Something for the squints
- Thread starter Tim Weaver
- Start date
Re: Something for the squints
I have the displeasure of being a regular ME in a local theater which has a bunch of these still in use. I despise every hang and focus. Thanks for bringing back the nightmares, I just got over em.
I have the displeasure of being a regular ME in a local theater which has a bunch of these still in use. I despise every hang and focus. Thanks for bringing back the nightmares, I just got over em.
Re: Something for the squints
These were fine lights in their day, and I'd chalk up any troubles you are having to abuse and lack of maintenance rather than fixture faults. Ten year old, beat up Source 4 units aren't any fun to work with either.
These were fine lights in their day, and I'd chalk up any troubles you are having to abuse and lack of maintenance rather than fixture faults. Ten year old, beat up Source 4 units aren't any fun to work with either.
Re: Something for the squints
That's pretty funny, Tim. When I saw the thumbnail I thought the ad was real. Thanks for the laugh.
That's pretty funny, Tim. When I saw the thumbnail I thought the ad was real. Thanks for the laugh.
Re: Something for the squints
Except that they consume 750 watts and put out a pitifully dim and orange tinted blotch of light that is only a quarter as bright as the S4 that uses 575 watts.
Oh, and don't forget your gloves, because they do get fucking HOT! And don't even try to recycle them because they contain asbestos and lead. And they will burn though gels and gobo's faster than you can blink. etc, etc.....
Except that they consume 750 watts and put out a pitifully dim and orange tinted blotch of light that is only a quarter as bright as the S4 that uses 575 watts.
Oh, and don't forget your gloves, because they do get fucking HOT! And don't even try to recycle them because they contain asbestos and lead. And they will burn though gels and gobo's faster than you can blink. etc, etc.....
Re: Something for the squints
I'm not saying we haven't made advances in the 40 years since those lights were introduced, but it's not that bad. The older units don't get significantly hotter than modern units of the same wattage. Ever grab the back of a source four that has been on for some time? Source fours simply take longer to heat up and cool down. The older units do go through gel and gobos more quickly than newer designs that use dichroic reflectors.
While asbestos was certainly used for insulation (until it was replaced with PTFE and glass fiber), I don't believe lead was ever used in those units. Performance is dictated as much by the lamp in use as by the fixture. If the color temperature of the older units is significantly warmer than newer units, you probably have a longlife lamp or a higher voltage lamp that does not put out as much light. Or you are using an incandescent lamp when more modern halogen lamps are available as a retrofit.
I'm not saying we haven't made advances in the 40 years since those lights were introduced, but it's not that bad. The older units don't get significantly hotter than modern units of the same wattage. Ever grab the back of a source four that has been on for some time? Source fours simply take longer to heat up and cool down. The older units do go through gel and gobos more quickly than newer designs that use dichroic reflectors.
While asbestos was certainly used for insulation (until it was replaced with PTFE and glass fiber), I don't believe lead was ever used in those units. Performance is dictated as much by the lamp in use as by the fixture. If the color temperature of the older units is significantly warmer than newer units, you probably have a longlife lamp or a higher voltage lamp that does not put out as much light. Or you are using an incandescent lamp when more modern halogen lamps are available as a retrofit.
Re: Something for the squints
I do agree lack of maintenance is a major cause of my displeasure. It's not my venue. The space hires on a per show basis with no real regular tech to handle maintenance. So I just have to make do with what is there.
And I do agree with Tim's assessment of the quality of light emitted. It may be the age to the reflector or the design or whatever, but the same lamp in that vs an equally old Colortran of the same beam is significantly dimmer.
I've been telling the theater to buy new fixtures ASAP.
And I'll take a beat to death S4 over a Kleigl any day.
I do agree lack of maintenance is a major cause of my displeasure. It's not my venue. The space hires on a per show basis with no real regular tech to handle maintenance. So I just have to make do with what is there.
And I do agree with Tim's assessment of the quality of light emitted. It may be the age to the reflector or the design or whatever, but the same lamp in that vs an equally old Colortran of the same beam is significantly dimmer.
I've been telling the theater to buy new fixtures ASAP.
And I'll take a beat to death S4 over a Kleigl any day.