The Padcaster Parrot Teleprompter Kit, Portable Teleprompter for iPhone

The reviews for this product do not do it justice. It has one problem that can be resolve, and it has to do with the remote with an Android phone, which I will explain below. But to focus first on the teleprompter itself, this teleprompter is one of the best anywhere for someone needing to use a phone. It is incredibly well designed. Sensible in every respect. The quality of workmanship is excellent, but if you are rough with your equipment, it will break. That is true for anything. ANYTHING. But if you are not rough with things, this teleprompter is amazingly well designed and very great for any use where a phone is used as the text platform. I have used a lot of teleprompters, and I have other high end teleprompters, and this is my goto teleprompter. It is great in a mobile setting, and great in a studio. Now, let me tell you the problem, and this is the reason for many of the bad reviews. The app for the Android phone does not work. It is simply broken. It can be fixed apparently with an add-on hack that you can do to your phone if you are into risky things like that. I am not. But basically, the remote that comes with this teleprompter can be thrown away if you are using an Android phone. The app for the iPhone works fine. No problem. You can use the included remote with an iPhone without any difficulty. But if you are using an Android phone, you need a different solution. And here it is.... If you are using an Android phone, what you need is a different teleprompter remote and app. So you need to purchase that separately. My preference is the Neewer teleprompter remote, which costs about $35. It is called the "NEEWER RT113 Remote Control for NEEWER Teleprompter App ONLY". So you need to use the Neewer teleprompter app with this remote. But this app and remote work flawlessly with the Parrot teleprompter. Again, if you are using an iPhone, you can use the remote that comes with the Parrot Teleprompter. You only need a different remote if you have an Android phone. Is the Parrot Teleprompter worth the trouble if you have to purchase a different remote for $35? In my opinion, it is worth it. Everyone has to make up their own mind about this. But that combination, the Parrot Teleprompter plus the Neewer remote and app, really is a great solution to those who want teleprompting with an Android phone. And if you use an iPhone, you can avoid purchasing the third party remote and use the remote that comes with the Parrot Teleprompter. Full disclosure, I emailed the company long ago and told them that I would write a great review for their teleprompter if they fixed the app for the Android phone. I was bribing them hoping they would fix the app. To my knowledge, that has not yet happened, and I am not holding my breath about it. They know there is a problem. But I see these bad reviews, and I worry that this teleprompter may stop being produced, which would mean that I could not purchase them any longer. I have purchased 7 of them so far. So I am writing this review with the hope that the product remains in production and for sale.

Single best piece of equipment for creating your own podcast videos hands down. The price point compared to similar items made the Parrot Teleprompter seem too good to be true. It it doesn't matter how low the price is if the product doesn't work, right? But this one does! I read the reviews and took a chance and ordered it. Two days later I was unboxing it and marveling at quality build and the number of adapters included to fit just about any lens. Note: The 77mm adapter comes attached to the back cover that protects the unit when not in use. It looks like it's one solid piece but it does screw off... just not easily. The 77mm adapter is the one I needed and was I frustrated by not finding one among all of the individually packaged adapters. I even searched online to purchase one separately. I finally noticed there was one image on the website that showed the back cover separated from the ring. I tried separating the ring from the back and it didn't budge at first. It REALLY looks like it's one solid piece. The size and shape make it difficult to get a good grip on the two pieces to provide the torque necessary to unscrew them but perseverance paid off after several attempts. Setup was easy and soon I was ready to experiment. I bought the remote control and I think it is essential to having a good experience with the teleprompter. I will review the remote separately but let me note here that the remote could use more explicit setup instructions too. I actually thought it was defective and ordered a replacement. Thank goodness for Amazon Prime because the replacement was on it's way before I even boxed up the return. I moved to getting my script loaded into the app. That wasn't as easy as it seemed either. Another issue that would disappear with more explicit instructions. Unless you want to type in your script using the tiny keypad on your phone, which seems gruelling and time consuming, you'll want to type it up on your computer and then transfer it to your app via Dropbox or File Explorer. It's super cool that Parrot has automated the process with Dropbox for us. Follow the steps inside the setup menu and in less than a minute you'll establish a direct connection between your Parrot app and a special folder on Dropbox where you can save all of your scripts. All that was easy. The missing bit of information in the instructions is that your script needs to be saved in a *.txt format. Mine was saved as a Word document and it showed up as a million different symbols in the teleprompter. I called Parrot and spoke to Darrell (I believe) and he, very kindly, set me straight. Once I had all that figured out I setup my first experiment. Without the remote it was difficult. Speaking in a normal voice with a normal pace, which is what one would want to do in a video podcast, we naturally speed up and slow down depending on the content. No matter where I set the speed it was either too fast or too slow depending on the flow of the script. The remote really is essential for a polished performance. Having said that, the app works perfectly. The teleprompter is easy to read and incredibly helpful. The phone clamp is a little loose so you have to make sure your phone is seated properly but that is no problem. I imagine it would be impossible to make a universal fit, fit perfectly. Yesterday my replacement remote arrived. At first I thought it was another dud and called Parrot for help. By the way, they are awesome. Friendly, helpful and very professional. It turned out that the power button isn't meant to remain lit and the connect button on the back must be depressed by the tip of something much smaller than a fingertip or fingernail- but not sharp. Darrell suggested the end of a paper clip but I was reluctant to use that. I was afraid the thin plastic cover over the button would puncture. I used a closed ball point pen and that worked. Including this step in the instructions would make this issue a non issue. Making the button easier to use would be even better. Once I had it paired with my phone I reset my experiment. Fantastic! With the remote in hand I could start, stop, pause, speed up and slow down the script as much as needed to generate the perfectly timed script. Knowing I was in complete control of the speed helped me relax and focus on the content which made for a much more natural delivery. I gave the Parrot Teleprompter five stars despite the initial difficulties because the issues are with the instructions NOT the product. I would encourage the company to revise the included instructions and include a few FAQs and tips for the initial setup. Aside from that the five stars are definitely well deserved. I just don't think a better option for the price is available.

