Your client is looking for an affordable follow spotlight for a short throw distance and does not own any stage lighting equipment. What do you offer? There are follow spotlights manufactured for this very reason. Another solution over the years has been to sell a halogen ERS (ellipsoidal reflector spotlight) with a stand or tripod. Accessories will need to be included to give the ERS the same features as a follow spotlight. In some cases, the ERS package could be more cost-effective than a follow spotlight. But there is a follow spotlight on the market with the perfect solution: Lycian ZOT jr.
How does the pricing for a ZOT jr. compare to the ERS on a stand?
Lycian ZOT jr.: $995.00 List Price*
The ZOT jr. includes an iris, 5-color dichroic glass boomerang (filters installed at the factory), manual fader, (2) independent lenses for zoom optics (12°-20°), yoke, 12’ NEMA 5-15 power cord, and folding tripod. The ZOT jr. is a 240W LED follow spotlight. The spotlight’s quiet fan keeps the fixture cool to the touch.
ERS on a Stand: $1885 based on pricing found online*
$444 for brand new black 19° ERS (the average of (5) prices from different sites) + $15 for a 575W or 750W lamp + $6 for a NEMA 5-15P (not installed) + $94 for an iris + $384 for a boomerang (excludes gel) + $709 for a follow spotlight yoke (to facilitate pan & tilt) + $80 for yoke & fixture handles + $153 for 3’-5’ stand
*Pricing on 1 February 2021
Did you notice the pricing for the ERS on a stand did not include a fader? That means the lighting fixture will be either on or off, and the ERS will be extremely hot to the touch quickly (consequently, the added handles) when it is on with either a 575W or 750W lamp. Plus, the power cord on the ERS is only 3’ long; a NEMA 5-15 extension cable will surely be required. In comparison, the Lycian ZOT jr. is the better purchase, price wise.
Now lets compare performance. The following photometrics for the 19° ERS are based on a 750W/115V 300 hr. lamp.
At a 40’ throw, the 19° ERS has a beam diameter of 10.4’ and illumination in footcandles of 153.
At a 40’ throw, the ZOT jr. has a beam diameter of 8.6’ and illumination in footcandles of 146.
At a 60’ throw, the 19° ERS has a beam diameter of 15.6’ and illumination in footcandles of 67.
At a 60’ throw, the ZOT jr. has a beam diameter of 12.9’ and illumination in footcandles of 65.
The ZOT jr. produces nearly the same amount of foot-candles, while using one third of the power as the 750W 19° ERS, and its LED will last thousands of hours.
With all things considered, Lycian ZOT jr. is the best option among the two. It is an energy-efficient follow spotlight with a great price and many features. Why would an ERS on a stand ever be considered?