Elation’s Proteus Radius brings a 100W Solid State Phosphor Converted (SSPC) LED Light Engine to the beam light party. It shares many of its evolutionary predecessor’s best qualities: it produces a beam that is surprisingly intense for its tiny size. It is quite compact; the base is about 14” x 16” and has a height of only 20”. It weighs just over 40 lbs. and is easily movable by one person. It is IP66 rated for outdoor use as well.
Tight and Bright
Proteus Radius’s beam is a bright 2,700 Lumens at a tight 0.9º beam angle. The engine is native 6,000K color temperature, in open white it feels just like the beams we are used to from arc fixtures. With its small fixture size, you can fit them almost anywhere you would like. Unlike those early days of the 2010s it is much harder to burn holes in curtains, drum kits, and humans with the LED source. Which may be a pro or a con depending on your disposition—and if your drummer is annoying.
It is also worth noting that many of Radius’ beamy contemporaries are evolving to using laser source engines requiring safety variances. This traditional LED light sourced beam requires no special safety considerations, at a tradeoff of intensity of course. But you can decide if the intensity of the Radius is enough for your application based on need.
Another critical element to beam lights is speed. Radius’ movement is very fast, and it has continuous 360° pan and tilt movement. It is also very smooth at slow speeds. Focus seems dependable returning to preset positions after spinning at high speeds.
But what else does it do?
The Radius uses several features to keep it from being a one-trick pony. Starting with color. It has a fixed color wheel with 25 selections (and spin). Radius also has CMY color mixing, which is impressively almost as fast as the fixed wheel. The colors in both options have great range, and the light still produces a punchy beam in all but the most saturated colors. Building effects with either the wheel or mixing are equally satisfying.
Proteus Radius is not a hybrid spot/beam fixture—it does not zoom. It is all beam—but it does have a nice set of beam shaping features to deploy. There are four prism options on two separate wheels. The four prisms are divided between dual overlapping planes to split beams into many different combinations. They rotate and the two wheels can be used simultaneously, giving a wide selection of very nice options. Prism macros are included for ease of programming.
There are two gobo wheels. A rotating wheel with 13 gobos and fixed with 24. Dots, lines, squiggles, fans, and all the shapes you would need, generally for aerial effects. Combining the gobos and prisms, with excellent rotation speeds and shakes can make a myriad of fun aerial effects. Naturally, as more beam shaping options and colors are deployed the output diminishes, but that’s just physics. There are also two frost options when you want to take the edge off. And its digital shutter strobes strobily… strobely…? It strobes well.
Conclusion
A designer I work with often muses “I resent having to learn all these names”. The Elation Proteus Radius has a name that is almost as big as the fixture itself and doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. It is however a great addition to the Beam category. It scratches that sharp(y) itch, with a bright beam and fun shaping options to give it variety.
Elation Proteus Radius
PROS
- Tight and Bright Beam
- Compact and Fast
- Great Beam Shaping Options
- Fast Color Mixing
CONS
- No Zoom
- Loses Intensity when multiple features engaged (Color, Prisms, Gobos)
- These names… (Not just an Elation problem)
SPECS
- Fixture Type: Beam
- Source: 100W Solid State Phosphor-Converted (SSPC) Light Engine
- Output: 2,700 Lumens
- Color Temperature: 6,000K, CRI 70
- Beam Angle: 0.9˚
- Zoom: N/A
- Color System: Full CMY Color Mixing
- Color Wheel: 25 Position Color Wheel
- Gobo Wheels: 2 Gobo Wheels: 13 Interchangeable-Rotating / Indexing Metal Gobos; 24 Static-Stamped Metal Gobos
- Frost: Dual Frost
- Prisms: 4 Prisms on Dual Planes
- Focus: Motorized
- Macros: CMY Color, Gobo, Prism Macros
- Strobe: Digital Shutter and Strobe
- Control: DMX, RDM, Art-Net, and sACN Protocol Support
- DMX Channel Modes: Two
- On-Board Control: (6) Button Touch Panel. Full Color 180° Reversible LCD Menu Display; NFC Support
- Input Range: AC 100-240V 50/60Hz
- Power Consumption (Max): 300W
- Connectors: IP65 5pin DMX In/Out; IP65 RJ45 Ethernet In/Out; IP65 Locking Power In
- Operating Temp: -4°F to 113°F (-20°C to 45°C)
- IP Rating: IP66
- Approvals: CE | cETLus | FCC
- Dimensions: 15.6” L x 13.5” W x 20” H
- Weight: 41.9 lbs. (19kg)
MANUFACTURER: Elation
More Info: www.elationlighting.com/proteus-radius
