Hi, I just got my a1 a few weeks ago and I must say that I'm totally impressed! Then again I'm also a total DV newbie so what do I know :)

Anyway, I'll be using my PC LCD monitor as a teleprompter for an actor to read from. Naturally, the monitor will be as close to the A1 as possible. My concern is that the monitor (or the PC itself) will interfere with the image or even cause damage to the camera.

Am I just paranoid?

I started worrying about this after reading the following in the A1 manual:
Avoid magnetic or electric fields-Do not use the camera close to tv transmitters, portable communication devices or other sources of electric or magnetic radiation. They may cause picture interference, or permanently damage the camera.

Thanks. More newbie questions to come!

A big part of a teleprompter is a monitor hung out in front of the camera, so you shouldn't have any problem. However, your talent is going to be looking off screen. Better to rent a real teleprompter. Even close isn't good enough when he's supposed to be looking right at the camera. Or use an actor who has an earprompter.

If your screen is LCD (as opposed to Plasma) you should have no worries about it interfereing with the A1, they neither emit nor are affected by magnetic fields. I've read several reports of Plasma screens giving off electro - magnetic fields which can cause some problems (at VERY close range - 6" or so).

As for your pc, again, if it's properly cased, any magnetic fields will be kept firmly within. There could be an issue if a fan opening was pointed directly at the camera from close range, but it's extremely unlikely (IMHO).

Your A1 was designed to operate correctly in this electo - magnetically saturated world as long as you don't do sommat stupid like park it in front of a microwave transmitter dish, but the same goes for just about any piece of electronic gear.

CS

Bill, A real teleprompter is ideal but our budget is almost dried up. We did some tests with the LCD monitor and it looks very good. Almost impossible to tell that he is looking off camera.

Thanks guys. Thats one less worry.