SGM has been investing for some time in the development of a concept of fixtures that are “not only” flood or wall-washers, starting from some models, that are considered real classics like the P5 and the Q7, specified in hundreds of installations by lighting designers and rental companies all over the world.
From the P and Q series onward, the company has expanded its portfolio with 25 models, introducing the i-Series, and moving from the simple wash effect, to the integration of strobe and pixel mapping, in RGBW versions, White with different color temperatures, with and without battery, dedicated to fixed installations and much more.
In 2021 a true evolution led to the launch of the all-new Q-8, a DualSource Strobe/Flood/Pixel/Blinder that inherits the compact size and low power consumption of the Q-7, the ergonomics of the Q-10, and the powerful strobe/blinder features of the G-7 BeaSt.
THE PRODUCT
Q-8 is an elegant fixture, beautiful to look at, solid, with essential and minimal lines, that hides behind a false technological modesty an extreme flexibility, a series of well conceived features and the power and solidity that mark an important step forward for SGM.
The fixture features two distinct sources, the first is a panel composed of 880 High-TLCI RGBW LEDs with 5700K white and 110° projection angle, while the second is represented by two arrays with 52 7000K white LEDs with 75° projection angle.
The Q-8 also features two proprietary colour engine technologies: TruColor+ and VersaPath. The first enables a calibrated CRI performance of over 90 and a TLCI of 95+ via RAW modes. The result is a high level of white reproduction and output when mixing the 4 LEDs, resulting in up to 47,232 lumens at 5,600K with excellent color rendering (CRI 96).
VersaPath is a selectable algorithm for advanced control over colour transitions. Mixed RGB colours can be warmed or cooled over black body curve, deciding which dominant prevails when switching from one colour to another. When combined with CTC, Q-8 users can also emulate colour filters on a specific native colour temperature, or adapt to the colour path response of other fixtures in the same rig or installation.
The two strobe/blinder arrays are located at the top and bottom of the main LED panel. A design choice that offers a range of innovative effects when the fixture is positioned “in view”, especially when combined with the pixel mapping of the main source. In addition, the Q-8 includes a dual-colour strobe function for the RGBW panel, allowing it to emit a strobe effect of a different colour to the background.
The IP66 level of protection is also important, with an integrated dehumidifier and IP67 sealed base. These features guarantee high reliability over time, thanks also to the patented SGM ThermalDrive and DryTech systems.
SPECIFICATION
Optical Data:
- 880 x RGB LEDs, 880 x W LEDs (5,700K), 52 x W LEDs (7,000K)
- Efficacy 98 lm/W
- Native lens options 110 °
- Optional filters:
Extra medium angle soft diffusion
Extra wide angle soft diffusion
Elliptical horizontal effect
Elliptical vertical effect
Photometric:
- CQS (CTC): 92
- CRI (CTC): 90
- RF / TM-30-15 (CTC): 89
- TLCI (CTC): 90
- Color temperature:
7000K (Strobe blinder)
5700K (RGBW panel) - Color temperature range: 2000K – 10000K
- Light output all LEDs on: 53849 lm
- Light output blue: 1644 lm
- Light output green: 8660 lm
- Light output red: 4162 lm
- Lux @ 10m: 346 lux
- Lux @ 5m: 1386 lux
- Max. CRI @ 5600K: 96
- Max. TLCI @ 5600K: 95
- Maximum beam angle 107 °
- Native beam angle(s): 107° (panel with 110° lens); 75° (Strobe blinders)
- Native field angle(s): 140° (panel with 110° lens); 119° (strobe blinders)
Physical:
- IP class: IP66
- Net dimensions: 520 x 320 x 166 mm
- Net weight: 13.5 kg
Features:
- Addressable pixels:4 (Panel) + 4 (Strobe Blinders)
- Color calibration: SGM proprietary, full color calibration
- Dimming: 12 DMX-controllable curves (smooth fade in / fast response / low-end extended range)
- Emulation mode / effect: Tungsten response emulation
- Filters Magnetic easy-fit spread angle filter frames
- Versapath color engine
- Independent control of Panel and Strobe Blinders
- LED frequency control over DMX + High Speed mode (up to 2000 fps)
- Strobe
Ultra-high-speed strobe effects
Dualsource Strobe Blinder
Dual color RGBW strobe
Intensity, Duration, Rate and FX control channels per lightsource (3)
Pixel strobe feature (up to 8 segments) - Tilt: 220°
- Tilt locking system: Locking system with angle indicator
- View angle: 110°
Electrical:
- Max power consumption: 630 W
- Standby power consumption: 8 W
Dati termici:
- Cooling: Active, Forced Air, Temperature-regulated
- Humidity (max.) 98 %
- Temperature range, operating -40°C to 50°C
- Temperature range, start-up -20°C to 50°C
- Temperature range, storage -40°C to 80°C
Programming and Control:
- 16-bit control: Dimmer, Red, Green, Blue, White, pixels
- I/O DMX: 5 pin XLR
- DMX channels: 10, 12, 27, 34, 36, 41, 52
- DMX modes: 8
- Protocol:
CRMX, W-DMX™ G2, W-DMX™ G3, W-DMX™ G4, W-DMX™ G4S
USITT DMX512A
RDM ANSI E1.20 - Setting and addressing OLED graphical display / 4 buttons and RDM ANSI E1.20
- Standalone mode: Quick Color; 3 programs with up to 24 scenese
- Wireless DMX: Lumen Radio with RDM
Included items:
- 2 Omega bracket with quater-turn fasteners
- 2 m IP66 power cable pigtail
- Safety instructions and installation quick guide
THE FIELD TEST
Let’s start with the aesthetics. As already mentioned, SGM Q-8 is gifted with a beautiful presence, discreet and with a well organized back panel where the power I/O and DMX I/O connectors are grouped, that helps to keep the wiring clean.
