Hire Opera VW Zoom Profile 300W LED
Variable White Profile Spotlight for Stage, Broadcast and Corporate Events
The Opera VW is a 300W variable white LED profile spotlight — the kind of fixture that professional theatre lighting designers use when a fresnel wash is not precise enough. Where a fresnel produces a soft-edged wash of light that spreads across an area, a profile produces a hard-edged, precisely controllable beam that can be shaped, focused, cut to a specific boundary, and aimed at a single position with surgical accuracy. Hire code OPERAVW3.
The light source is a 300W COB LED with adjustable colour temperature from 3,200K to 5,600K, giving the warm richness of tungsten at one end and the crisp daylight balance that cameras and broadcasters prefer at the other. CRI is up to 95 across the range, so colour accuracy under this fixture is excellent for both camera work and live viewing. The fixture runs on a silent fan with intelligent automatic temperature regulation, making it appropriate for any noise-sensitive environment including recording studios, quiet theatres, and boardroom video setups.
It is supplied with one zoom lens, either the 15 to 30 degree option or the 30 to 50 degree option, so the throw distance for the application needs to be considered when booking. The 15-30 degree lens is for longer throws where a tighter, more focused beam is needed. The 30-50 degree lens suits closer positions where a wider coverage angle is required. The hire team can advise which lens is correct for the venue and application.
Key specifications:
- 300W COB LED, warm white and cool white combined
- Colour temperature: 3,200K to 5,600K variable
- CRI: up to 95
- Beam angle: 15-30° or 30-50° depending on lens supplied (confirm at booking)
- Dimming: 0-100%, 16-bit
- Iris: included (PSIRIS)
- Gobo holder: included
- Power: True1 in/out
- Control: DMX512, RDM, manual
- Cooling: silent fan with intelligent automatic temperature regulation
- Weight: not specified on hire listing; contact hire team to confirm
What a Profile Does That a Fresnel Cannot
This is the most important thing to understand about the OPERAVW3 before recommending it. A fresnel is a wash fixture; it spreads light across an area with a soft, gradual edge. You can barn-door a fresnel to reduce spill, but the edge of the beam remains soft and imprecise. A profile is a spot fixture; it projects a focused beam with a hard, crisp edge. You can shape that edge precisely using the internal shutters or an iris, and you can project a pattern through a gobo holder.
The practical consequence for corporate and theatre events is that a profile can do things a fresnel simply cannot. It can illuminate a lectern without throwing light onto the projection screen directly behind it. It can light a single chair in a panel row without spilling onto the adjacent chairs. It can project a company logo or a texture pattern onto a flat backdrop or the stage floor. It can create a neat circle of light on the stage floor to mark a presenter's position. And it can do all of this from a hanging position without anyone having to adjust it during the event, because the beam edges hold exactly where they are set.
What It's Used For
Corporate stage key lighting where a screen is present. This is the most common reason to choose a profile over a fresnel for a corporate event. When a presenter stands in front of a projection screen, fresnels aimed at the presenter will inevitably throw some light onto the screen surface, washing out the projected image. A profile with its hard-edged beam can be focused so the top of the beam falls precisely at the presenter's head height and the bottom at the stage floor, with both edges cutting cleanly before they reach the screen. Combined with a barn door or internal shutters, spill is eliminated. The variable white allows the colour temperature to be matched to whatever the camera operator requires.
Broadcast and video key lighting. The combination of variable white (3,200K to 5,600K), silent operation, CRI 95+, and hard-edged beam control makes the Opera VW one of the most versatile broadcast key lights Edwards offers. The colour temperature range covers both tungsten and daylight camera white balance settings. The iris allows precise control of beam size to keep light exactly where the camera frame needs it. For a talking-head style video shoot, a CEO address to camera, a product demonstration, or a panel interview, this fixture provides the kind of controlled, camera-ready illumination that is difficult to achieve with fresnels alone.
Theatre specials and isolating moments. In theatre lighting, a special is a spotlight focused on one specific position in contrast to the general wash. The Opera VW as a special creates a focused pool of light on the stage that the audience reads as meaning something: this is the important person, this is the significant moment. For a school production this might be a solo singer in a spotlight. For an awards night it might be the CEO at the podium and the award handover position, each lit individually so the rest of the stage falls slightly darker when those positions are not in use. This simple technique, borrowed directly from professional theatre, raises the perceived production quality of a corporate event significantly.
Gobo projection. The gobo holder accepts standard gobo discs, which are metal or glass patterns that project as a silhouette or texture through the beam. A company logo can be projected as a light pattern onto a backdrop, a stage floor, or a wall. Foliage patterns, abstract textures, geometric shapes, and architectural patterns can all be projected to add visual interest or reinforce an event theme. Gobos are not included in the hire; standard-size gobos can be sourced separately or supplied by the client. Ask the Edwards hire team for the correct gobo size for the Opera VW at the time of booking.