I bought this to use with my Lumix G7 and while at first I was skeptical of it because of its build quality, I can say for sure that I bring this with me everywhere. Aside from the build quality, everything about this product is amazing. I was surprised at the clarity of the words as they scroll onto the teleprompter screen, I can clearly read every word. It is also a great combination when used with the Parrot teleprompter app. The app allows you to write scripts, change font size, change scroll speed, change margins, everything you could ever want. (As a side note you will need to enable the mirror option in the app when using the teleprompter. Not only is the teleprompter affordable, its very portable. it easily breaks down and stores inside my Case Logic SLRC-206 SLR Camera and 15.4-Inch Laptop Backpack (Black) which I use to take all of my camera gear with me, it doesn't even take up that much space. I've used it with my Lumix G7 (my daily driver) as well as a Cannon Rebel T6, it works great with both cameras. The one thing I will say is that the thread size on my G7 is 46mm and there was no mount adapter with that thread size included. Luckily I had a step up ring that allowed me to use the teleprompter on my lens. I used the Sensei 46mm Lens to 52mm Filter Step-Up Ring with my lens in order to use the included 52mm adapter mount. Included with the teleprompter are the following thread size adapter mounts(depending if your lens thread size is larger or smaller you may need a step up/down ring): -49mm -52mm -55mm -58mm -62mm -67mm -72mm -77mm -82mm Now I'd like to address the build quality which is what stops me from giving this product 5 stars. I realize that a lower build quality makes the item cheaper to produce and it's partly for that reason that this teleprompter is so affordable. The body of the teleprompter as well as the cover are made of plastic which can feel fragile. The adapters/mounts for mounting the teleprompter to your lens are made of metal and feel sturdy, I never have to worry about bending or warping them. The other issue I'd like to address which isn't necessarily an issue with the teleprompter itself is the remote offered to purchase along side it. I own an Iphone and as such I use the teleprompter with my Iphone. The remote is meant to make life easier when using the teleprompter, offering features like rewinding the script, resizing text, and playing/pausing the script. In the case of the Iphone app(I can't speak for android), it does almost none of this. The only feature I've been able to use is the text resizing which honestly isn't even a feature I use. So I would not recommend buying the remote with the teleprompter, at least not until it's fixed. Overall the Parrot teleprompter is an amazing product that I highly recommend to anyone shooting scripted video as it is a great addition to your camera gear arsenal as well as a great tool. :)

I never write reviews, so this should be a testament to how much I vouch for this product. For context, I've purchased 2 other iPad teleprompters on Amazon, and the Parrot is definitely my favorite from everything else I've tried. Main reasons: 1) It's compact and light. iPad eleprompters can be huge and heavy, and even the foldable ones are still large. So this tiny little guy can even fit into my travel kit. 2) Fewer moving parts. It's just a box with a lid for the front and a lid for the back. It comes with a bunch of step-up rings. None of them were small enough for my Lumix f1/7 45mm lens (with has a lens diameter of 37mm), so I just had to buy a step-up ring on Amazon for a few bucks. 3) Works with your phone. Not only was I saving about $50-100 with Parrot's model compared to other teleprompters, I also didn't have to buy an iPad. It works with whatever phone you have! 4) The app is even good! Super simple, easy to use UI. I'm so impressed that Parrot has built a good hardware and software system. 5) Smaller screen. With the iPad teleprompters, you can often see the on-camera subject's eyes dart left to right as they read, and therefore it becomes quite obvious he or she is reading. With the smaller screen, you can keep your eyes on the lens. 6) SAVES ME SO MUCH TIME WITH VIDEO EDITING. Before I used teleprompters, I would just wing it on camera and try to memorize talking points, but then I'd end up with a lot of crappy footage and then I'd spend even more time editing. Now, I can just perfect the content before I even hit record, and I can recording time down to 2 takes, which means I can do my editing super fast. 7) I don't have to secure it between my camera and tripod. It fits over the front of your lens. Much faster setup. The only con, as many others are saying, is the build quality. It does feel flimsy and easy to break. It certainly feels overpriced for the build quality, but it is still overall a GREAT deal compared to other teleprompters. And while it is flimsy, it is light and that's a good thing. Overall, considering the vast number of PROS this product has to offer, this CON is not enough for me to not give it 5 stars. Great product! You've made my life so much easier as a video producer!

