Pin Spots

[Dani]

Can any of you tell me what you know about pin spots, I know very minimal about them, and I need to order them/purchase them. I have used the ones that slide into the fixture, and you can move it to change the size, but is there an actual fixture that is a pin spot? And do you know any online dealers that have any of these?
Thanks!
-D

[soundlight]

Pin Spots use 6 or 12 volt lamps that provide a pencil-thin beam. They are usually supplied with a 6V transformer and a 6V 30W lamp. They're very economical, and work great in clusters.

BulbAmerica sells them for a good price and they have a GE 4515 Lamp included.

Read this thread in entirety.

I think that what you are describing that drops in to a fixture is an iris. This changes the beam size of an ellipsoidal.

[SerraAva]

Pin Spots are generally Par 16's with narrow lenses in them for the 'pin spot' effect. They are low wattage, generally not higher then 150w. They can also be Par 36's, but they are larger then the 16's. What is the use you are looking to use them for? Do you just want cheap little lights, or something better looking/more durable for more money? Also, how bright do you need them? They come in a few different wattages.

Here is a more expensive unit, with a stronger build quality.

Here is a cheaper Par 36 one.

[soundlight]

I've never heard of PAR16's with narrow lenses referred to as pinspots, it's always the PAR36 units with the 4515 lamps, as there aren't many other choices when you have the 6V transformer installed as standard.

I'd like to get my hands on some of the JTE PAR36 long-nose units, though, with the 12V transformer installed. That would be a nice fixture with the variety of PAR36 lamps that come in 12V.

[SerraAva]

Yea, I have used 16s as a pin spot effect. When it comes down to it, what is the real definition of a pin spot? Does it have to be 12v or 6v, can it be 120v? Does it have to be 30w or can it be more? You can also stick a 150w lamp in a 36. Is it still a pin spot then? It is really all relative when you think about it. I have heard people call 16s pin spots, and others 36s. I can take a mover and zoom it down and iris to be a small dot and call it a pin spot.

[derekleffew]

And in the disco days, the PAR36 variety were called "rain lights."

[gafftapegreenia]

Originally Posted by SerraAva

Yea, I have used 16s as a pin spot effect. When it comes down to it, what is the real definition of a pin spot? Does it have to be 12v or 6v, can it be 120v? Does it have to be 30w or can it be more? You can also stick a 150w lamp in a 36. Is it still a pin spot then? It is really all relative when you think about it. I have heard people call 16s pin spots, and others 36s. I can take a mover and zoom it down and iris to be a small dot and call it a pin spot.

Oh no, semantics!!!

But, in the general purpose of this board, the low-voltage, pencil beam PAR 36 or, occasionally, a PAR 46 refers to a 'pin spot'. As Derek pointed out, these are also known as 'rain lights'. Of course, PAR 36's come in a variety of beam spreads, not just pencil beam. I've always wanted to get a few wide or medium spread PAR 36's and see how they do in the can of a pin spot. Also, I must note that the PAR 36 and PAR 38 are very different lamps, that often use very different fixtures, and I've never seen a pin spot effect from a PAR 38. Maybe I will answer my own question later, but do 120v PAR 36's exist?

Low voltage, pencil-thin PAR 64's are, to this board at least, ACL's.

This board usually regards PAR 16's as either PAR 16's (Regardless if they use PAR or MR lamps), or as Birdies. I've never seen a PAR 16 with a lens, but that doesn't mean they don't exist.

Terms terms terms. Is it a template, a gobo, a pattern or a cookie??

Now, I believe Altman has discontinued them, but they used to manufacture a 'pin-spot' adapter for their #101 Box Spot and then later the 3" Fresnel.

Dani, I believe you are looking for these?


I can't find a picture of the pin spot adapter, but it's on Altman's website somewhere.

FOUND IT

# 101 PC Box Spot

Similar item on 3 Inch Fresnel

[SerraAva]

Here is a 650w 120v Par 36 lamp to answer your question gafftapegreenia. Quite powerful for such a small light, but you get the idea, 120v Par 36 lamps are out there.

[gafftapegreenia]

Interesting. Seems like, based on the screw terminals, it would be a hazard to use such a thing in a regular PAR can. What are those lamps usually used for?

[SerraAva]

I have used them in video shoots before. The cans they went in were die cast, so much stronger then what is normally called a pin spot. Here is a picture of what they look like, can't find the maker. Basically a smaller Par 46, with a short nose instead of a long nose. Also, in my searches, I am finding some calling Par 38s pin spots.