FilmGear® Takes Space Lights to New Heights: The Helios 1100C!

The most powerful RGB LED space light from the NAB Product of the Year award-winning Helios series builds upon the industry-leading color mixing and adds the vibrant colors of FilmGear®’s RGBW LED chips. Now with 1080W of efficient, punchy MCOB LEDs, the Helios 1100C is fully equipped to paint even the tallest of studios with the colors of your dreams!

Back in 2019, the Helios 700B and 1000B bi-color LED space lights both won awards on the strength of their raw output and incredible color temperature accuracy, which was followed by the release of the RGB Helios 700C. This first foray into color space lighting integrated the RGB functionality to fill entire studios, bringing to life complex and dynamic scenes at the largest of scales.

Since then, studios have only continued to expand upwards, so FilmGear®’s engineers have spent much of the pandemic developing the Helios 1100C to take space lighting to new heights—literally. The 1100C features FilmGear®’s revolutionary new MCOB LEDs, giving them the same efficient output and throw as the Max series of RGB maxibrutes. In fact, the Helios 1100C is functionally equivalent to the Max 6C, which makes it useful as a powerful RGB skypan with its softbox.

Also like the Max 6C, each of the 6 banks can be individually controlled in all of the various modes. With the plus/minus green filter packaged into the 2700K-10000K CCT mode, this RGB space light has a more robust color temperature setting than typical bi-color lights. When it comes to RGB, the 1100C literally shines in every category that the 700C does already, with more than double the intensity for the HSI and GEL modes. The expanded Scene mode library now includes 18 presets, with options to import or program more of your own. 

Newly empowered by LumenRadio’s latest TimoTwo module, the Helios 1100C’s wireless controls take another monumental leap forward for filmmakers’ quality of life. With built-in wireless DMX and Bluetooth complementing the standard DMX/RDM, Ethernet, and USB, gaffers have total control over the light from the ground, eliminating the hassle of climbing up to each hanging fixture on a grid.

FilmGear®’s Helios 1100C RGB LED space light is here to lead the next generation of space lighting in brightness, efficiency, and versatility. Make sure to check it out as it touches down at booth 621 this Cine Gear LA!

Maximizing the Maxibrute: FilmGear®’s RGB LED Max Series

FilmGear®’s new Max 12C is leading the Max series of RGB LED maxibrutes back to Cine Gear LA! With the rapid evolution of FilmGear®’s LED engineering, the maxibrute made the leap straight from tungsten to RGB this year, with the Max 12C capping off the line this June. Combining the raw output of traditional PAR64 maxibrutes with the creative freedom of FilmGear®’s custom-designed RGBW chips, the Max series transcends both tungsten and LED at a new lighting frontier.

The new 4-in-1 chip design takes advantage of rigorously quality-controlled MCOB LEDs to optimize the output and color accuracy of each chip. The improved efficiency not only gives gaffers more light for less power drawn (up to 20A for the Max 12C) but also accelerates heat dissipation, resulting in lower fan noise overall. Clustering high-power LEDs into localized cups further allows for unique optical lenses that give the Max series their punchy naked 24° beam angle, making them a worthy successor to the tungsten maxis.

Much like their tungsten predecessors, the Max’s 4, 6, 9, or 12 LED lampheads can be individually controlled, but these fixtures have much finer tunability over brightness with 5 preset dimming curves for each individual LED bank—all maintaining average CRI and TLCI both >95 over the whole 0-100% and 2700K-10000K range.

Beyond the CCT mode with plus/minus green control, the real freedom lies in its full spectrum RGB output, configurable through either the HSI mode for cinematographers who like to fine-tune their color space or the Gel mode for gaffers who prefer to stick to the color gels they love. The Gel mode in particular has been expanded to include over 300 industry-favorite lighting filters, eliminating the hassle of having to swap color gels while keeping them from burning. For actual burning effects, the Scene mode ships with 18 preset patterns mimicking everything from flickering flames to police beacons.

Additional patterns that take advantage of the separately controllable banks can be programmed directly into the menu to suit your creative ambitions. With a fixture packed with this many features, lighting professionals will appreciate the intuitive navigation to get to the exact settings they want.

As for connectivity, the Max series comes equipped with every option imaginable, including DMX/RDM, Ethernet, USB, and built-in wireless DMX and Bluetooth through LumenRadio’s TimoTwo chip. It even comes with firmware support for the upcoming FilmGear® app, allowing for full control of all FilmGear® fixtures from the comfort of your smartphone or tablet.

The 5/2kW Tungsten Power Beam: FilmGear®'s Upgraded Twin Lamp Support!

