Followspot recommendation

[AudJ]

I thought I saw something in this not too far back, but a quick search didn’t get me anywhere...

Our elementary school is looking to purchase followspots. Throw is probably around 70-80 ft.

They were looking at the ChauvetDJ 75ST LED followspot. Although it looks like a nifty fixture for less than $500, lack of sufficient photo-metrics beyond 2m and a 14-20 degree focus lead me to believe this won’t work well in this situation.

Recommendations?

 

[BillESC]

Altman's Luminator should work for you.

https://www.altmanlighting.com/product/luminator/

 

[TimMc]

I've yet to see an affordable LED followspot that is operationally equal to a conventional unit. I'm sure it's coming, and soon, but it ain't here yet.

 

[cbrandt]

It depends on your definition of affordable. The Lycian Zot is a pretty nice unit.

 

[AudJ]

Thanks so far!

It depends on your definition of affordable. The Lycian Zot is a pretty nice unit.

Looks like somewhere between $1,000-1,500 is the budget. That can probably be extended a little, but not that much. They wanted two, but I suggested get one now, one later.

 

[JD]

I second the vote for New Altman's Luminator. I have one and they are handy little things.
They have all the usual features you would see on a bigger spot, but on a smaller scale.

 

[BillConnerFASTC]

Avoid tungsten halogen. Get a S4WRD with an iris and 5 degree lens tube and the City Theatrical accessories. Very quick comparison with Altman unit - TWICE the foot candles - around 112 at 80' - and about same size field as the Altman spotted - about 10' at 80'. Not as bright as Zot - which claims 150 FC at 80' and about 10' at spot - but brighter than the Chauvet unit. Depending on stands and such accessoires, seems in your price range.

 

[AudJ]

Avoid tungsten halogen. Get a S4WRD with an iris and 5 degree lens tube and the City Theatrical accessories. Very quick comparison with Altman unit - TWICE the foot candles - around 112 at 80' - and about same size field as the Altman spotted - about 10' at 80'. Not as bright as Zot - which claims 150 FC at 80' and about 10' at spot - but brighter than the Chauvet unit. Depending on stands and such accessoires, seems in your price range.

So, given a user of this new fixture could potentially be a 10-year-old, is the City Theatrical equipment permanent / solid once installed, or will connectors and widgets lend themselves to being fiddled with?

 

[BillConnerFASTC]

I only hear good things. Here's a CB thread on it https://www.controlbooth.com/threads/source-four-followspot.15735/

 

[gafftaper]

I thought I saw something in this not too far back, but a quick search didn’t get me anywhere...

Our elementary school is looking to purchase followspots. Throw is probably around 70-80 ft.

They were looking at the ChauvetDJ 75ST LED followspot. Although it looks like a nifty fixture for less than $500, lack of sufficient photo-metrics beyond 2m and a 14-20 degree focus lead me to believe this won’t work well in this situation.

Recommendations?

@Ford, was the 75ST the LED follow spot you had in your booth at USITT or was it the Ovation 300? I have the feeling it was the Ovation which was spectacular but also around $3k.

 

[Jay Ashworth]

The St Pete Opera uses a pair of S4 5deg units for folo, and they're quite happy with them, insofar as I know.

 

[JD]

S4 on a stick works great in professional applications with professional operators. I'm not sure it would be a good idea for a 10 year old kid to operate as sections of the housing get hot enough for some serious burns.
My vote is still with the Luminator, which is fan cooled and doesn't get that hot.

 

[AudJ]

Does the S4WRD get extremely hot too?, Or for that matter the native LED varieties of S4? Understanding they are designed to dissipate heat of course.

Probably over-budget, but out of curiosity...

 

[BillConnerFASTC]

S4 on a stick works great in professional applications with professional operators. I'm not sure it would be a good idea for a 10 year old kid to operate as sections of the housing get hot enough for some serious burns.
My vote is still with the Luminator, which is fan cooled and doesn't get that hot.

I don't believe the S4WRD gets hot. It wouldnt surprise me that there are hotter spots on Luminator or any tungsten unit compared to LED. Plus as noted twice as bright.

 

[Ford]

It was the Ovation SP-300 that you saw at USITT.

City theatrical makes a follow spot kit for the Ovation E260(ww or cw).

-Ford

 

[gafftaper]

Let's back up, what is your goal in buying a follow spot? do you just want to make sure a performer is well lit as they move around or do you want the performer to have a bright circle of light around them that makes them really "POP"? The problem with "Pop" is in order to do that the light fixture needs to be brighter and whiter than the rest of the lights in your wash. The Chauvet DJ spot or the "Source Four on a stick" are not going to stand out against the other lights in the rig because they are not brighter and are the same color temperature. If your rig is full of Source Fours, how is another Source Four going to stand out significantly?

I have three follow spots in my theater, two Altman Comets and one Lycian Midget HP. The Comets are very similar to the Luminator mentioned above. They are a great spot, but even at $1500 each they don't really Pop unless you are using two of them and have everything else on stage turned down just a bit. To get serious pop, you need a fixture with a higher color temperature and they cost more. I have a Midget HP with a color temperature of 5,600k and it gives you a huge pop... but it also comes with a $5k price tag and the lamps are about $140 each to replace.

