DMX Controlled Lights/ Chauvet Followspot 400g

As mentioned in the previous post I have discovered a follow spot that can be controlled by DMX, the Chauvet Followspot 400g. The Followspot 400G is a 2-channel DMX spotlight featuring 7 dichroic colors, a variable electronic dimmer, variable mechanical iris, variable mechanical focus and has a single gobo slot. The light is also smaller than other follow spots that I have seen and does not get as hot, which will mean it is easier to handle during testing, set-up and the actual presentation than if I was using a full sized follow spot.





The specifications are as follows:

2-channel DMX-512 followspot
7 dichroic colors + white: (red, blue, green, yellow, orange, magenta, UV purple)
Variable electronic dimmer (0-100%)
Variable mechanical iris
Variable mechanical focus
Single gobo slot with 4 free gobos
Beam angle: 2 ° - 12°
Lux: 48,420 @ 1m
Light Source: ENX 82V 360W 75hrs
Power and current: 120V, 60Hz:326W, 3A operating, 8.2A inrush, PF0.92
AC power: 115V/60Hz or 230V/50/Hz
Weight: 20.6 lbs (9.34kgs)
Size: 22.5in x 11.5in x 6.38in
572mm x 292mm x 162mmm

User Manual: http://www.chauvetlighting.com/products/manuals/tfx-fs360_ug-159.pdf

As you can see the beam angle can be as little as 2 degrees, which is the narrowest that I have seen whilst I have been considering stage lights. This will mean that the beam will be almost perfectly collimated, which will hopefully avoid the light from looking like a spotlight and more like a architectural column. Although the light is not completely controllable through DMX, the two options that are available are colour and dimness, which can effectively control if the light is on or off. These are the two options that I wanted to be able to control for the installation.

There are, however, some disadvantages to the 400g. As it is a smaller light it is not as powerful as standard followspots, so the light that it produces will not be as bright as a larger model. This will effect the columns, as the contrast between the light and the darkness will not be as vast, meaning that the columns may not appear as shape and distinctive as they possibly could have been. The beam of light that is produced is also not as sharp as it could be, which will also mean that the columns aren't as distinctive as they could have been if a different light was used. Another disadvantage of the lights is the bulb life. Each bulb lasts for only 120 hours, and the company that I hired from suggested changing the bulb after every 100 hours in order to keep a sharp beam. Although this will not present a problem for the presentation, which will only last for a couple of hours, it may pose a problem when exhibiting the installation in the final year show.

Although the lights do have disadvantages, the advantages greatly out-weigh these, providing a narrow beam with the flexibility that I was looking for.