Elgato Prompter Review - THE Creator Gadget
Summary
TLDRIn this review, the host evaluates Elgato's new teleprompter, highlighting its compatibility with wide-angle lenses, lightweight design, and innovative monitor functionality. Despite some ghosting issues and the absence of a power switch, the reviewer praises the product's overall performance, especially with the Elgato stream deck. The software, while lacking some features, is noted to be improving. The high price is justified by the niche market monopoly, and the reviewer recommends the teleprompter for creators, expecting further enhancements from Elgato.
Takeaways
- 😀 The Elgato teleprompter supports wide-angle lenses, which is a unique feature in its price range.
- 🔧 It is lightweight and can be easily mounted on the lens without additional mounts.
- 💡 There is no noticeable color or brightness change, which is crucial for low-light environments.
- 🌞 The screen is bright enough for studio use, but can be adjusted to avoid shining too brightly on the user.
- 🖥️ A game-changing feature is that it functions as a monitor, eliminating the need for phones, file transfers, or remote controls.
- 📝 Users can overlay the script on the camera preview, aiding in framing and delivery.
- 📱 The teleprompter can still be used with a phone in a pinch, though it is not recommended.
- 👻 Ghosting is present, especially with white text on a dark background, which can be distracting.
- 🔌 The device is always on when connected via USB, with no power switch, making outdoor use or travel less convenient.
- 💻 The software, Elgato Camera Hub, has improved but still lacks some features like a proper text editor and undo/redo functionality.
- 💰 The price of €300 might be considered high, but Elgato has a monopoly in this niche market.
Q & A
What was the main issue with affordable studio teleprompters the speaker had experienced before trying Elgato's prompter?
-The speaker had issues with vignetting on the sides when using wide-angle lenses, and the compactness of other affordable teleprompters made them unsuitable for their camera setup. Additionally, they found using a phone app to drive the teleprompter to be clunky and unappealing.
What was the initial problem with the 'Pair Pro' teleprompter the speaker tried to get?
-The 'Pair Pro' teleprompter turned out to be a scam, which was a disappointment for the speaker who had hoped it would meet their needs.
What are the main advantages of Elgato's new teleprompter according to the speaker?
-Elgato's teleprompter supports wide-angle lenses without vignetting, is lightweight and can hang from the lens, has no noticeable color or brightness change, and features a bright screen suitable for low-light environments. It also functions as a monitor, eliminating the need for phones, file transfers, and remote controls.
How does Elgato's teleprompter integrate with the user's computer setup?
-The teleprompter connects through USB to the computer and instantly pops up as an extra monitor, allowing for various uses such as script overlay on the camera preview.
Can the Elgato teleprompter be controlled with the Elgato Stream Deck?
-Yes, the speaker confirms that controlling the teleprompter actions with the Elgato Stream Deck works really well.
What is the issue referred to as 'ghosting' that the speaker mentions experiencing with the Elgato teleprompter?
-Ghosting is a visual effect where a faint duplicate of the text appears on the teleprompter, which can be distracting and is more noticeable with white text on a dark background.
How does the speaker suggest dealing with the ghosting issue on the Elgato teleprompter?
-The speaker suggests that ghosting can be mitigated with certain tricks, but it is something that users may have to learn to live with, especially when using a wide-angle lens and sitting close to the camera.
What are the limitations of the Elgato teleprompter in terms of power and portability?
-The teleprompter lacks a power switch and is always on when connected via USB, making it unsuitable for outdoor use or travel. It is designed specifically for studio use.
What is the speaker's opinion on the software that comes with the Elgato teleprompter?
-The speaker finds the native software for the teleprompter to be lacking in some areas, such as the text editor which is not very functional and lacks features like undo/redo. However, they note that Elgato is actively improving the software.
What is the price point of the Elgato teleprompter, and what is the speaker's view on its value?
-The Elgato teleprompter is priced at around €300. The speaker acknowledges that it's expensive but believes it's worth considering given Elgato's monopoly on this niche market and the product's quality.
Would the speaker recommend the Elgato teleprompter to others?
-Yes, the speaker recommends the Elgato teleprompter, noting that while it's not for everyone and has some drawbacks, it is the best option for creators under €300 in a studio setting.