My recomendations:
-If you aren't looking for big pop, then the luminator is a good beginner fixture.

-If you want "POP", the Chauvet Ovation SP-300 or the Lycian Zot LED both are a little over $3k, both are LED (so they are cool to the touch, low energy, and you don't have expensive lamps to replace every year) , both come in a high color temperature (Zot has a choice of color temperatures, Chauvet is just 5,600k). Both will really give you the pop you want. I played with both of them at USITT and they were both excellent. My impression... 5 months later not having seen them side by side... is that the Chauvet was perhaps a little brighter but the Lycian had a bit better zoom ability. Both seemed like great fixtures in the few minutes I played with them and my initial impression is I would be happy with either. Call your local dealer and ask about getting a demo.

-Can't afford option two but you are hoping for some "Pop"? Try a Chauvet Ovation E260 CW "on a stick". That's a 260 Watt LED fixture with a 5,452k Color Temperature, equivalent in output to a 750 Watt incandescent lamp... but much whiter so you get pop. Put a narrow lens and a City Theatrical follow spot kit on it and you've got an okay follow spot for around $1500. Not perfect but it would be pretty good.

 

[RonHebbard]

Let's back up, what is your goal in buying a follow spot? do you just want to make sure a performer is well lit as they move around or do you want the performer to have a bright circle of light around them that makes them really "POP"? The problem with "Pop" is in order to do that the light fixture needs to be brighter and whiter than the rest of the lights in your wash. The Chauvet DJ spot or the "Source Four on a stick" are not going to stand out against the other lights in the rig because they are not brighter and are the same color temperature. If your rig is full of Source Fours, how is another Source Four going to stand out significantly?

I have three follow spots in my theater, two Altman Comets and one Lycian Midget HP. The Comets are very similar to the Luminator mentioned above. They are a great spot, but even at $1500 each they don't really Pop unless you are using two of them and have everything else on stage turned down just a bit. To get serious pop, you need a fixture with a higher color temperature and they cost more. I have a Midget HP with a color temperature of 5,600k and it gives you a huge pop... but it also comes with a $5k price tag and the lamps are about $140 each to replace.

My recomendations:
-If you aren't looking for big pop, then the luminator is a good beginner fixture.

-If you want "POP", the Chauvet Ovation SP-300 or the Lycian Zot LED both are a little over $3k, both are LED (so they are cool to the touch, low energy, and you don't have expensive lamps to replace every year) , both come in a high color temperature (Zot has a choice of color temperatures, Chauvet is just 5,600k). Both will really give you the pop you want. I played with both of them at USITT and they were both excellent. My impression... 5 months later not having seen them side by side... is that the Chauvet was perhaps a little brighter but the Lycian had a bit better zoom ability. Both seemed like great fixtures in the few minutes I played with them and my initial impression is I would be happy with either. Call your local dealer and ask about getting a demo.

-Can't afford option two but you are hoping for some "Pop"? Try a Chauvet Ovation E260 CW "on a stick". That's a 260 Watt LED fixture with a 5,452k Color Temperature, equivalent in output to a 750 Watt incandescent lamp... but much whiter so you get pop. Put a narrow lens and a City Theatrical follow spot kit on it and you've got an okay follow spot for around $1500. Not perfect but it would be pretty good.

@AudJ @gafftaper touched on it; with follow-spots look at the cost to operate per hour, the cost of the lamp, how many hours it will continue to produce its rated lumens at its rated color temperature and in the case of some high-pressure xenon lamps be absolutely certain you never push them too far as they become effectively a bomb going off in your follow-spot if you run them until they explode and cost you SERIOUS money to replace broken lenses, misshapen reflectors, shutters and irises.
Toodleoo!
Ron Hebbard

 

[BillConnerFASTC]

Let's back up, what is your goal in buying a follow spot? do you just want to make sure a performer is well lit as they move around or do you want the performer to have a bright circle of light around them that makes them really "POP"? The problem with "Pop" is in order to do that the light fixture needs to be brighter and whiter than the rest of the lights in your wash. The Chauvet DJ spot or the "Source Four on a stick" are not going to stand out against the other lights in the rig because they are not brighter and are the same color temperature. If your rig is full of Source Fours, how is another Source Four going to stand out significantly?

I have three follow spots in my theater, two Altman Comets and one Lycian Midget HP. The Comets are very similar to the Luminator mentioned above. They are a great spot, but even at $1500 each they don't really Pop unless you are using two of them and have everything else on stage turned down just a bit. To get serious pop, you need a fixture with a higher color temperature and they cost more. I have a Midget HP with a color temperature of 5,600k and it gives you a huge pop... but it also comes with a $5k price tag and the lamps are about $140 each to replace.

My recomendations:
-If you aren't looking for big pop, then the luminator is a good beginner fixture.

