samsound Posted October 11, 2011 Share Posted October 11, 2011 dear all lighting technicians.... I have got to do a project at college on different types lanterns.........profiles......Fresnels.....par cans......and floods part of this project I have to get reviews from people on what they think of the lantern, what is good about it, what is bad, what they use it for and why. If you could help me out that would be much appreciated.... Cheers Sam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbuckley Posted October 11, 2011 Share Posted October 11, 2011 Hi Sam. I'm not going to even try and answer your questions (other than I think all those lanterns (except floods) are good, and all have their place, even floods) but I will warn you that the next 20 posts will be hard going, and I'd suggest that you are about to get a lot of good advice from people with oodles of experience, which will serve you well, so take it on board, and keep smiling. Good luck on your project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxjones2000 Posted October 11, 2011 Share Posted October 11, 2011 Ermm...a bit broad! Surely, it totally depends on the make and model of the lantern, as well as the intended use and what you are hoping to achieve..? For example, my review of a CP62 PAR64 being used as a special wouldn't be all that good, in comparison to using a S4 for the same purpose..Likewise, if I was trying to light a rock n roll concert with the same CP62 PAR64, the review would be gleaming in comparison to using a S4 for the concert..or a fresnel to be fair.. I honestly think it's a totally pointless question (on the colleges behalf- no offence intended Samsound), as it totally depends on the make, model and what the particular lantern is being used for in context and the effect desired. Unless I grasped the wrong end of the stick...? Thanks,Max J Moderation: Double post fixed for you! Anna (mods) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rossmck Posted October 11, 2011 Share Posted October 11, 2011 Do some research, read the wiki, etc... I think I speak for many of the forum when I say we're not big fans of doing other people's homework for them. I'd agree with David - they're all good (except flood).. What I use them for ? Profiles - Specials, Washes, Sidelight, EffectFresnels - Specials, Washes, Sidelight, EffectParcans - Specials, Washes... sorry I guess I'm in more of a sarcastic mood than I originally thought ;-) Use the right tool (lantern) for the effect you want to achieve. So 19 posts to go... ;-) Quick edit to add... I really amn't wanting to be harsh on the OP - if a college has actually asked you to "get reviews from people on what they think of the lantern, what is good about it, what is bad, what they use it for and why" then it's the college that's failing, not you samsound - that really has to be one of the vaguest assignments I've seen... Has education given up encouraging people to do research themselves, it seems we can't go a week without some sort of questionnaire being 'set' by a college/university/school... Ok, this one isn't in the same form as the rest in that samsound hasn't set up a questionaire "What do you like about a profile?" et al, but essentially the questions are the same :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark_s Posted October 11, 2011 Share Posted October 11, 2011 For example, my review of a CP62 PAR64 being used as a special wouldn't be all that good, in comparison to using a S4 for the same purpose.. Rubbish. It entirely depends on what the special needs to actually do, doesn't it? If you want to project a gobo of some form for example then obviously only a profile will cut it...but on the other hand if you need a punchy beam of light then you have plenty of options, and suddenly your 'all that good PAR64' is somewhere near the top of the list of contenders. I'm lighting a show currently which uses a few Source 4 PARs and PAR46 (yes, 46) VNSP as specials to good effect. I wouldn't even dream of replacing them with a Source 4, nevermind considering them as 'not all that good' in comparison! As to the original question, the short answer is that there is no 'best' lantern, and that they all have a purpose. The choice of lantern (usually) comes after considering the effect that you want to achieve. However, you may want to consider why a majority of West End shows and large-scale tours have a rig made up extensively of Source 4s (and movers), with the occassional S4 PAR or PAR64, and often not much else... