What is A Leko Light and Which One to Buy?
For professional lighting specification, precision and control are mandatory. The Leko light is the most trusted fixture in the industry for precisely shaping and focusing a beam.
If you’re purchasing for a venue, stage, or production, you need to understand the technology and the current market.
This guide provides a professional breakdown of the Ellipsoidal Reflector Spotlight (ERS). We will cover:
Key takeaways:
- The formal definition of a Leko and its core function as a “focus light.”
- The key features that enable its unparalleled control.
- The most effective applications across film and stage.
- A guide to choosing the right LED Leko from LiGHT SKY’s professional line.
What Are Leko Lights Used for?
The term Leko light is an industry trade name that has become the generic label for the Ellipsoidal Reflector Spotlight (ERS). This fixture is fundamental to professional stage lighting due to its specific optical design.
Leko light components:
| Component | Function | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Lamp/Source | Provides the illumination (now predominantly LED Leko sources). | High output, efficient power usage. |
| Ellipsoidal Reflector | The precisely shaped mirror that efficiently collects all emitted light and directs it toward a single, internal focal point called the gate. | Maximized light transmission and intensity. |
| Lens System | A system of two or more lenses that projects the image from the gate outward, defining the beam size and focus. | Focusable beam and crisp edge quality. |
Why Leko Light is a “Focus Light”
The ERS’s core function is precision. It is the essential focus light in professional production.
Unlike a floodlight or a wash fixture designed for broad, soft illumination, the Leko is designed for surgical beam control. It gives the lighting designer complete mechanical authority over the beam’s four primary qualities:
- Shape: Defined by internal shutters.
- Edge: Defined by the lens barrel focus.
- Size: Defined by the lens barrel’s beam angle.
- Texture: Defined by the use of gobos.
What Are the Benefits of Using Leko lights?
The ERS’s power lies in the components positioned at its gate (the point where the ellipsoidal reflector focuses the light). In this way, LD can manipulate the beam’s light output.
* Further Reading: What Will Influence Stage Lighting Performance
Internal Shutters/Blades
This is the defining mechanical feature of the ERS, responsible for its unique shaping capabilities. Every professional Leko is equipped with four movable shutters (blades) inserted into the light gate.
- Function: Each shutter can be independently pushed into the beam path from the top, bottom, left, or right.
- Practical Application: Light beam to be “cut” or framed into a precise four-sided shape (a square, rectangle, or trapezoid). This is critical in theater to prevent light from spilling onto borders, curtains, or unwanted areas of the set.
Focusable Lens Barrel
The lens barrel of the fixture is designed to move along the central axis of the beam path, controlling the relationship between the gate and the lens system.
- Function: Adjusting the lens barrel’s position determines the final quality of the beam edge.
- Practical Application: Moving the barrel achieves either a hard, crisp edge (when the image at the gate is perfectly focused) or a soft, diffused edge (when the image is slightly unfocused, often called “soft focus”).
Interchangeable Barrels & Beam
ERS fixtures are not permanently fixed to a single spread of light. They rely on the use of different lens barrels, which are simple to swap out.
- Function: The focal length of the installed lens barrel determines the beam angle (e.g., 19°, 26°, 36°, 50°).
- Practical Application: Designers select the barrel based on the “throw distance” (the distance from the fixture to the subject). A narrower angle (19°) is used for long throws and higher intensity, while a wider angle (50°) is used for short throws and covering a larger area. This flexibility makes the ERS a versatile investment.
Gobos and Gels
The gate also includes slots for modifying the quality of light projected.
- Gobos (Pattern Projection): A metal or glass gobo disc is inserted into a dedicated slot, allowing the light to project detailed patterns like windows, abstract textures, or corporate logos.
- Gels (Coloration): While modern LED Lekos often use internal color mixing (RGBAL or similar), the fixture still features a color frame holder at the front for traditional gels or diffusion materials to adjust the light’s final hue or softness.
Where to Use Leko Lights
TL; DR?
They are commonly used in high-level production environments where light must be intentionally placed and contained.
Theater and Live Events
Designers use the internal shutters to isolate an actor precisely, ensuring the light hits only the designated area of the stage, preventing spill onto curtains, masking, or unintended background scenery.
The focused beams provided highlights specific props, set pieces, or entrances. Their sharp focus allows for strong visual contrast and scene segmentation.
By using gobos, theaters project architectural details, foliage, or logos, adding a crucial layer of texture and realism to the visual atmosphere of a production.
Film, Broadcast, and Photography
Gaffers frequently use Lekos to simulate realistic hard light sources, such as sunlight streaming through a window or the distinct, focused beam of a street lamp. The shutters are essential here for cutting the light exactly to the window frame.
In studio interviews or corporate video shoots, the precise beam control helps isolate the subject and ensures that no unwanted light reflects into the camera lens or hits the backdrop unevenly.
Besides, when a highly directional, high-contrast look is required—often for dramatic or fashion photography—the Leko’s focusable hard edge is the tool of choice.
Leko Light Recommendation — LiGHT SKY 8800-C42 LED Leko
Prioritize ROI and long-term performance? The 8800-C42 is your absolute pick.
1. Superior Optical Quality for Visual Fidelity
The core task of a Leko is flawless light delivery. The 8800-C42 provides the technical confidence your team needs:
- Color Rendering: With a CRI of 91-97 and TLCI of 91-97, this fixture guarantees that all colors—whether skin tones on stage or set pieces for camera—are rendered accurately and vibrantly.
- Precision and Beam Shaping: The system is engineered to deliver an even light gradient and a clear and clean cutting edge, ensuring your custom shutter cuts and gobo projections are crisp and professional.
2. Operational Silence and Efficiency
In modern venues, high-intensity light must operate invisibly. The 8800-C42 solves key operational headaches:
- Super Silent Operation: At just 28dB, the 8800-C42 runs virtually silently. This eliminates the need for expensive workarounds in quiet theaters, sound stages, and broadcast studios, guaranteeing no interference to the use site.
- Color Versatility: Featuring 2800K~10000K linear color temperature adjustment, this single 300W fixture replaces multiple older tungsten units, providing immense flexibility while reducing power draw and thermal load.
3. Total Control and Reliability
This fixture is built for system integration and fast deployment:
- Flicker-Free Dimming: The 16 bit Flicker-Free Dimmer ensures ultra-smooth fades and stable light output, essential for high-speed camera use and broadcast compliance.
- Flexible Deployment: With interchangeable lens options (19°, 26°, 36°, 50°) and RDM/DMX protocol support, the 8800-C42 seamlessly adapts to any venue size or existing lighting control system.
Ready to upgrade your inventory to a silent, optically superior LED Leko?
