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Stage Lights

Stage Lighting

Theatre Lanterns are used for stage lighting and include five main types - Floods, PC's, Fresnels, Profiles & Parcans. 

Floods are the simplest type of lantern, consisting of a lamp and a reflector in a box, with no lens. 

The Fresnel (pronounced “Frennel”) is a soft-edged spotlight with more control over beam angle than floods, but less control than profiles.

PC lantern's use a modified plano-convex lens with a pebbled effect on the plano (flat) side. The pebbled effect gives the beam its characteristic soft edge. The edge of the beam is slightly harder than a Fresnel, but is not hard edged.

Profile lanterns produce clearly defined spots of light and are the most focussable and versatile of the lanterns. They have a lens (some have two lenses), a lamp and a reflector, and they also have shutters and a gate.

The Parcan is favourite due to the relative cheapness of the lantern, the weight and the ease of focussing. The lantern itself is simply a “can” in which the PAR lamp is contained (hence “Parcan”). The PAR (Parabolic Aluminised Reflector) lamps are available in a range of beam angles (see table below), depending on the amount of diffusion on the front lens of the lamp.

If you're not sure what equipment would best fit your requirements, we're more then happy to have a chat with you to ensure you get the best possible equipment to suit your needs and budget. Simply give us a call at 02 6778 4090 or shoot us an email at sales@macsound.com.au.