The “LT” in Philips Vari-Lite’s new VL3015LT Spot stands for “long throw,” and one of the first things you will notice about this fixture is brightness, along with a zoom range tailor made for long throw applications. With an improved output running at 1650 watts using a 1500W Osram double-ended short arc lamp, the VL3015LT Spot combines some of Vari-Lite’s latest technologies with features that designers have been relying on for years with fixtures like the VL3000 and VL3500 spots.
Plenty of Features
At well over 40,000 lumens, the VL3015LT Spot’s output is more than twice what a VL3000 spot (at 20,000 lumens) can produce. This feature, by itself, puts the VL3015LT Spot into game-changing territory; it is, quite simply, one of the brightest hard edge fixtures on the market today.
Along with its brightness, the VL3015LT Spot has a 10:1 zoom optics system; it can adjust the projected field angle over a range of 6° to 60°. This variable beam focus allows soft edge gobos or spots and gobo morphing. The projected image remains in focus throughout the entire zoom range, so there isn’t any refocusing required for a seamless look from the fixture.
With this excellent zoom range, the fixture can be used in almost any scenario, whether you are in a theatre or a stadium — you can get nice, crisp gobos at almost any distance you desire. This will certainly give lighting designers options using this unit for many different types of projects indoors or outdoors.
As with some other recent Vari*Lite models — the VL470, VL770 and VL880 — the VL3015LT Spot features an independent rotating and indexing 3-facet prism along with an independent frost glass. (In older Vari-Lite models, like the VL3000 and VL3500 Spots, the closest you could get to this feature was the prism gobo on the third gobo wheel.)
Three Different Wattages
The VL3015LT Spot also makes it possible for users to operate the fixture’s lamp at three different wattages — either through a control channel, or through the lamp menu option on the fixture itself. The short arc lamp will run at 900, 1200, or 1650 watts. All it takes is just a simple setting adjustment to make the change.
I can envision several real-world scenarios where this feature alone could prove very useful. Let’s say you have a sizable production but need to scale the rig down for the show to take place in a smaller venue, perhaps one with power constraints. You can use this feature to scale down the energy draw from the rig without cutting fixtures left and right, and preserving the essential look of the show.
An upper enclosure houses the control electronics along with the arc power supply for the 1,500W short arc lamp. The arc power supply is power factor corrected for efficient power distribution for the fixture. An improved cooling system has been implemented with low-noise fans installed to provide forced-air cooling for internal components to prevent overheating. This particular unit has more components in it than most other Vari*Lite moving lights, so it is important to have a sleek yet effective cooling system installed to ensure that it can be kept trouble-free on the road along with overall longevity.
Colors, Gobos and Beams
Along with the new features detailed above, Vari-Lite’s VL3015LT Spot offers a three filter CMY color mixing, a standard palette of dichroic color filters on two five-position color wheels (each capable of continuous wheel rotation for effects) and a variable CTO wheel to help with color temperature correction needs (particularly valuable when video is involved). As with the VL440, VL770, and VL880, there’s also a variable frost.
The VL3015LT Spot’s three four-position gobo/effects wheels come with a standard set of gobos and effects that have individual rotation, indexable gobos and patterned glass effects. The rotating gobos are interchangeable, allowing for further customization. The unit’s mechanical iris provides continuous beam size control for rapid and smooth timed beam angle changes.
The VL3015LT Spot also has a patterned glass dimmer wheel that allows for full field dimming, smooth timed fades and fast blackouts. Another asset is the dual blade strobe and dousing system for variable strobe effects capable of rapid operation.
In addition, on-board processors provide diagnostic, self-calibration and internal test functions with software update capabilities made possible through a USB programming kit.
The VL3015LT Spot also features integral pan and tilt service locks. The rear cap of the unit is hinged, providing easy access to the lamp for replacement. The new and oversized upper-enclosure handles allow for easier hanging and tight load-in/out time allowances.
Each VL3015LT Spot unit is powered via a single AC input PowerCon connection along with two 5-pin DMX512 compatible connectors (in and through). The fixtures each weigh 115 pounds and use 36 channels for control. That control can come from a wide range of DMX512 compatible consoles.
With all its new and improved features, the VL3015LT Spot is certainly not the most compact fixture out there. But don’t jump to the conclusion that it will be impossible for the fixture’s large frame to work with pre-rigged truss. In many cases, there will be just enough room for VL3015LT Spot’s 21.7-by-40.7-by-30.5-inch size — although, to be sure, it will be a snug fit.
One More Trick
Just when you think that Vari-Lite thought of, and met, every conceivable lighting design need, the VL3015LT Spot has one more trick up its sleeve. On the back of the unit, users can attach an accessorized handle, allowing them to disable the pan and tilt and use the fixture as a full-fledged remotely controlled followspot.
Philips Vari-Lite is now shipping the VL3015LT Spot, and some of these fixtures are starting to brighten stages worldwide. There are a number of them that have already been out on tour with artists including Luke Bryan’s Dirt Road Diaries tour, which began on January 17, 2013 in Evansville, IN and visited 20 cities before ending on March 23 in Charlottesville, VA.
LD=Long Throw
Capable of producing more than 40,000 lumens, the VL3015LT Spot is one of the brightest hard-edge fixtures out there. It’s also packed with advanced features, including the ability for users to operate the fixture’s lamp at three different wattages, yet it’s still sized to fit within most pre-rigged truss configurations.
Philips Vari-Lite VL3015LT Spot
PROS: Long throw, optional manual spotlight, adjustable wattage, independent prism
CONS: Fixture is still a pretty big (like previous models), didn’t see an RDM
SIZE: 21.7” x 40.7” x 30.5”
WEIGHT: 115 lbs.
LAMP: 500W Osram double-ended short arc lamp; three lamp wattages (900W, 1200W, 1650W)
OUTPUT: 41,487 Lumens
FEATURES
• CYM Color Mixing
• Variable CTO Wheel
• Two 5-Position color wheels
• Three Gobo Wheels
• 6° to 60° Zoom
• Beam-Sized Iris
• Separate Dimmer/? Strobe Mechanisms
• Independent Rotating/Indexing • 3-facet Prism
• Independent Frost Glass
PRICE: 18,330
