The TeleprompterPAD iLight PRO product line comes in two different sizes, 12” and 14”. Due to this difference in dimensions, choosing the right focal length lens for each model will be crucial to avoid having to do extra editing such as cropping and resizing in post-production.
In this article:
- Is my camera lens compatible with the TeleprompterPAD iLight PRO series?
- Recommended focal length for TeleprompterPAD iLight PRO 12”
- Recommended focal length for TeleprompterPAD iLight PRO 14”
- Could I use a telephoto lens with TeleprompterPAD iLight PRO?
- How to position my camera according to my lens size
- The following articles might interest you:
Is my camera lens compatible with the TeleprompterPAD iLight PRO series?
The major concern when choosing the focal length of your lens for its use in combination with any Teleprompter should be avoiding unwanted elements of the body of the teleprompter showing in the picture, such as the beamsplitter glass frame or the tablet tray.
The shorter you go on the focal length of a lens, the wider the angle of view will be, making it more prone to capture those unwanted elements mentioned above.
Remember this rule of thumb as it applies to basically any teleprompter in the market, and let’s take a closer look at the recommended camera lens focal length and camera position for the TeleprompterPAD iLight PRO 12” and TeleprompterPAD iLight PRO 14”.
Recommended focal length for TeleprompterPAD iLight PRO 12”
If you are planning on using the 12” version of our teleprompter, using something such as a 50mm lens would be optimal.
Although the closest equivalence of a lens to the human eye is 43mm, the 50mm is one of the most common lens sizes in the market and provides a very ‘true’ picture when it comes to object perception and size, as it does not introduce any distortion to the image.
However, going lower than 50mm is perfectly possible, as focal lengths as short as 24mm have proven to perform without any issues when combined with this teleprompter size. However, pushing this number below 24mm will potentially show the edge of the glass frame or the tablet tray.
So remember, as long as you stay over 24mm when using the 12" TeleprompterPAD iLight PRO, you will be able to obtain perfect shots without having to do any post-processing to your recordings.
Recommended focal length for TeleprompterPAD iLight PRO 14”
When using a 14” version, you need to consider both the bigger size of the beamsplitter glass and the larger dimensions of the teleprompter body itself.
For this model, the optimal recommended size is 50mm, but you will be able to go as low as 18mm if you happen to own a lens with a shorter focal length and you want to use it.
To wrap up, for the 14" TeleprompterPAD iLight PRO try to stay on 18mm or above and you will have enough clearance in your teleprompter shots.
Could I use a telephoto lens with TeleprompterPAD iLight PRO?
On the other hand, if you want to use a telephoto lens (long-focus) with any of the products in the iLight PRO product line, there is no focal length limitation above 50mm, although obviously 2 factors:
- The physical size (length) of the telephoto lens may exceed the size of the teleprompter's camera tray. We recommend reading this article: Is my camera compatible with TeleprompterPAD iLight PRO?
- If you use a very long focal length, the talent in front of the camera may have to be placed at a distance greater than recommended to be able to read the text in front of the teleprompter.
How to position my camera according to my lens size
Positioning your camera in terms of distance from the beamsplitter reflective glass is key to achieveing a perfect framing. Your camera position varies depending on the focal lenght of your lens and on your personal preference.
However, there is a standard sweet spot that will provide a good framing as long as you are using a lens within the recommended size range: the end of your lens needs to sit flat with the front of the camera plate.
Please refer to the image below to see a graphic representation of the recommended camera positioning.
So consider that if you use a lens below the recommended focal length indicated in this article, then the shorter the focal length, the closer it will need to be to the glass for the frame not to show in the shot.
Important: Be careful not to bring the lens too close to the mirror, as this could produce unwanted internal reflections or shadows. Always leave some distance between the lens and the mirror.
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