other than exactly 90° to the camera. The Voxbox Pro II can also be used as a teleprompter by either rotating the box so the mirror glass is positioned horizontally or by adjusting the glass. You can then place a tablet at the bottom, which acts as a teleprompter, allowing the presenter to read the words while looking directly into the camera. It’s a two-in-one solution that comes with a dedicated tablet holder. There are several apps, both paid and free, that can turn your standard- sized tablet into a teleprompter. The manufacturers of the Voxbox – Prime Light Design – offer their own £79 Zeecue application for both PC and Mac.
Zeeprompt’s ZP12 connects to a laptop using an HDMI lead, offering a fast and simple teleprompter with a lightweight, one-piece design and intuitive prompting software. A version with SDI inputs is also available, but it costs an extra £220. The unit quickly unfolds for use without the need for tools. It fits onto 15mm rods or a light stand, though these are not supplied. It has an integrated 10.1-inch HDMI monitor with a built-in text-reverse feature. The screen is 8-bit and has 320 nits of brightness. That’s plenty for studio or indoor use, but Zeeprompt also offers a 1500-nit, high-brightness model at £1554. The box is built from reinforced carbon fibre and 12-inch beamsplitter glass. The kit comes in a compact case with laser-cut foam, but an optional IP67-rated hard case is also available as an option. As well as via the mains, it can be powered by an external battery from 7-24v if you buy an additional cable. The lens aperture is 140mm/5.5in and comes with 63mm, 80mm and 112mm stretchy doughnuts to prevent light leaks. The prompter kit also includes three licences for the Zeecue teleprompting software for PC and Mac, which usually costs £79/$96.
Pros: More rugged than the Air Cons: Heavier and more costly, too
Pros: Fast and great value Cons: Brighter version costs more
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PRO MOVIEMAKER
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