Mac 250 Vs Robe 170AT?

[jamesamd4800]

Hi all,

 

been looking around at lighting and went to a store yesterday, they have 4 robe Colorspot 170 AT's for £2500 for four (used). Is this a good deal?

 

The reason I ask is that there are 2 martin mac's on this forum for £1000.

 

Which are better, which are more reliable and cheaper to look after ?

 

Many Thanks,

James

[Ynot]

Er, you HAVE looked at both these lanterns, yes?

 

The Robe is a small 150W mini moving head, and the Mac 250 (mk 1, at that price I suspect) is a medium ish 250W moving head.

 

And to be blunt, I'd say that 2.5K for 4 150W used heads is a bit pricy!

 

The key to ANY used purchase (or new for that matter) is RESEARCH the items you're looking at.

And by research, I mean something more than asking on a forum...

[jamesamd4800]

Er, you HAVE looked at both these lanterns, yes?

 

The Robe is a small 150W mini moving head, and the Mac 250 (mk 1, at that price I suspect) is a medium ish 250W moving head.

 

And to be blunt, I'd say that 2.5K for 4 150W used heads is a bit pricy!

 

The key to ANY used purchase (or new for that matter) is RESEARCH the items you're looking at.

And by research, I mean something more than asking on a forum...

 

 

 

Hi,

 

Yes I have looked at both fixtures, I know the Robe are 150W the only reason why I posted on the forum, is to get an opinion like yours, the Lamps in the Robe's are cheaper. That’s the reason I even posted a question like this.

 

And yes it is pricey now that I have looked around on the market, It's just I was offered them yesterday at a store so I could not look around on the internet.

 

And yes I am researching, constantly because if I’m going to save for some good fixtures you have to have reliability, and once again that's why I posted on the forum, users of both fixtures can give their honest opinion and not the seller’s review (which is totally different!)

 

So thanks for your input :** laughs out loud **:

James

[Ynot]

And yes I am researching, constantly because if I'm going to save for some good fixtures you have to have reliability, and once again that's why I posted on the forum, users of both fixtures can give their honest opinion and not the seller's review (which is totally different!)

You might also want to research the views here on the Blue Room then on owning your own moving lights, especially at a young age...

[tom_the_LD]

I use the Robe 170's on a fairly regular basis and I've never had any issues with them. For 150W they are very punchy and do shine through really well when placed up against a lot! They're small and light too, which is a bonus, and they also move very quickly. I also prefer the colours in the Robe to those in the Mac 250.

 

Are they ordinary Mac 250's or Kryptons?

 

The one thing that the macs have which the Robe's don't is a prism - so think whether you'll ever need one of those or not.

 

What are you actually wanting to do with them? That will define which is "better" for your specific purpose.

[jamesamd4800]

And yes I am researching, constantly because if I'm going to save for some good fixtures you have to have reliability, and once again that's why I posted on the forum, users of both fixtures can give their honest opinion and not the seller's review (which is totally different!)

You might also want to research the views here on the Blue Room then on owning your own moving lights, especially at a young age...

 

I have researched views and opinons, I have owned moving lights for years and never had a problem, If you was to say that the more features on a fixture then more care and maintenance is required you'd be correct but I have quite a fair bit of experience for my age, Your advice is valued as always.

 

A concurrent post has been automatically merged from this point on.

 

I use the Robe 170's on a fairly regular basis and I've never had any issues with them. For 150W they are very punchy and do shine through really well when placed up against a lot! They're small and light too, which is a bonus, and they also move very quickly. I also prefer the colours in the Robe to those in the Mac 250.

 

Are they ordinary Mac 250's or Kryptons?

 

The one thing that the macs have which the Robe's don't is a prism - so think whether you'll ever need one of those or not.

 

What are you actually wanting to do with them? That will define which is "better" for your specific purpose.

 

Hi Tom,

 

thank you for your reply, I have also used the Robe 170's briefly I just haven’t owned them so I would not know how reliable they are.

 

Yes they are ordinary Mac 250's, (Would be like robbing a bank if they were Kryptons :** laughs out loud **:

 

I am wanting to use them at productions at school, but the productions at school are a rare occasion so I'd be programming them In the house and outside just for the fun, but also looking to hire them out to cover the costs etc.

 

Many Thanks,

James

[abbotsmike]

Sorry to be so blunt, but if you are prepared to spend £1k+ on anything, primarily to use them for your school's productions (assuming you are a student there?) makes you sound like either a bit of a mug, or someone with far too much money.

As for the hire, how do you know that you will be able to make your money back in hire? If I were needing to hire such a high value item, I'd go to a large company where I know they will be properly serviced, insured for damage etc, and safe in the knowledge that if one breaks, they will have enough spare in the warehouse to have a replacement with me by the next day.

