If you can get Entour/Krypton/Wash 250s, I'd say they'll be fine compared to the 550. As the newer 250 series is, well, NEWER, the light train is more refined, and the output will be insignificantly less than the 550, which is older, despite the bigger lamp. The only thing you might need that the 250 series lacks is a zoom or animation wheel.
But if it's the older 250 or 250+, then the 550 will be the brighter product.
Yeah - I checked the martin site, but their video clips showed dittly squat. At least of what I'm interested in seeing.
We would be renting 2 - 4 of the 550 or 250 to use in additon to the installed system at the venue. Right now all that there is are par cans and 4 source fours. The MACs would be utilized for some effects, but mostly to spot vingnettes (sp?). We're already using all the source fours and the par cans don't create the sharp spot we're looking for.
I own some 550's and I think they are great light. They are compact and offer a lot of punch for a medium sized fixture. The optics are crisp. The colors are clean and vivid. The animation wheel adds another dimension to your surface. If I was doing a show and I need a light that had somewhat of a wow factor I would go with the 550's. But if your client doesn’t need all of the flash and wont appreciate what the 550's can do then by no means go with the 250's.
What exactly are you interested in seeing in regards to these fixtures? Furthermore, are you talking about the MAC 250, 250+, or 250 Entour?? The MAC 250 Entour is quite a bit different than a straight, old MAC 250 or +. Depending on venue size, and a few other variables, it sounds like the 250 would work for what you are trying to accomplish, the only attribute that you might be missing is an iris/zoom, which would be handy if you are trying to focus tightly on your various vignettes. If you don't need to added gobo animation that the 550 has, the 250 is the way to go. Plus, the 550 is just barely brighter than the 250. Furthermore, a 250 should be far cheaper to rent than 550. Give us more information!!!