Question 1

What is the price of ARRI spotlights?

Accepted Answer

ARRI spotlight prices vary significantly depending on the model and technology. LED fixtures such as the SkyPanel S60-C typically retail between €3,500 and €4,500, whilst the versatile Orbiter ranges from €6,500 to €8,000 depending on included optics. L-Series Plus LED Fresnels like the L7-C cost approximately €4,000–€5,000. Conventional HMI fixtures are generally more affordable: M-Series daylight heads range from around €2,000 for the M18 up to €15,000+ for the high-output M90. Tungsten fixtures such as the ARRI Junior 650 W typically cost €800–€1,200. Prices reflect ARRI's professional-grade construction, exceptional colour rendering and long-term reliability. When calculating total cost of ownership, consider that LED fixtures eliminate ongoing lamp replacement costs (HMI lamps cost €200–€1,500 each with lifespans of 750–1,500 hours) and reduce energy consumption by up to 90% compared to tungsten equivalents.

Question 2

How much does the ARRI Daylight 18/12 cost?

Accepted Answer

The ARRI Daylight 18/12 HMI Fresnel spotlight—one of the most powerful fixtures in the ARRI range—typically costs between €25,000 and €35,000 for the complete system including fixture head, electronic ballast and head cable. This price reflects the fixture's exceptional output (over 200,000 lumens), precision-engineered 18-inch Fresnel lens, and robust construction suitable for large-scale film production and architectural lighting. The 18/12 designation indicates the fixture can operate with either 18,000 W or 12,000 W HMI lamps depending on output requirements. Operating costs are substantial: 18 kW HMI lamps cost approximately €1,200–€1,800 each with rated lifespans around 750 hours, and the fixture draws up to 90 A at 230 V during operation, requiring substantial electrical infrastructure. For productions requiring this level of output, the 18/12 remains unmatched, but many applications can now achieve comparable results using multiple LED fixtures with lower total cost and greater flexibility.

Question 3

What are ARRI M-Series lights used for?

Accepted Answer

ARRI M-Series lights are open-face HMI daylight fixtures used primarily for high-output location lighting in film, television and event production. The M-Series range includes models from the compact M18 (1,800 W, 35,000 lumens) through the M40 (4,000 W, 90,000 lumens) to the powerful M90 (9,000 W, 190,000 lumens). These fixtures excel at exterior daylight augmentation—filling shadows on sunny days, extending shooting hours into dusk, or creating artificial sunlight through windows for interior scenes. The M-Series' patented MAX Technology reflector produces an even field with minimal hotspots despite the open-face design. Typical applications include large-area illumination for night exteriors, architectural lighting for buildings and monuments, concert and festival lighting where high output and daylight colour temperature are required, and green-screen work where the fixtures' high output and excellent colour rendering ensure clean keying. M-Series fixtures are particularly valued for location documentary and commercial work where their combination of power, portability and reliability makes them indispensable tools for gaffers and lighting directors.

Question 4

What is the ARRI L7-C Plus specification?

Accepted Answer

The ARRI L7-C Plus is a professional LED Fresnel spotlight with a 7-inch lens diameter, designed as a direct LED replacement for traditional 650 W or 1 kW tungsten Fresnels. Key specifications include: light output of approximately 8,000 lumens at 5,600 K (comparable to a 1 kW tungsten Fresnel); colour temperature range continuously variable from 2,800 K to 10,000 K; colour rendering with CRI >96, TLCI >96 and TM-30 Rf >92; beam angle manually adjustable from 15° (spot) to 50° (flood) via the Fresnel lens focusing mechanism; dimming from 100% to 0% flicker-free and silent; power consumption of 220 W maximum; control options including on-board controls, DMX512, RDM, LumenRadio CRMX wireless and ARRI LiCo app; connectivity via 5-pin XLR DMX and powerCON TRUE1 mains input; cooling via low-noise fan system; weight approximately 6.8 kg; and IP rating of IP20 (indoor use). The fixture accepts standard 7-inch accessories including four-leaf barndoors, scrims and gel frames, ensuring compatibility with existing grip equipment. The L7-C Plus delivers 90% energy savings and eliminates lamp changes whilst maintaining the familiar Fresnel beam characteristics that cinematographers prefer.

Question 5

Which ARRI lights are best for film production?