There is also a large handle that is perfectly integrated with the body, making it easy to focus and carry, as well as a practical tilt management system that is solid and has a useful angle indicator.
The connected and powered fixture is very quiet. DMX mode and address setting are quite intuitive, thanks to the display on the top of the panel, a SGM signature.
The DMX modes have been optimally designed to use the fixture in different types of applications. We can find both more or less simplified versions, that range from the simple RGB only (12 channels that control the RGB of the individual panels), Strobe and Simplified mode (10 and 12 channels with separate and essential management of the main panel and the strobe array), Standard – Standard+ – Extended and Extended+ (27, 34, 41 and 52 channels with increasingly detailed and precise management of the various functions and the presence of various colour macros and effects, dimmer curve and more) and the Studio version with 36 channels where we can find the management of the colour mode, plus/minus green and LED frequency.
The handling of the Color Path channel in Studio, Extended+, Standard+ and Standard modes is very well thought out. With the Color Path set to VersaPath™, the colour emulation reacts in the same way as a physical filter on a specific native color temperature (2000K to 10000K), which can be modified via the CTC channel. When the Dimming Curve channel is set to Halogen, a “tungsten lamp with colour filter” look can be achieved. Also, with this configuration, the CTC channel can be used to shift the RGB colour mix to the blackbody emission spectrum. To achieve this, at least 2 primary colors must have values greater than 000. When the Color Path is set to Standard, the color mix is compatible with all RGB based SGM products since 2009. The CTC channel can only influence the RGB colour mix when at least 3 primary colors have values greater than 000.
Scrolling through the various effects modes, there are some practical combinations that act both on the main panel and on the two LED arrays, with the possibility of managing or not a different background. For the two arrays we find very useful effects such as Random strobe and Random Pixel, Flicker, Blind, Halogen Attack and Decay and Pulse emulations. On the main panel, in addition to the classic flicker, pulse and random, we have some color combinations, and the lighting, fire and ice effects. Last but not least, there are also color filter emulations based on the LEE standard.
We want to highlight the fixture’s feature to manage the speed of the fans through the “high speed mode” channel, with 7 different modes to ensure the best output depending on the room temperature, ranging from room temperature mode up to 40°C.
In addition to the “home” tests, I had the opportunity to illuminate an architecture by combining the classic wall-washer function with a slow and almost imperceptible dimmer effect using the two LED arrays. The result summarises one of the possibilities offered by Architainment, namely that of providing a harmony of apparent movement to the architecture, which in this way gives voice to the place where it is located.
CONCLUSIONS
As mentioned above, the SGM Q-8 is an extremely flexible fixture, which can be perfectly integrated into events and tours thanks to its blinder, strobe and pixel mapping qualities, into architectural applications such as wall-washers, theatres for its colour quality and low noise, and studios when extreme lighting consistency and color accuracy are required.
A fixture that in its simplicity can be an important creative stimulus for lighting designers. Many effects, many modes, many accessories that put no limits on imagination. Have fun!
I bet many of you have come this far with a fundamental question about the meaning of “blackbody”. You should know that every time a lighting tech asks this question, Max Planck from beyond gives birth to an 18000K bolt of lightning that grazes you just enough to make your hair stand on end… Don’t worry, there is a vast amount of literature on the web. Here’s a little help from Wikipedia.
Info: www.sgmlight.com
Walter Lutzu – main tester
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