Difference between LEKOs (Brands)

[Wolf]

I was reading another thread that they’re are differences in leko brands. I had never really thought about it but I guess that in the actual making of the fixture that it could differ, such as Strand has made there barrel able to rotate 360 degrees. But that about the only difference I really know.

So I thought it would be interesting to hear the differences in the manufactures designs and the different features each company has, and who likes what better.

[Ric]

Originally Posted by Wolf

I was reading another thread that they’re are differences in leko brands. (Snip)
So I thought it would be interesting to hear the differences in the manufactures designs and the different features each company has, and who likes what better.

If you mean Profile lanterns then I would say the following:
1/Strand SL ( 15/32 - 23/50 etc.)
A great lantern, except for replacing the lamp/bubble/globe. The fitting at the rear that turns a few degrees to access the lamp base is a pain in the...!
Also the rotating barrell arrangement tensioner is prone to wear so eventually it can't be locked off.

2/ ETC Source 4
Great Lantern! I love the flatness of beam possible by the dual 'tweak's at the base. The fact that they generally seem brighter for the same power lamp is a plus as well.

[Les]

I like how you can open the accessory slot of an Altman Shakespeare with thumb screws instead of the phillips screws on ETC Source Four's. I do wish they were captive though. They are always shorter than I expect, and they get lost easily, even though they probably aren't a hard item to track down through suppliers. This is about the only feature I like in the Shakespeare.

Technically, there is only one brand of Ellipsoidal that "legally" carries the Leko name, and that is Strand.

[Wolf]

Originally Posted by Les

Technically, there is only one brand of Ellipsoidal that "legally" carries the Leko name, and that is Strand.

I think "legally" there. In my experience most people when referring to ERS just call them lekos but yes you are right.

[derekleffew]

Not your grandfather's LekoLite: WARP 800 W from ADB, Belgium. All four shutters rotate 360°. So the user could make a cut like this:
|__|
_\/
Zoom Profile Spotlights 12°-30° and 22°-50°
The first Zoom Profile Spotlight with Ring Control
• Conventional shutters replaced by 4 integrated blades, each with 360° endless rotation capability... to extend the limits of your creativity
• Accurate fingertip control from any position around the spotlight
• Stable settings, non sensitive to vibrations
• Scale markings on the rings for presetting parameters before rigging

Main Features
• 12°-30° and 22°-50° zoom profiles for 800 W halogen axial lamp, 230 V, 3200 °K, G9.5
• Light output higher than with a 1200 W conventional profile
• Dichroic glass reflector for low gate and beam temperature
• B size gate for maximum gobo definition
• Innovative (patented) ring control of focus, zoom, iris, gobo and shutters
• Access to all controls from any position around the spotlight
• Independent filament position and spot / even adjustments
• Slot for one iris diaphragm + one 360° rotating gobo (or two gobos without iris)
• Stepless yoke positioning along the spotlight for balance adjustment
• Optional and retrofitable motorisation of all functions
• Compact body = more lights on a bar and reduced storage space



Another "Profile Spot" with revolutionary features is the Selecon Pacific, from New Zealand.







And there's this old chestnut: SourceFour®, which many seem to like.

[gafftaper]

Wolf there are so many subtle differences. There are a wide variety of tiny little functional features that one person finds annoying and the next person finds useful. Source 4 yokes are mounted in the center so no mater which way you swing it it's position is the same. Strand SL's have the yoke mounted off center so if you spin the instrument around it hangs totally differently. Most of these differences are really minor and don't effect how you work.

On the other hand, there are the optical differences. They all have a little bit different look and feel, a certain level of crispness or softness in the light. I've heard of designers that actually specify Strand SL's and ETC Source 4's in the same show because they like the optics of each for different purposes. In these cases you really need to get in and play with each of them yourself to decide which ones you like and which you don't like for different purposes.

[Lightingguy32]

See if your local dealer has some sort of setup that can let you play with different models of lekoes. I know for Syracuse Scenery and Stage lighting they have The S4, the jr, a shakespeare, an SL, and a few other lekoes that you can play around in their display room.