Would you use to project a fixed gobo image?
I am looking for something that can be mounted on a light tree.
I am looking for something that can be mounted on a light tree.
What fixture?
- Thread starter Jay Barracato
- Start date
Re: What fixture?
The standard is an ETC Source4. The 26° and 19° units will be happy on an aluminum tree, but a 10° is probably too front-heavy.
What's your budget?
The standard is an ETC Source4. The 26° and 19° units will be happy on an aluminum tree, but a 10° is probably too front-heavy.
What's your budget?
I am still exploring the idea but the $200 price tag I see in the source 4 Jr seems reasonable budget wise and the size/weight/angle seem more appropriate to the distance I can usually set a light from stage.
Since the source 4 seems to match the price of the fixed beam LEDs I was looking at, they seem to be an even better option.
Since the source 4 seems to match the price of the fixed beam LEDs I was looking at, they seem to be an even better option.
Re: What fixture?
Be aware that the sharpness of the projected gobo depends on both beam angle and the era/quality of lens tube. Early S4s (the 575w only ones) had poorer optics than the newer ones, so if you go used, try to at least get a 750w capable fixture. Also note that the narrower the fixture, the sharper. 36° fixtures are OK, 26° are sharper, and 50° are pretty poor.
I have a large number of Strand Century lekos that I bought for a song. They are inferior to the S4 for gobo projection since the gate temperature (where the gobo goes) is so high, it actually burns the steel gobos. S4 fixtures run at about half the gate temperature (500° for S4 instead of 900° for Strand). Glass gobos are better than steel, as steel expands when heated, which tends to bow the gobo. This affects your final focus, as no matter how you focus the light, some of the gobo will be in the focal plane, and some out.
I've purchased used 750w S4 fixtures for $200.
If you don't need a lot of brightness, there are special purpose gobo projectors out there that are lower wattage, and even LED. Apollo makes one, and some of the custom gobo houses actually have kits that include the projectors.
Be aware that the sharpness of the projected gobo depends on both beam angle and the era/quality of lens tube. Early S4s (the 575w only ones) had poorer optics than the newer ones, so if you go used, try to at least get a 750w capable fixture. Also note that the narrower the fixture, the sharper. 36° fixtures are OK, 26° are sharper, and 50° are pretty poor.
I have a large number of Strand Century lekos that I bought for a song. They are inferior to the S4 for gobo projection since the gate temperature (where the gobo goes) is so high, it actually burns the steel gobos. S4 fixtures run at about half the gate temperature (500° for S4 instead of 900° for Strand). Glass gobos are better than steel, as steel expands when heated, which tends to bow the gobo. This affects your final focus, as no matter how you focus the light, some of the gobo will be in the focal plane, and some out.
I've purchased used 750w S4 fixtures for $200.
If you don't need a lot of brightness, there are special purpose gobo projectors out there that are lower wattage, and even LED. Apollo makes one, and some of the custom gobo houses actually have kits that include the projectors.
Thanks TJ, good info.
Basically I am looking to project the band logo which is a silhouette of a person's head. I don't need extreme brightness or extreme sharpness but I would like it to look reasonable under a bunch of different lighting conditions and on different backdrops.
For comparison I am also looking at the ADJ gobo projector LED.
Basically I am looking to project the band logo which is a silhouette of a person's head. I don't need extreme brightness or extreme sharpness but I would like it to look reasonable under a bunch of different lighting conditions and on different backdrops.
For comparison I am also looking at the ADJ gobo projector LED.
Re: What fixture?
You probably want to start with the projection parameters and work from there - calculating your throw distance and desired image size, etc. A "B" size gobo is smaller than an "A" size, and will be sharper than an A size gobo, but that as well as the beam angle of your light affect your final projection size.
FWIW, my Varilite VL770s are fantastic gobo projectors - extremely good optics, a couple gobo wheels, CMY mixing, zoom, and all the other goodies. Unfortunately they are about 30X your budget.
You probably want to start with the projection parameters and work from there - calculating your throw distance and desired image size, etc. A "B" size gobo is smaller than an "A" size, and will be sharper than an A size gobo, but that as well as the beam angle of your light affect your final projection size.
FWIW, my Varilite VL770s are fantastic gobo projectors - extremely good optics, a couple gobo wheels, CMY mixing, zoom, and all the other goodies. Unfortunately they are about 30X your budget.
Re: What fixture?
Another thing to look at would be the altman Phoenix, Its very similar to a S4 but it is cheaper. I haven't seen one used with a Gobo but considering the optics are very similar I would think that you can get a good result. Also if you want more sharpness out of the fixture (at the cost of a little lumen output) a donut works great. I primarily work in a Road house and caters to everything from Rock shows, to broadway tours, and some symphony shows. We have two 15* fixtures up on our mezzanine throwing about 60' with donuts and they are very sharp for the 750w units without the EDLT lens.
Another thing to look at would be the altman Phoenix, Its very similar to a S4 but it is cheaper. I haven't seen one used with a Gobo but considering the optics are very similar I would think that you can get a good result. Also if you want more sharpness out of the fixture (at the cost of a little lumen output) a donut works great. I primarily work in a Road house and caters to everything from Rock shows, to broadway tours, and some symphony shows. We have two 15* fixtures up on our mezzanine throwing about 60' with donuts and they are very sharp for the 750w units without the EDLT lens.