Elation reveals the cards!

Last year at the Frankfurt show we could see for the first time in prototype form Proteus Odeon, a Profile device (but not like the ones from Martin, this one has knives...) with a variable LED motor for more power or better color rendering (CRI).

Insofar as the device is interesting, CRI correction is not done by filters but by the LED engine itself. Elation has spent several years (as they wrote to me here) developing a new technology, combining low CRI LEDs with high CRI LEDs in a single matrix. In the Movie confused by the new situation I talk about "filter", but I'm talking crap, forgive me, no filter here and that's the point.

Unique technology

The entire array is an 850W LED (6,500K) with an output of 30k lumens at a CRI of 80. TruTone technology (that's what the manufacturer calls it) is what makes this unit unique. All of the CRI control is done, of course, via the built-in DMX channel and gives you the ability to mix the LEDs on the matrix freely and seamlessly between 70 and 93 CRI.

With the aforementioned technology, we get a device where we can decide for ourselves whether we need power or a good color renderer.

I asked Elation for photometric data at CRI 70 and 93 for comparison, so far I have not received documentation, as soon as it appears, I will supplement.

Optics, Colors, Effects

Actually, it's the other way around. The device, classically as with profiles, mixes in CMY mode, in addition, we have a linear CTO and a color dial with 5 slots, including, interestingly enough, we have a UV color filter - it's quite interesting, I kind of don't believe in such miracles of garlands, but so far we have no way to test it yet.

Well, that's where the curiosities end, the rest as usual, almost everywhere. Motorized Focus and Zoom in the range of 5.5° to 50°, 3 gobo dials - 2 rotating, 1 indexable - all interchangeable. Animation wheel, 2 frosts - soft and hard, clipping system based on 4 fully rotating blades, iris, two PRISMATES (:) - 4x circular and linear.

The whole thing, of course, enclosed in a "light and compact" housing, the whole thing weighs "only" 40.8kg and fits within the dimensions of an adult's torso. IP66 waterproof rating.

You can find more dry facts from the manufacturer at this link, of course ! At the distributor not yet, because the device is not available for sale.

Rethinking

I make no secret of the fact that it is very hard to find a device at the moment that introduces something completely new. However, if you look at it deeper, Elation rises to the occasion here by announcing its proprietary "TruTone" technology. That's how I take it - CRI control on a light source without filters is something new that could come in handy for camera realizations.

However, in no way can I call it a "game-changer". As I mentioned the device is not yet available - when it is, I'll be happy to take a deeper peek into this "TruTone" and maybe change my mind - so far on paper it's cool, but is it useful?