Followspot recommendations

[NHStech]

I have a throw of about 75' and I am looking to upgrade my 30-yr old follows. I am looking at the Altman Comet, the Lycian Midget 2 Quartz, and the Imarc 200. Anyone familiar with comparisons? Particularly between the Lycian and the Altman, as they have similar prices? Thanks for your help in this.

[derekleffew]

Perhaps something in this recent thread will help: http://www.controlbooth.com/forums/l...placement.html.

[mstaylor]

I have not used this particular Lycian but the models I have used are nice units. However, they run backwards. The controls are in different order and it looks like the controls are on the other side. As a londtime spot op I would hate to run it no matter how good it is.
The ALtman is a good servicable unit that would work at your distance and longer with decent, not great controls. Unfortunately in the throw distance you are looking at there are no great spots that I have ever found. Some are better than others but none are standouts.
Between the two I would go with Altman. This strictly an op's point of view. Both from the standpoint of how good the light looks on a stage to how well it operates.

[derekleffew]

Originally Posted by mstaylor

...Unfortunately in the throw distance you are looking at there are no great spots that I have ever found. Some are better than others but none are standouts. ...

Although slightly more expensive, the Strong Trouperette IV IS a standout in this class.

[NolaTek]

I've used both the Lycian Midget 1K & 2K models. I think you would need the 2K to even begin to punch through at 75', especially if you ever wanted to throw a gel or color correction into the mix. However, if you aren't limited by a budget, I would lean toward derekleffew's suggestion.

[mstaylor]

Originally Posted by derekleffew

Although slightly more expensive, the Strong Trouperette IV IS a standout in this class.

As a longtime user of trouper and larger spots this does look a standout. I don't know how it stacks up pricewise but I would easily concur with your recomendation. How does the gel boomerang work on the Trouperette? Are they like the Supers or more like the Altman where you pull the whole boomerrang out and load it as one.

[icewolf08]

As usual, I will put the plug in for the Robert Juliat line of fixtures. They have spots that cover your throw, and operate really smoothly. Our operators love them. They are generally a little more pricey, but worth the money.

[porkchop]

I love the Lycian's that we travel with, I haven't used the model you're speaking of but I have experience with several longer throw models and I have liked them all. I especially like the fine focus that I have yet to find on troupers (not saying it doesn't exist but the one's I have worked with didn't have them). As far as controls, the douser, iris, and chopper might be in an order that's different (don't really know I always set up my 1290 when I run) but you should be able to swap the boomerang from side to side if you wanted to do so. The thumb screws should line up in either orientation. Bottom line I love the ability for simple to do fine adjustment on my part and the constancy and versatility for the operators that I get out of Lycian.

As a side yet relevant note, I like the boomerang being in the middle of the light. You might have a little more heat at the frames, but I have had several operators fling frames out of the boomerang on lights that have the boomerang in the very front of the light. These frames are very hard to recover during the remainder of the show, the one time I lost a frame in a boomerang thats in the middle of the light it was easily fixable in a short period of time.

[mstaylor]

Brett, it just an age thing. I ran my first Strong in 1974, carbon Gladiator. I have used the current model of Strong Super since 1979. Muscle memory is an ugly thing. I can work a spot never looking back. With a Lycian longthrow that you use, the controls are in a different order and travel in the opposite direction. it causes me to have to look at the controls everytime I have a cue. Guys that run Lycians all the time would have the same problem the other way. I'm just an old geezer.

[Clifford]

At RBHS, where I spend a lot of my time, we have two Comets, one about 14 years old, one about 6 years old. I haven't used a Lycian myself, but from what I've heard, I'd go with the Lycian. The Altmans haven't aged well. Now, it is a public high school, but given the number of shows we do and the amount of wear they get, I would expect the boomerangs to not be falling apart, for pieces inside the fixture to start moving around, for the iris to work smoother. I've also seen a Comet, a 1000Q and a Lycian (forget the model, :/) side-by-side. I was really impressed by the Lycian, but because I didn't catch the model, it may have been something that far outclassed the two Altmans. Either way, it looked like a nice fixture.