 

I could be wildly wrong in some of the assumptions I have made. If so, I apologise, if not, I stand by what I've said.

[tom_the_LD]

Hi Tom,

 

thank you for your reply, I have also used the Robe 170's briefly I just haven’t owned them so I would not know how reliable they are.

 

Yes they are ordinary Mac 250's, (Would be like robbing a bank if they were Kryptons :** laughs out loud **:

 

I am wanting to use them at productions at school, but the productions at school are a rare occasion so I'd be programming them In the house and outside just for the fun, but also looking to hire them out to cover the costs etc.

 

Many Thanks,

James

Is it really worth spending the money just to program them in the house and outside for fun?

 

I've never had a problem with the 170's. I do miss the prism in them, but overall I really like them.

 

What you really need to do is try both fixtures out - although it doesn't seem to be an option. You could always try knocking the price of the Robe's down too. You say you have some small experience with them which is useful. Another factor to consider, is that the 170's are (I believe) still currently in production whereas the old 250's are not.

 

Personally I'd take the Robe's out of the two. Simply becuase I personally prefer them to Mac 250's.

 

But - it's your money so nobody can really "tell" you what to buy as such - as only you know what you're going to use them for and whether it's worth purchasing them!

[jamesamd4800]

Hi Tom,

 

thank you for your reply, I have also used the Robe 170's briefly I just haven't owned them so I would not know how reliable they are.

 

Yes they are ordinary Mac 250's, (Would be like robbing a bank if they were Kryptons :** laughs out loud **:

 

I am wanting to use them at productions at school, but the productions at school are a rare occasion so I'd be programming them In the house and outside just for the fun, but also looking to hire them out to cover the costs etc.

 

Many Thanks,

James

Is it really worth spending the money just to program them in the house and outside for fun?

 

I've never had a problem with the 170's. I do miss the prism in them, but overall I really like them.

 

What you really need to do is try both fixtures out - although it doesn't seem to be an option. You could always try knocking the price of the Robe's down too. You say you have some small experience with them which is useful. Another factor to consider, is that the 170's are (I believe) still currently in production whereas the old 250's are not.

 

Personally I'd take the Robe's out of the two. Simply becuase I personally prefer them to Mac 250's.

 

But - it's your money so nobody can really "tell" you what to buy as such - as only you know what you're going to use them for and whether it's worth purchasing them!

 

Hi,

 

Your probablly right, I think I will purchase a Isolution 5s, as I already own one, I will keep my budget low, Although it does not have a dimmer or rotating gobo's, for simple programming and some school productions they will do.

 

A concurrent post has been automatically merged from this point on.

 

Sorry to be so blunt, but if you are prepared to spend £1k+ on anything, primarily to use them for your school's productions (assuming you are a student there?) makes you sound like either a bit of a mug, or someone with far too much money.

As for the hire, how do you know that you will be able to make your money back in hire? If I were needing to hire such a high value item, I'd go to a large company where I know they will be properly serviced, insured for damage etc, and safe in the knowledge that if one breaks, they will have enough spare in the warehouse to have a replacement with me by the next day.

 

I could be wildly wrong in some of the assumptions I have made. If so, I apologise, if not, I stand by what I've said.

 

Hi mate,

 

to be honest I dont have the money to spend, but I was thinking of saving, im no mug and not full of money, so next time please dont be so blunt!

 

Many thanks for the advice though!

James

 

A concurrent post has been automatically merged from this point on.

 

Just for the Mod's Information : TOPIC CLOSED,

[david.elsbury]

Just remember if you intend to hire them out, you need to set yourself up as a company, register the premises as a business, get insurance, register for tax and VAT etc.

[paulears]

Moderation:

I think we have made the point - but in all fairness, and perhaps not specific to this topic - what the buyer of equipment actually does with it is not really for us to comment on. Sometimes we seem to forget that for many people, lighting is seen as a hobby - not a career, and as people get older, some carry on with it as a hobby. Nothing at all wrong with this.

 

For the record - when I was 16 I had two Pattern 23s in my bedroom with colour wheels on the front. Apart from the heat - there wasn't a problem.

 

To David. Her Majesties revenue and Customs are quite aware of what they call 'Hobby Hiring' - where they do not treat occasional hire of your own equipment purchased with personal funds as a business enterprise. You do not need to be an official business, and the subject of insurance is not in any sense compulsory. Good sense, possibly, but if they are under 18, then things are even less complicated.

 

This topic asked about differences between two pieces of kit - can we try to stick to that - the tone is getting a little 'strong'. Paul