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samsound Posted October 11, 2011 Author Share Posted October 11, 2011 Yes I totally agree.....good to hear peoples thoughts, will go back and see what they say, and do some more research. In my criteria it just says reveiws on lighting basically....mmm......Cheers Sam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramdram Posted October 11, 2011 Share Posted October 11, 2011 Dear oh dear Sam...is that the best sort of question your tutors can come up with? Sounds as though it is simply something to pad out your course. Perhaps they should have a module (you see I am even using the modern trendy terms) which takes each lantern and does a demo of where it is used and what you can do with it...as designed. Remember that, as designed...you can play about with them as you like afterwards. You will have noted that we have managed to enter "dispute" mode in only 5 posts, not bad going, ** laughs out loud **. Just as an example Pars have a few doodads you can stick in front of the beam, so to speak, which can modify said beam such as gels, barn doors and even DMX controlled filter packs. Then there are the different sorts of bubbles that can be fitted eg CP62 etc, etc, not to mention the elliptical beam from the bubble can be oriented as desired. Your profile says you do amdram, so you should have some sort of idea what "a" particular lantern can or cannot do etc, etc. Besides what real use is such a question anyway? It all depends, as said in countless other posts elsewhere on what you intend to light and where... Suggest you ask your tutors to stop this arrant nonsense and show you what each lantern can do and hence what it is used for, on a stage, with a set and actors. All this old toot about pros and cons...if you use the lantern for the job it was designed then the question becomes somewhat moot. After all you don't use a car to plough a field. Suggest you rootle around on BR get a list of books on Stage Lighting; buy them instead of supporting the local brewery/SU then and read them' til your eyes bleed. And forget about these mover things for the moment, we had theatre long before we had movers or LEDs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted October 11, 2011 Share Posted October 11, 2011 Sam - perhaps you could post the full question you've been set - then we might spot something you've missed and be able to give you a steer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alistermorton Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 part of this project I have to get reviews from people on what they think of the lantern, what is good about it, what is bad, what they use it for and why. I wonder if we're reading too much into this. Maybe they want to get you to gather opinions on what sort of jobs generally you'd use a profile, fres, beam or flood for, rather than specifics about different manufacturer's lanterns. In that case, it starts to look like a rather more sane question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ynot Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 I wonder if we're reading too much into this. Maybe they want to get you to gather opinions on what sort of jobs generally you'd use a profile, fres, beam or flood for, rather than specifics about different manufacturer's lanterns. In that case, it starts to look like a rather more sane question.For once, that is exactly how I read the original question - not as specific makes/models of lanterns, but of the types, and therefore what uses each can be put to and why. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramdram Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 Then that makes it worse...Sam is supposed to be taught all this, not hazard a guess as to what gets used for what, then be corrected later. Poor lad is wasting his time doing all this survey stuff online as it were, when he could be in the library reading up on the method and then sloping off to practice the techniques in their theatre...you do have a theatre you can use? Sam, try here for starters: http://www.theatrecrafts.com/lx_lanterns.shtml Plenty of links from there. One small point, I note the term PC = Pebble Convex. When I was doing physics the lenses were plano convex, as in Plano (from Latin plānus, which means "flat") http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lens_%28optics%29#Types_of_simple_lenses which, hopefully, will help? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmeh2 Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 For once, that is exactly how I read the original question - not as specific makes/models of lanterns, but of the types, and therefore what uses each can be put to and why. As did I. Just for sam's benefit I'd like to point out that the Patt23a was better than the Patt23. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerry davies Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 Better for what, Timmeh, and why? There lies the rub and Paul is correct that the exact wording of the question is crucial to the outcome. I agree that I think the tutor is after what one would use which type of lantern for, but even this is open to opinion as an illumination source is an illumination source and its' uses are not set in stone, or shouldn't be. That is why this is creative technology not engineering. Life would be too easy if the answers to what lantern to use were set parameters, also pretty boring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryson Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 Moderation: If nothing else, I can fix the thread titles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 When I was doing physics the lenses were plano convex, as in Plano (from Latin plānus, which means "flat")Without the little bubbles, they would be the other kind of PC, and essentially a profile, though, wouldn't they? I think we have Strand to thank for the new lantern type. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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