VL2600 thoughts? Looking at Spot vs Profile

Not sure on major differences between the two, which might be more beneficial in a heavy theatre, infrequent concert facility. Also haven't seen anything on anyone playing with these yet.


Also looking on thoughts on whether to fill out the rest of my moving light stock (currently running 9 LEDSpot 300s) and get to 12 (4 per batten) or consider filling out stock with the 2600s.


Thanks guys!

My current inclination, based only on gut feelings, is that the Phillips (Oath?)/Varilite/Strand/Selecon/ColorKinetics brand situation is a cluster**** and is wise to avoid. The entertainent industry is such a small part of Phillips that in general the brands that Phillips have bought are shadows of their former selves. I have not tried the VL2600 specifically, but given the general experience of working with Phillips I do not intend to, either.

Can I ask what puts you in that particular frame of mind? Their equipment does seem solid... also I guess it’s signify now, which probably only adds to that frustration/confusion...

stolympiakos said:

Can I ask what puts you in that particular frame of mind? Their equipment does seem solid... also I guess it’s signify now, which probably only adds to that frustration/confusion...

Click to expand...

@stolympiakos Quoting you: "signify"? In what sense??
Toodleoo!
Ron Hebbard

RonHebbard said:

@stolympiakos Quoting you: "signify"? In what sense??
Toodleoo!
Ron Hebbard

Click to expand...

Sorry, should have been more clear. Signify is (or was) the name that the manufacturer of all those brands was going by when I visited over the summer. It was a fairly recent change, but idk if it stuck or not.

Getting back to the question...

Typically, a profile has framing shutters and a spot does not. Usually the framing shutters come at the expense of some other feature like a second gobo wheel, animation disk, or other. A profile may offer better colour mixing for facial lighting but it may trade off deep saturated colours to do so. Profiles usually cost more.

Given the above, profiles are more useful when doubling as a wash light, especially in FOH positions where shutter cuts are needed to crop spill off the proscenium, brow, or audience. Spots are more versatile for texturing and effects or any other case where spill might not be an issue. Since spots usually cost less, one compromise is to replace a rotating gobo with a 3/4 circle and get a straight shutter cut on one edge.

Looks like your current moving light already has shutters, so you're covered on the "profile" front.
Are you looking for a moving wash light or more fixtures with shutters or something with more effects like an animations wheel?
How bright are these? I've never used them before and the trend toward LED makes it difficult to compare models from different brands.

I am also curious about the VL2600 series fixtures. The feature list is pretty great - wide zoom range, good brightness, full features, etc., but after pretty poor luck with my VL770s and the fact that Vari-lite can't seem to be bothered to update their website (vari-lite.com goes to an old site that hasn't been updated in at least a couple years; their current site is buried under the Philips website pile) I'm pretty nervous.