Outlines
📹 Elgato Teleprompter Review: The Good
The video script begins with the reviewer's experience with studio teleprompters, highlighting the issues they've encountered with vignetting and the inconvenience of using phone apps for control. The introduction of Elgato's new teleprompter is presented as a solution to these problems. The reviewer emphasizes the device's ability to support wide-angle lenses without vignetting, its lightweight design that allows lens mounting, and the absence of color or brightness changes. A significant feature mentioned is the teleprompter functioning as a monitor, eliminating the need for phones, file transfers, and remote controls. The reviewer also discusses the use of the Elgato stream deck for controlling the teleprompter and shares their positive experiences with it.
🔍 The Bad: Ghosting and Software Limitations
In the second paragraph, the reviewer discusses the downsides of the Elgato teleprompter. They mention the presence of ghosting, which is an issue where the text appears to have a shadow or double image, making it difficult to read clearly. The reviewer acknowledges that this is a common issue with teleprompters but notes that it can be particularly noticeable with wide-angle lenses and close proximity. Additionally, they point out the lack of a power switch and the reliance on USB connection, which limits the teleprompter's portability and outdoor usability. The software for the teleprompter is also critiqued for its limitations, such as the basic text editor that lacks advanced features and the absence of undo/redo functionality. However, the reviewer notes that Elgato is actively improving the software.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Teleprompter
💡Vignetting
💡Elgato
💡Lens Mounting Rings
💡ND Filter Effect
💡USB Connection
💡Ghosting
💡Elgato Stream Deck
💡Camera Hub
💡Price Point
💡Software Improvement
Highlights
The Elgato teleprompter supports wide-angle lenses, unlike many in its price range.
It is lightweight and can hang from the lens without additional mounts.
There is no noticeable color or brightness change, which is crucial for low-light environments.
The screen is bright enough for studio use without affecting the shot.
A game-changing feature is the elimination of the need for a phone, file transfers, or remote controls.
It connects through USB to the computer and acts as an extra monitor.
The script can be overlaid on the camera preview, enhancing framing and self-interaction.
The Elgato Stream Deck can control the teleprompter actions effectively.
Ghosting is present, especially with white text on a dark background, but is within an acceptable range.
The ghosting effect can be mitigated with certain tricks but is noticeable on wide-angle lenses.
The teleprompter is always on due to the lack of a power switch, which can be an issue for outdoor use.
It is designed for studio use and covers the camera's flip preview screen, affecting setup considerations.
The native software for the teleprompter, Elgato's Camera Hub, has been improved but still lacks some features.
The text editor in the software is basic and lacks features like bullet points and undo/redo functionality.
The price of €300 is considered high, but Elgato has a monopoly in this niche market.
Despite its price, the Elgato teleprompter is a very good product and is recommended for creators.
The Elgato team is expected to continue improving the product, making it more appealing over time.
Transcripts
so in the past I've never committed to a
studio teleprompter because basically in
none of the more affordable ones came
without vignetting on the sides at least
for the wide angle lens that I'm using
on this camera they're all just too
Compact and the added clunkiness of
using a phone app to drive it didn't
seem like a fantastic future eater so I
still tried to get one and that would be
the pair Pro through their own campaign
but that turned out to be a scam in the
end and uh out of nowhere Elgato
announced their own prompter and it
seemed like just a thing that I was
waiting for quick disclaimer I got this
device from Elgato for a review but
everything said in this video is my own
opinion and is not influenced by Elgato
in any way so how good is elgato's new
teleprompter let's find
out we'll do the usual The Good the Bad
and the Ugly starting with the good
supports wide angle lenses something
most utter in this price range cannot do
this is shot on a 16 mm Sigma f1.4 which
is an apsc lens on a Sony a6400 and the
prompter since it's very light means
that it can hang from the lens and it
doesn't require any additional mounts it
comes with many different mounting
options but I always try to go for the
lens mounting Rings if possible there's
no noticeable color or brightness change
there's no ND filter effect uh this is
crucial for low light environments like
this where you're struggling with high
ISO already and the screen is plenty
bright so you need to lower the
brightness in a studio otherwise it will
shine a very bright light on you uh
which will affect your shot now the big
game changer feature this thing is a
monitor no more phones no file transfers
no remote controls just connected
through USB to your computer and it
instantly pops as an extra monitor it's
not really color accur it uh it's
relatively small resolution but you can
do all kinds of things with it for
example I like to have the script as an
