Automated Fixtures - Moving Head Wash Fixtures

[tyler.martin]

What is the general verdict on VL550's and Mac300's. A local production company is looking to sell their moving light inventory, and I would be able to score some of these at a decent price for a rental fixture, however I would not have the oppertunity to demo the fixtures.

[chawalang]

In my opinion i would go with the VL's. I have used the 550's before and they are a great wash fixture and very versatile for alot of applications. They are greta for television as the video dudes love them because they dont have any kind of hot spot they give a great even wash. Its a great theatre fixture to great for a front wash or for difusiuon. Its good to for concerst as they are great for just spitting out alot of color. They are easy to hang, you can do so with just one hand. If these are the arch ones you would just have to hang the ballast next to it or if they run off dimmer obviously running it to a stae pin connector, or they could be the ones with an on board dimmer. Like all of the VL stuff, with the exception of the 1100, it is super easy to maintenance and clean. Also you have a much tufer power supply in your VL's as oppose to your martins. You will also have an easier time getting replacement parts for the 550 as the mac 300's are no longer made. you could get parts directly from VL in dallas or through Barbizon or PRG. As a whole I think the 550 and if I remember correctly it has actually won an Emmy still based on its design when it was the VL 5. Like i said really versatile fixture for many applications, easy to hang, easy to maintain and really good color mixing.

[EBB]

Parts are still easy to get for the VL fixture. Plus they are still being used on tours and shows. I still see tech riders ask for them on smaller shows and whatnot. So I would go for the VL over the Martin fixture.

[Les]

Another vote for the VL's. Plus, they are just a great-looking fixture with that cool "jet turbine" radial color changer (Dichro*Tune). I have heard that the VL 5** series are a bit on the slow side, but for most situations I think they're sufficient. I think it's like 1.6s from one extreme to the other.

I sure wish I could find a good deal on some VL washes, but they just don't come up very often. When they do, they're still priced higher than most other washes.

[tyler.martin]

The VL's are considerably more than the 300's. I can get 2 300's for the price of 1.
Ive heard scary things about the Dichrotune motors dying and tearing the thing apart.... I know parts for the 250's are easy to get, although for how much longer now that theyve been discontinued...but parts for the 300 should be that bad...

[EBB]

Of the times I've worked on the VL550 fixtures, I've never had a serious issue over motors tearing things up. I've heard things where some pieces of metal somehow bends. But I've never actually seen it so I have no clue what they mean by metal bending in the fixture. But the 300 is still a solid fixture. I've seen them on smaller tours and mod'd and customized to have LED's instead of a lamp and dycro. I know I've seen bands like Death Cab for Cutie tour with that on there 2011 tour and it was fairly bright for what they say was a "cheap kit". So at that point, motors and logic board are the big things to worry about if you get a 300

[rochem]

A major 1st Nat'l Tour just a few months ago went out with 30-some VL550s in the rig, alongside a few dozen VL3500 Spots and Washes. They basically took the Broadway plot and replaced every unit in the High Side systems with a VL550 - the idea being that the tour could save time by not ever needing to focus overstage. And last I heard, they 550s are still holding up strong. Parts are still easily available, and there's plenty of people who can repair them. They're a very simple fixture without too many bells and whistles, but they are excellent at doing what they do.

[wiscolighting]

VL's- more reliable, easier service, especially for used gear VL stuff tends to hold up better... not that I don't like Macs for some other reasons but you are getting a better fixture overall.

[Woodj32177]

I just bought some used VL500 80v, and while the exterior is quite beaten up, they operate perfectly.
They have an incredible look, and I would not hesitate to purchase them again.
I only wish VL wouldn't have discontinued the 80v version. (Brighter, and Autoranging)