Iris effects and precise beam shaping. The iris (PSIRIS) is an internal diaphragm that adjusts the size of the beam circle. At its widest setting the beam fills the available cone angle. At its narrowest it produces a tight circle of light. This is used to define the size of a spotlight pool on the stage floor or to restrict the beam to exactly the area being lit, for example a product on a plinth, a sculpture, or a single position at a lectern. The iris works independently of the zoom, so the beam edge hardness and the beam size are controlled separately.
Artwork and gallery display. For temporary gallery installations or art exhibitions where accurate colour rendering is essential, the CRI 95+ and variable colour temperature of the Opera VW make it a strong choice. The hard edge and iris allow the beam to be shaped to illuminate a single painting or artwork from a stand position without spilling onto adjacent walls or works. The colour temperature can be set to match the gallery's existing installed lighting, so the hired fixture does not create a visible colour discontinuity alongside permanent fittings.
Panel discussions and multi-position stages. For an event with multiple fixed positions on stage, a panel table with four seats, a product display table alongside a lectern, an interview chair beside a standing presenter position — individual profile fixtures can be aimed and focused on each position independently. This allows each position to be brought up or taken down on its own DMX channel, so the lighting shifts naturally with the event's focus without requiring anyone to move or adjust fixtures between segments.
Frequently Asked Questions - OPERAVW3 Hire
What is the difference between a profile and a fresnel?
A fresnel produces a soft-edged wash of light across an area; it is the standard fixture for general stage illumination and key lighting where precise beam control is not critical. A profile produces a hard-edged focused beam that can be shaped, sized, and projected with precision; it is used when you need to illuminate a specific position without spilling onto adjacent areas, when you need a gobo pattern projected, or when the beam needs to be cut to a precise boundary such as the edge of a projection screen. Most professional lighting rigs use both: fresnels for the wash and profiles for the specials and key positions.
Which lens should I choose?
The 15-30 degree lens is for longer throws where the fixture is positioned well back from the subject, for example hanging from a truss at the rear of the stage or clamped to a bar at the back of the room. The 30-50 degree lens is for closer positions where the fixture is nearer to the subject and a wider beam angle is needed to cover the intended area. As a rough guide: if the fixture will be more than 5 to 6 metres from the subject, use the 15-30 degree lens. If it will be closer, use the 30-50 degree lens. The Edwards hire team will confirm the correct lens when you discuss the venue dimensions and mounting position.
Can I use it for a camera or livestream?
Yes. The Opera VW is one of the better choices in the Edwards fleet for broadcast key lighting. The colour temperature range covers both tungsten (3,200K) and daylight (5,600K) camera white balance settings, and it can be set to any point in between to match the camera exactly. The silent fan means it does not add noise to a recording environment, and the CRI 95+ gives accurate skin tone and colour reproduction on camera. The iris and hard-edged beam also allow very precise control of where the light falls, which is valuable when a camera frame and a projector screen need to coexist on the same stage.
Does it need a DMX controller?
The fixture can be operated in manual mode from its onboard controls without any external controller. For DMX operation it accepts standard 5-pin XLR DMX512 input and output. RDM (Remote Device Management) is supported, which allows addressing and configuration from a compatible RDM controller without physically accessing the fixture. For simple hires where only intensity control is needed, the Soundcraft Performer 2's built-in DMX output is sufficient.
Can I hire gobos through Edwards?
Gobos are not included in the standard hire. If a gobo projection is part of the event plan, discuss this with the Edwards hire team at the time of booking so the correct gobo size can be confirmed and sourced. Custom gobos with a company logo can be ordered to specification but will need lead time, so plan ahead for any event where a branded gobo projection is required.
How loud is the fan?
The fan is described by the manufacturer as silent, with intelligent automatic speed regulation based on the fixture's temperature. In practice it is very quiet at normal operating levels, appropriate for theatre, recording studios, and quiet presentation environments. It is not fanless in the way the FRESF96 and FRESF200 are; however, it is quiet enough for the vast majority of applications where a fan noise concern would be raised. If the application is a recording studio or a theatrical production with particularly quiet scenes, ask the Edwards hire team and we can advise based on the specific environment.
What mounting options are available?
The Opera VW can be mounted on a lighting stand, clamped to a truss, hung from a ceiling bar, or clamped to a totem stand. The appropriate mounting hardware should be confirmed when booking to ensure the right equipment is in the truck. A fixture without a mounting solution cannot be used on site, so this should always be specified as part of the hire.
Is delivery and setup available?
Yes. The Opera VW is available for self-collection or delivery and setup by an Edwards technician. Given that profile fixtures require more precise aiming and focusing than a general wash fresnel, delivery and setup by an Edwards crew is worth considering for events where the lighting needs to be right first time with no adjustment opportunity on the day. Contact the hire team at hire@edwardsnz.co.nz or (09) 571 0551 to discuss your requirements.