overlay on top of the camera preview
which is barely visible but it's good
enough to see if I'm in frame and I kind
of get to talk to myself I suppose you
can also put an extra crossair on your
head if you want to further help with
positioning yourself in the middle of
course if you really really have to you
can use the prompter with a phone in a
pinch you can even put it on top of the
existing monitor but obviously that's
not recommended it's better to have it
mounted as far as controlling the
prompter actions with the Elgato stream
deck yes that works really well overall
there are a lot of positives and it's
hard to cover everything in a video of
this format but as you might expect all
of this comes with a few problems so
let's talk about the bad the ghosting
it's definitely present on the sample
that I'm using right now I mean I hate
it but I also understand that white text
on dark background on the teleprompter
will result in some kind of ghosting on
top of the letters usually whether it's
the type of glass or the alignment I
don't know the guys from Elgato
confirmed this isn't intended but it's
kind of within acceptable range now how
big of a deal is this well if you're
sitting far and you have um a more
zoomed in lens you probably wouldn't
notice it as the font will have to be
bigger and effectively hides it but if
you're on a wide angle lens like I am
and you're sitting pretty close well
you're just going to have to learn to
live with it you can mitigate it with
certain tricks but yeah it is there if
you don't know what kind of effect this
triggers it basically makes you feel
like you forgot to put your glasses on
let's say just you don't think it's only
me I went to check other reviews and
I've found multiple examples of the same
exact ghosting that these other people
were having but they usually didn't
mention it some reviewers had none at
all on the video it might mean that it's
some kind of faulty batch that went out
and I'm one of the people that got it
this is definitely something for Elgato
to look into now next up usba on the PC
end in combination with no power switch
I mean the prompter is always going to
be on there's an option in the app to
turn it off but basically that just dims
the display it doesn't turn it off the
display itself and the mirror casing
come in one giant piece and it basically
makes it impossible to use Outdoors or
when you're traveling then again you
should know that before you buy a studio
tell prompter which basically this
product is it's only for a studio and on
top of that it's USB just so you know
the prompter is big enough to fully
cover the flippy preview screen on your
camera so keep that in mind when you're
applying your setup around this
teleprompter uh luckily this thing is a
monitor so you can just have the preview
on the prompter if using like a cam link
and you can have the preview even while
the script is running I I I use it all
the time as a preview even when I'm
streaming or just recording something
random as an add a bonus you're looking
straight at the camera when you're
looking at the preview now I own a bunch
of Elgato products and there's a common
theme between them the hardware usually
is very solid but the software tends to
be lacking this product seems slightly
affected by this issue too if you want
to use the native software for the
prompter you need to use elgato's camera
Hub they've just added a bunch of great
features uh which make it a lot better
but some things are still missing for
example the text editor isn't really an
editor it's just a text box that you can
put text into you can create create
chapters manually or they can be created
for you if you paste in normal text but
many usual features like bullet points
aren't supported Mak it it effectively
useless to edit text if you just try to
paste in uh a text with bullet points it
will create just one giant wall of text
There's No undo redo functionality uh
but they are actively improving it so
there's hope that this will be a very
very good software to use and now we
come to ugly one could argue that the
price is too high since it's like €300
but guys it's capitalism they kind of
have the Monopoly on this exact Niche I
think I remember times when Elgato
caming costed
€300 but as it is right now they can
charge as much as they want really uh
there's a bunch of independent reviews
out you be the judge if it's the right
thing for you or not there really isn't
anything that is straight terrible on
this product I would say this is a very
good product and it's not something that
I say about new products these days so
big props to Elgato for releasing this
and that is it for this review I'll be
using this daily for videos and for
streams and I'm sure the Elgato team
will be working on more improvements
over time and I suggest to keep
following the development of the
prompter maybe there's some things that
don't suit you that well maybe you
didn't decide to buy yet but maybe in 6
months it will have everything that you
need so do I recommend it yes yes I do
it's not for everyone it's a studio
prompter but it's the best thing that
creators can have under €300 so what are
your thoughts on the elato prompter let
me know in the comments below if this
video helped you make your decision on
the purchase click the Subscribe button
and I'll see you in the next
[Music]
one
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