-If you want "POP", the Chauvet Ovation SP-300 or the Lycian Zot LED both are a little over $3k, both are LED (so they are cool to the touch, low energy, and you don't have expensive lamps to replace every year) , both come in a high color temperature (Zot has a choice of color temperatures, Chauvet is just 5,600k). Both will really give you the pop you want. I played with both of them at USITT and they were both excellent. My impression... 5 months later not having seen them side by side... is that the Chauvet was perhaps a little brighter but the Lycian had a bit better zoom ability. Both seemed like great fixtures in the few minutes I played with them and my initial impression is I would be happy with either. Call your local dealer and ask about getting a demo.

-Can't afford option two but you are hoping for some "Pop"? Try a Chauvet Ovation E260 CW "on a stick". That's a 260 Watt LED fixture with a 5,452k Color Temperature, equivalent in output to a 750 Watt incandescent lamp... but much whiter so you get pop. Put a narrow lens and a City Theatrical follow spot kit on it and you've got an okay follow spot for around $1500. Not perfect but it would be pretty good.

The Source 4 on a stick I was recommending was the LED sourcevS4WRD that is pretty bright - over 100 fc at 80' and is available in 5600. Worth comparing to the Ovation option. (For which I don't see data for 5 degree lens tube.) I'm afraid either will be nearer $2000 than $1500 when all is said and done using City Theatrical yoke, but still half the Zot LED. I just don't think the Luminator around 50 fc at 80' with 3300 color temp will and a 75 hour lamp is a great choice, although it appears to be solidly in the $1000 to 1500 range.

 

[AudJ]

Let's back up, what is your goal in buying a follow spot? do you just want to make sure a performer is well lit as they move around or do you want the performer to have a bright circle of light around them that makes them really "POP"? The problem with "Pop" is in order to do that the light fixture needs to be brighter and whiter than the rest of the lights in your wash. The Chauvet DJ spot or the "Source Four on a stick" are not going to stand out against the other lights in the rig because they are not brighter and are the same color temperature. If your rig is full of Source Fours, how is another Source Four going to stand out significantly?

I have three follow spots in my theater, two Altman Comets and one Lycian Midget HP. The Comets are very similar to the Luminator mentioned above. They are a great spot, but even at $1500 each they don't really Pop unless you are using two of them and have everything else on stage turned down just a bit. To get serious pop, you need a fixture with a higher color temperature and they cost more. I have a Midget HP with a color temperature of 5,600k and it gives you a huge pop... but it also comes with a $5k price tag and the lamps are about $140 each to replace.

My recomendations:
-If you aren't looking for big pop, then the luminator is a good beginner fixture.

-If you want "POP", the Chauvet Ovation SP-300 or the Lycian Zot LED both are a little over $3k, both are LED (so they are cool to the touch, low energy, and you don't have expensive lamps to replace every year) , both come in a high color temperature (Zot has a choice of color temperatures, Chauvet is just 5,600k). Both will really give you the pop you want. I played with both of them at USITT and they were both excellent. My impression... 5 months later not having seen them side by side... is that the Chauvet was perhaps a little brighter but the Lycian had a bit better zoom ability. Both seemed like great fixtures in the few minutes I played with them and my initial impression is I would be happy with either. Call your local dealer and ask about getting a demo.

-Can't afford option two but you are hoping for some "Pop"? Try a Chauvet Ovation E260 CW "on a stick". That's a 260 Watt LED fixture with a 5,452k Color Temperature, equivalent in output to a 750 Watt incandescent lamp... but much whiter so you get pop. Put a narrow lens and a City Theatrical follow spot kit on it and you've got an okay follow spot for around $1500. Not perfect but it would be pretty good.

Well, we are dealing with an elementary school that does a musical, and basic school functions. Lighting on stage literally consists of strip lights with actual 150w incandescent light bulbs, and a few par headlights. The goal is to follow soloists, singers, maybe a presenter. They borrow my Comets occasionally, which work fine, but not always available to them. The one they have is an older Altman (don’t remember which - it has a huge lamp), the large lense is literally cracked in half. I don’t think pop is as big of a concern as budget (but if something they want is more, they just wait until they fundraise more) with the inadequate lighting they deal with. Nobody there knows anything about stage tech, so the vocal director calls me for recommendations - I am am passing info to those that are making the decision- so this is all great info. Thanks to all!

 

[gafftaper]

The Source 4 on a stick I was recommending was the LED sourcevS4WRD that is pretty bright - over 100 fc at 80' and is available in 5600. Worth comparing to the Ovation option. (For which I don't see data for 5 degree lens tube.) I'm afraid either will be nearer $2000 than $1500 when all is said and done using City Theatrical yoke, but still half the Zot LED. I just don't think the Luminator around 50 fc at 80' with 3300 color temp will and a 75 hour lamp is a great choice, although it appears to be solidly in the $1000 to 1500 range.

Ah I missed that. Yes, Source 4wrd on a stick with high color temp would also be a good option.

But in the end, everything will probably be a bit of a disappointment unless you get can afford to spend about $3k.