The 3D FILM PARTS is teasing its upcoming SmartSlate, which was designed to be an affordable digital clapperboard.
The SmartSlate is meant to be a simple/traditional slate, just with the ability to toggle takes more easily and input the production fields. Although it can easily jam with your phone’s clock wirelessly and stay persistent throughout the day, it’s able to record logging data to an SD card and have all your traditional iPad clapper features. Just be crystal clear, this early version doesn’t have the ability to jam timecode from a camera or other equipment.
What 3D FILM PARTS is showing is still a prototype, and not the finished product. The prototype battery life is around 5-6 hours, and it will eventually have an anti-glare screen or screen protector. 5-6 hours isn’t much, and that is because the current design utilizes a rather small 2000mAh battery.
3D FILM PARTS is looking for feedback about what customers want so that it may possibly be included in the final firmware.
Digital slates have historically been pretty expensive, but in recent years we have seen some slightly more affordable solutions from Deity and Tentacle Sync come to market. There is currently quite a sizeable gap between functional whiteboard clappers and pro timecode slates, and that’s where 3D FILM PARTS is aiming the SmartSlate.
According to 3D FILM PARTS, they are hoping that this initial version will be under $300 USD and be available within 2-3 weeks.
They are also working on other larger display options (10.5″) with physical buttons and sound that should be available in 4-6 weeks.
According to 3D FILM PARTS, in the future there may also be a Pro version, with physical TC input and higher-level specifications. The company is also seriously considering making it in kit form, and open source, so the whole community can tinker and build on it.
