We have 20 VL1000AS, 14 Studio Spot CMY Zooms, 12 Studio Colors, 14 VL2000 Spots and 8 VL2000 Washes. We too were a 120v rig so that was limiting.
As a permanent install, we are in the process of retiring the VL2000's and replacing with more Studio Colors and VL1000's. While I love the brightness of the VL's (and Mac 700's for that matter), it was the lamp costs that were killing us. We run 5-6 days per week and a 2,000 hour lamp life (HES/VL1000's) vs. a 750 hour lamp life (VL2000's) adds up fast for us. The VL2000's end up getting changed 3x's per year while I can go a full year on the HES/VL1000's.
I have plenty of punch for what we need in our space with the HES/VL1000's. While the extra punch would be nice from a 700 watt fixture...justification $$$$$ wise with the budget made it a little more difficult.
The other plus is the HES/VL1000's are convection cooled (no fans) so they are quieter and don't require as extensive cleanings as the other fixtures.
Just my two cents...
Usedlighting.com has Studio Spot CMYs (not zooms).
SolarisNetwork has a couple Studio Spot CMY Zooms
They're in Europe. The shipping is too much to get to the US for my pocketbook. I already got a quote from them for that listing.
If you have an account rep at 4Wall, call them directly and inquire about buying used products. They have a pretty regular replacement/sales cycle, and they will often have units that they can sell you in other depots that aren't listed on the website yet. If you have accounts with any of the other shops, call them up too and ask about buying used gear. I know PRG was selling off Studio Colors and Studio Spots about 4 months ago for very low prices.
But really? Studio spots?? Getting those would be like if I asked what video game system I should buy and someone suggested I get a Sega Saturn...
Look at VL440s, their 700watt or the industry standard of the Mac 700. You really don't want to buy an older light which I'm sure parts will become much harder to come by in a year or so when you need them...
JXgriffi,
Ok, I agree with almost everything you are saying here.
With the exception of lamp life.
The times you are stating are the rated lives of the lamps.
While you may get a lamp to last 2000 hours in a studio spot.
I would venture that it would be very dim compared to a new lamp.
I usually re-lamp all my studio 575 fixtures at around 900-1200 lamp hours.
And usually they are getting very dim.
That being said, MSR700sa's are much worse. My VL2500's and Xspots are usually revamped around 600 hours due to fixture output dropping below what is acceptable.
Oof,
Fair enough,
However, the long life MSD 575 lamp has 1500 less lumens than the MSR version.
with the inefficient lens train of the studio 575, I am never willing to give up the lumens, especially in a CMY.. (but I usually have 6-10 fixtures, not a ton..)
Studio Spot CMY fixtures bleed lumens like nobody's business. Newer fixtures are much more efficient with their lumens.
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