Converting a Stage Follow Spot to Accept a Strobe – Updated 9-16-19

UPDATE September 16 2019

I have continued to utilize my Leko converted spotlight whenever I need a gobo pattern for sessions. I find that projecting patterns of light invaluable for my client work. Here are some recent images created using this converted device.

To date I have used this exclusively for local sessions for two reasons. First and foremost, should an airline lose my beloved device I cannot simply replace it through a retailer. Second it is large and heavy and I have not designed an ATA case for transport. Fortunately Adorama is now selling the Aputure Spotlight Mount in three different lens configurations. Although the device is marketed to the film making crowd it will be a godsend to those of us still photographers who use gobos. I plan to test one of these to compare it to my own device and if it proves to be of equal or better light quality I can then transport it via airlines without worry. Yay and fingers crossed.

UPDATE March 29 2018

Because I’ve changed from PCB Einsteins to Godox/Flashpoint 600s I needed to ‘convert my conversion’ to accept a Bowens mount. It was very easy since I simply bolted a Cheetahstand Low Profile Speedring onto the PCB umbrella reflector. His low profile speedrings allow the bulb to insert further into a modifier. Now I have the ability to not only use the 600ws heads but also the 1200ws head when needed. Very slick!

Original Article

Why? My view is why not?! A few years ago a friend asked if I wanted an old Leko stage follow spot. Being a bit of a lighting pack rat I said “Sure!” I originally used it so I could apply light shaped with gobos in my still photography for dance. It also allowed me to create lovely rays of light using haze combined with different gobo shapes. In its original state the Leko was a 1000 watt constant tungsten light. Plenty powerful for stage applications, but completely overpowered whenever I used it in conjunction with my Einstein strobes. Even though the Steins can go as low as 2.5WS doing simple math shows you that at 1000 watts shot at 1/250th of a second yields about 4WS, not a ton of power.

So when I used the Leko in its native state it became very difficult to balance the power of the 1000 watt constant light with my strobes. So I decided to try to ‘modify’ it to accept an Einstein to keep all of the benefits of the Leko (glass lenses, gobo use, etc) with the power of a strobe. Also the ambient light created by the Leko’s constant light meant that keeping a low shutter speed to retain that light can create motion blur unless some of the strobe’s light freezes the motion on the parts it illuminates. And why even use a goboed follow spot unless I can see the pattern or light rays I want in the image!? UGH!

The tough part was figuring out ‘how’ to do it. Yes I’m handy and like to tinker and fabricate in the garage, but I don’t own a lathe, band saw, etc. After taking the Leko apart and doing some measuring I found that if I used a PCB Umbrella Reflector it would fit perfectly where the Leko’s tungsten bulb resided as long as I cut off the back half of the Leko

The tough part was the cutting and measuring. I don’t have a angle cutter so instead I used my trusty Dremel with their thick cut off wheels. Yes I went through an entire package of them and yes my little Dremel got so hot I wore gloves and had to take an hour break between cuts, but in the end it worked

I had written a previous article about making a ‘travel gobo spotlight‘ and no I won’t be ditching that one. The Leko is damn heavy and I’ll never use it when I travel, but it presents a very real benefit. I can use the Einstein modeling light all I want because the lenses in the Leko are glass. My ‘travel spotlight’ uses three plastic lenses and using the modeling light will melt them in short order. Plus I now have the ability to use two gobo capable ‘spotlights’ in any local session which presents new possibilities for my lighting needs.

Is it worth it? Only you can decide that for yourself….