I was disappointed to have received an item that had clearly been used. It was missing 6 of the rings, two were jammed together, and there were no instructions. Looks like a great product. Wish they sent it. Update: I sent it back for a refund. Was annoyed that I had to pay the postage for the return since it was their mistake. I recommend paying more for the Glide Gear TPM100. Far superior.

I recently became interested in creating scripted videos for my church. But after trying to create a few with my notes on my desk, I realized how much more effective it would be if I could look into the camera while speaking with the help of a teleprompter. So, I did a little browsing and decided on the Padcaster Parrot Teleprompter Kit for its simplicity and affordability. I was not disappointed. It's incredibly easy to set up and use. And since it includes a variety of interchangeable mounts, you should be able to use it on just about any consumer-grade lens you have. It simply screws on to the end of your lens and has an extendable floor that you pull down and slide your iPhone into. The Parrot app that controls your teleprompter can be downloaded onto your iPhone and you can either load your script by typing directly into it (using your phone's keyboard) or by syncing the app to Dropbox (and uploading your script as a *.txt file there). Once your script is ready, you can edit the appearance of your teleprompter (colors, size, speed, etc.) without any difficulty at all. And since the Parrot Teleprompter has a Bluetooth remote that syncs to your phone, you can easily control it from a distance. Overall, I've been very impressed. The only drawback I've had is that when using a wide-angle lens, you'll catch part of the teleprompter on the upper left and right edges of the image. This can easily by fixed in post-production via editing but you need to be aware of it so you can pull your camera farther back when capturing your shot. To put it simply, if you're looking for an effective, affordable teleprompter that you can easily use with your iPhone, I don't think there's a better option out there.

I do a lot of YouTube videos for business. I wanted to have a teleprompter to have a better grip on my audience when talking. This product seemed to hit all the checkboxes: - Easy to use: check - Remote: check - IOS and Android: check - Universal adapters for various cameras: check The problem is that each of those has a quirk or two. Let's start with "Easy to Use". That part is true. Add the correct ring, attach the hood, and go! However, the drawer that holds the phone is pretty tough to open and close. Almost impossible to do without changing the orientation of the camera on its mount. Just annoying enough. Let's move onto the remote. The remote is small, but seems to have all the functions I'd need. The problem is that it shuts off randomly and without any notification. When you turn it on there is also no notification. You don't know if you're pressing buttons while it's on or not. The buttons also don't always work. I'm not sure if this is a battery or mechanical problem. But it's a problem. The app does work for IOS and Android. But the app also only works with Dropbox. If you use Google Drive or OneDrive you are out of luck. Also, the remote functionality is very different between OSs. The only thing that's uniform is that not all of the features work as described for either platform. The saving grace here is that you can use any other teleprompter application as well. Lastly, and most frustrating is the hood. I'm using this with a Sony a5100, paired with a Sigma 16mm f1.4. This Sony uses an APS-C sensor. The camera is mounted to my desk and slightly to the right. Without the hood I have the perfect shot setup. However, the hood cuts into the frame significantly (see photos). This has forced me to move my desk back further than I originally wanted for the same shot. Overall, I think it's a cool product. But definitely overpriced for what's delivered. If I had to do this again I would just make my own teleprompter with a binder and picture frame glass.

I want to love this teleprompter, I really do, but it ended up causing the cracking of TWO of my smartphone screens (within two days) through ejecting the devices while in use. I have owned cell phones/smartphones for decades and never ever ever cracked a screen on any of them. The problem is that the area where you place the smartphone (smartphone holder) is not very secure. The first time, the phone ejected while on location. It was a Samsung Galaxy S3 which I used strictly as a teleprompter (six year old phone at this point), so I was annoyed but not particularly upset. The second one was my main phone (Galaxy S7 Edge) but in my recording studio (had to use it because I had a project due that day and my first phone was out of commission). This of course made me angry. Both screens shattered. This product is amazing in concept, but the smartphone mechanism needs to be worked out for it to be a five star product. Because of what I described above, I cannot recommend it. There is no other portable solution on the market which is why I don't plan on returning it, but it needs to be modified. Until this is worked out, I will continue using my more expensive non-portable teleprompter. EDIT: A friend suggested that I place velcro strips onto the bottom of the smartphone holder of the teleprompter and to the back of the smartphone being used for a more secure fit. A couple of velcro strips from CVS or Walgreens and a nice strong case can be added for more peace of mind.