Accepted Answer

The best ARRI lights for film production depend on the specific requirements of each project, but several fixtures have become industry standards. For versatile LED lighting, the ARRI Orbiter is increasingly the first choice: its interchangeable optics system allows one fixture to serve multiple roles (Fresnel, open-face, dome, beam), whilst the six-colour Spectra engine delivers exceptional colour rendering and can replicate any light source. For soft key lighting and interviews, the SkyPanel X21 (or its predecessor S60-C) provides naturally soft, even illumination with excellent skin-tone rendering. L-Series Plus Fresnels (particularly the L7-C and L10-C) suit cinematographers who prefer traditional Fresnel control and beam quality in an LED package. For high-output location work, the M-Series HMI fixtures (M18, M40) remain essential for exterior daylight augmentation and large-area illumination. Many professional productions now adopt a hybrid approach: LED fixtures for controlled studio environments and interior work where their silent operation, low heat and colour flexibility excel, combined with HMI fixtures for high-output exterior applications where maximum lumens-per-watt efficiency matters most. The key is matching fixture characteristics to specific scenes rather than relying on a single fixture type throughout production.

Question 6

What power options are available for ARRI spotlights?

Accepted Answer

ARRI spotlights offer multiple power options to suit different production environments and workflows. LED fixtures (SkyPanel, Orbiter, L-Series Plus) feature universal mains input accepting 100–240 V AC at 50/60 Hz, making them suitable for worldwide use without voltage converters. These fixtures typically use powerCON TRUE1 locking connectors for secure mains connection and draw between 150 W (small fixtures) and 500 W (Orbiter, large SkyPanel) at maximum output. Many LED models also accept battery power via 3-pin XLR connectors, operating on 48–52 V DC from professional V-mount or Gold-mount battery systems—essential for location work without mains access. HMI fixtures (M-Series, True Blue D) require electronic ballasts matched to both lamp wattage and local voltage; ARRI's EB MAX ballast range offers models for 90–260 V operation with outputs from 575 W to 18,000 W. Ballasts connect to fixtures via multi-pin head cables and use industrial connectors: 16 A or 32 A Ceeform for fixtures above 2.5 kW, or 13 A plugs for smaller units in UK installations. Tungsten fixtures (ARRI Junior, True Blue T) operate directly on mains voltage (230 V in UK) without ballasts, using 13 A plugs for fixtures up to 2 kW or industrial connectors for higher wattages. This power flexibility ensures ARRI spotlights can be deployed in any production scenario from battery-powered documentary work to large-scale studio installations.

Question 7

Can ARRI spotlights be mounted on track lighting systems?

Accepted Answer

Yes, certain ARRI spotlights can be integrated with professional track lighting systems, though this application is less common than traditional stand or rigging mounting. Compact LED fixtures such as the ARRI L5-C Plus (5-inch Fresnel) and smaller SkyPanel models can be adapted to three-phase track systems using appropriate track adapters, provided the track system's power rating (typically 16 A per circuit, 3.6 kW maximum) exceeds the fixture's consumption. This integration suits permanent installations in broadcast studios, photography studios, showrooms and exhibition spaces where flexible repositioning is required without re-rigging. However, most ARRI spotlights are designed for traditional mounting via 28 mm spigots (Junior pins) on stands, C-stands, or overhead rigging, as this provides the robust support required for heavier fixtures and allows full pan/tilt adjustment. For retail and architectural applications requiring track-mounted spotlights, dedicated track-compatible fixtures from manufacturers such as Eutrac, SLV and Philips typically offer better integration than adapting film-production fixtures. When specifying track systems for professional lighting, ensure the track's electrical capacity, mechanical load rating and adapter compatibility match your fixture requirements. Our team at Leuchtmittel Verkauf can advise on appropriate track lighting solutions for your specific application.

Question 8

What is the difference between ARRI LED and tungsten fixtures?

Accepted Answer

ARRI LED and tungsten fixtures differ fundamentally in technology, performance characteristics and operational costs. LED fixtures (SkyPanel, Orbiter, L-Series Plus) use solid-state light-emitting diodes—typically in multi-colour arrays—to generate light. Key advantages include: tuneable colour temperature (2,000 K to 20,000 K continuously variable), exceptional energy efficiency (90% less power consumption than tungsten equivalents), minimal heat output (reducing air conditioning loads and improving on-set comfort), long lifespan (50,000+ hours with no lamp changes), instant on/off (no warm-up or cool-down period), flicker-free dimming at any frame rate, and built-in effects and colour control. LED fixtures typically cost more initially but deliver lower total cost of ownership. Tungsten fixtures (ARRI Junior, True Blue T, ARRILITE Plus) use traditional tungsten-halogen lamps that produce light by heating a tungsten filament. Characteristics include: fixed colour temperature (3,200 K), high radiant heat output (requiring substantial ventilation), continuous spectrum (some cinematographers prefer tungsten's spectral characteristics for skin tones), lower initial cost, simple dimming (via voltage control, though this shifts colour temperature cooler), and shorter lamp life (typically 200–2,000 hours depending on wattage and dimming level). Tungsten fixtures remain popular for specific applications where their warm colour temperature and traditional beam characteristics are preferred, but LED technology has become the professional standard for most contemporary production work due to its operational advantages and creative flexibility.