Ellipsoidals

Ellispoidals, ERS, Leko, Shakespeare, Source Four, or whatever else you choose to call them, are one of the most common stage lighting instruments in use today. These fixtures are named for the ellipsoidal reflector used to direct the light through a barrel that contains a lens or a combination of lenses. This is a very similar process to a slide projector. Ellipsoidals are available in varying shapes, sizes, and options to meet many needs. These fixtures are often utilized in theatres and productions as they project a well-defined and versatile light. Leko, Shakespeare, and Source 4 are all particular brand names available for ellipsoidals; the terms are used much like Kleenex is used for tissue.

No matter what you call it, all ellipsoidals have certain characteristics:

• An ellipsoidal reflector
• An adjustable lens tube containing the lens or lens train. This adjustment varies the focus of the beam of light. “Zoom” ellipsoidals can vary the size of the beam as well as the focus.
• One or two plano-convex lenses within the lens tube to create the lens train. These lenses have one side flat (plano) and one side bowed out (convex). The distance between the lens or lenses and the reflector determines how wide the beam of light is projected.
• A set of brackets on the end of the lens tube for insertion of gel frames and/or a variety of accessories. Many units have two slots to accommodate accessory combinations.
• A series of shutters mounted at the internal focal point of the ellipsoidal fixture. These allow for shaping and sizing of the light beam’s edges as lines. Additionally, a drop in iris may be used to size the beam as a circle.
• A slot in the body of the ellipsoidal for the insertion of a gobo pattern holder. In most cases, this slot is able to hold a glass gobo (seated on the pattern holder), dichroic color, or an effects unit such as a gobo rotator or drop in iris. Most slots are able to accommodate one effect accessory at a time.
• Lamps are loaded from the rear in most cases.

One of the best parts of ellipsoidals is the fact that these fixtures are so common and so often used, they are a worthwhile investment for most theatres. With regular maintenance, which is often not particularly difficult, just a bit time consuming, these fixtures may last for years upon years. Parts are available for the most common models ensuring these fixtures shine brightly season after season.
These days, the sometimes referred to gobo lights, come in many shapes and sizes.  No more is the 24lb, 24in long fixture of the past that heats up to near scorching after a few minutes of being turned on. Many manufactures are coming out with smaller, lighter, cooler LED versions of this lighting type, in order to accommodate more customer’s situations. While their brightness will not rival that of the high performance lamps, in many cases these LED fixtures are bright enough for the job at hand. Since these fixtures have moved out of the theater and into everyday spaces, a great need has risen for a more compact fixture to fit into everyday situations.
One of the newest, smallest, lightest fixtures in this category is the DarkLight Gantom iQ.  Consuming only 2.7W at 3.5in in length this fixture will fit into almost any space and project almost any image you want. StageSpot will be carrying these soon.

As technology expands, so do our options for even brighter, lighter, smaller fixtures to get our images out into the world.  Their LED cousins may not be completely up to snuff with their much older wiser relatives, but they are learning quickly.

Check back later for a follow up post to demystify the magic of field angles. keystoning and ellipsoidals. As always, StageSpot is here for you!