Automated Fixtures - Vari-Lite VLX Automated Luminaire

[Jby007]

I thought I would start a post that talked about the new Vari-Lite the VLX
Vari-Lite - Philips Entertainment - VLX
Demo's are starting to take place and I think we needed a place to talk about it.

Please post any comments below the good and the bad.

[derekleffew]

Okay, I'll start. On the cut sheet, under Photometric Data, does anyone know what "CCT" means and why that value changes based on the zoom setting?

I'm an old fart, and am used to judging fixtures based on foot-candles calculated from BCP or peak-candelas. Does anyone know how to get these from lumens?

I thought LEDs were supposed to lead to smaller and lighter fixtures. At 27" tall and 62 pounds, this unit seems neither.

Does this unit cost over $10,000 like every other major moving light?

[epimetheus]

630W of LEDs! I'd love to see one of these in action, though I think I'd want to sitting down when told the price. Here's the datasheet on the actual LED elements used:

http://www.luminus.com/stuff/content...lumination.pdf

This sucker is certainly not compact!

[theatre4jc]

I'm actually going to a demo of them tomorrow. I'll let you know what I think.

[Pie4Weebl]

I just got the demo today. I was blown away.

-I made L201, and R54 as well as a ton of other theatre colors.
-I did a 20 second dim and it was smooth as hell (it jumps between 1% and 0, but that will be fixed in a software update)
-Variable CTO from 3,000-9,000K
-CRI>100
-Bright as a VL2500 in white, BRIGHTER in saturated primary colors
-quick movement
-even light field
-color and CT are maintained throughout the entire dimmer curve.
-LED chips can easily be upgraded when they introduce brighter ones in about two years.
-Fast Zoom
-No maintenance.

It was an amazing fixture and I think it really deserves the title as the first true LED lighting fixture. It's not for candy, its not to tone your truss, its to light people.

Its a wonderful fixture and MSRP is $10,000, so street will be a bit less. Unless you are going to a 1500+ fixture I could never see purchasing any other wash fixture. There is just no reason to.

[theatre4jc]

Went to a demo for the new VLX today. I must say I am very impressed. VL spent $5 million developing the chip for this thing. Asked the price range and they said a few hundred more than the VL2500 Wash. So we did a shootout with between the two. Check this out, the 2500 Wash and VLX shooting around 100', zoomed all the way in with a 22 degree beam for the VLX and 16 for the 2500 Wash. The 2500 Wash was shooting 6.5 footcandles and the VLX was shooting 7.5!!!! Visibly more powerful.

What impressed me even more was the CTO and White colors. The CTO blended the light beautifuly producing some amazing colors. The white was the whitest LED "white" I have ever seen. Placed on flesh and it was very pleasing. Very very impressive light. With the price point I would say that the 2500 wash will go away very quickly as the VLX out performed it in all aspects. For a small amount more, but less than the spot, I don't see why anyone would choose the wash over the VLX.

Heavy but very cool. Cooled by water. Each LED is replacable itself. Already talking about great improvements such as possibly controling each LED individually instead of as a whole. Very impressive toy but definately not small and not for a small room either! I would say this would be perfect for a medium sized room. I would love a few in my 2,500 seat room.

[gafftaper]

Anyone else notice that the webpage linking to the spec sheet lists it under the heading "VLX SERIES Luminaires"? Wonder how long it will be until they bring out the next one in the series? Will it be a profile version? Does this mean we are getting close to an LED ellipsoidal as well?

There are many fascinating followup questions to them using the word "Series" and the plural "luminaires".

[TimMiller]

if I remember correctly my dealer told me around 8 for the fixture. It sounds like varilight was really on top of it this time, finally a usable LED wash for larger venues.

[Pie4Weebl]

Originally Posted by gafftaper

Anyone else notice that the webpage linking to the spec sheet lists it under the heading "VLX SERIES Luminaires"? Wonder how long it will be until they bring out the next one in the series? Will it be a profile version? Does this mean we are getting close to an LED ellipsoidal as well?

There are many fascinating followup questions to them using the word "Series" and the plural "luminaires".

I asked, it will be a while till we see one, their focus now is on their new 300watt series fixtures which will debut at LDI.

[derekleffew]

Originally Posted by gafftaper

...There are many fascinating followup questions to them using the word "Series" and the plural "luminaires".

I wouldn't read too much into that, GT. V/L has always grouped its fixtures into "families": Series 200, Series 300, VL1000 Series, et cetera; first depending on power/data distribution, and later depending on application.

Still no ideas on what "CCT" means?