With stronger output and greater versatility than the competition, the 5/2kW Tungsten Power Beam has been a long-awaited and highly requested upgrade to the classic 18” tungsten beam projectors. Want to experience their warm shafts of light and parallel shadows for yourself? Come and check them out as they light up the halls of Cine Gear LA from booth 621 this June!

Like the rest of the series, the 5/2kW Tungsten Power Beam is equipped to power higher wattage bulbs, giving you bolder beam definition at longer ranges. Though they raise the standard for brightness, the flexibility offered by their twin lamp support for varying LCLs makes no sacrifices, ensuring backwards compatibility with the 2000W tungsten bulbs of older beam projectors. This highly requested design enables gaffers to efficiently run Tungsten Power Beams off of 20A house circuits.

All of that concentrated output comes packed in a sturdy form built to withstand the rigors of set life. Equipped with a reinforced housing and a thicker glass mirror, FilmGear®’s iconic dark lavender workhorses are engineered for rough rentals and lifetime ownership, making the Power Beams a shining beacon of hope for the evolution of beam projectors.

Remember to visit booth 621 at Cine Gear Expo in LACC, where we’ll be showing live demos of all of the Power Beams and more!

FilmGear®’s New 1.8/1.2kW Daylight Power Beam: Efficient, Powerful, Practical

Designed in response to American filmmakers’ requests for a more modern beam projector, the 1.8/1.2kW Daylight Power Beam is the newest member of FilmGear®’s Power Beam family. This efficient and practical 18”-faced luminaire is making its US debut at Cine Gear LA this year and is available for orders starting now.

Since their premiere at last year’s Cine Gear Expo, the Power Beams have impressed gaffers at demos across NA from New York to Hawaii to Toronto, but there was one notable special request: an efficient Power Beam that can strike with house power. Prioritizing a smaller footprint over the excess output of the 4kW Junior model, the 1.8/1.2kW Daylight Power Beam adds versatility and range to the Power Beam series. This 18” lamphead features twin lamp power that drives the efficiency of modern 1800W HMI globes while maintaining the familiar option of the 1200W beam projectors of old.

The 1.8/1.2kW joins FilmGear®’s family of Power Beams that goes up to 18/12kW HMI and 24/20kW tungsten. As with the other Daylight Power Beams, its adjustable beam angle narrows down to 0°, creating powerful parallel shafts of light through windows and foliage, replicating the sun itself. With their reinforced glass mirrors, wheeled flight cases, and overall sturdier construction, these workhorses were clearly built with rentals and long-term ownership in mind, cementing FilmGear®’s dedication to durability and practicality.

The Power Beams, including the new 1.8/1.2kW Daylight Power Beam, are compatible with FilmGear®’s electronic ballasts and are available to order now.

Daylight Power Beam:

• FilmGear® Power Beam Daylight 1.8kW / 1.2kW (18’’)

• FilmGear® Power Beam Daylight 4kW / 2.5kW (24”)

• FilmGear® Power Beam Daylight 9kW / 6kW (24”)

• FilmGear® Power Beam Daylight 18kW / 12kW (36”)

Tungsten Power Beam:

• FilmGear® Power Beam Tungsten 5kW (18”)

• FilmGear® Power Beam Tungsten 12kW / 10kW (24”)

• FilmGear® Power Beam Tungsten 24kW / 20kW (36”)

Brighten Your New Year with FilmGear®!

Happy New Year! If you missed our End of Year sale, don’t worry: we’re rolling over the 2021 deals into 2022, until January 14! We want to start off the new year right by putting both our bi-color and RGB models for the high power Aurora panels and the award-winning Helios space lights at 30% OFF! FilmGear®’s LED powerhouses pack enough output for any situation, making them indispensable tools in the hands of creative users.

AURORA A200B, A400B, A200C, and A400C

Gaffers know output is everything, and the more output you have, the more you can do with it. Featuring 200W and 400W of efficient bi-color LEDs, the Aurora 200B and 400B output the best-in-class illuminance of any 1x1 or 1x2 panel. The Aurora 200C and 400C build upon the warm and cool white LEDs of the bi-color line and mix in RGB LEDs to add full-spectrum color without sacrificing any white light output — this design gives the Auroras a boost of almost 40% over the next brightest competitor! Not only are you getting more brightness out of the CCT mode, but you also get improved CRI and TLCI, both averaging over 95 for the entire 2700-10000K range.

With this much output, you can use the Aurora panels as more than just an indoor key or fill light. Check out how Kiran Devadiga uses the Aurora 400C with their softboxes to throw some additional sunlight outdoors through the windows of this bus.

He could also have used the HSI or GEL modes to create a redder sunset look, or even the Scene mode to get the effect of fancy flickering flames without risking burning down the bus. Gaffers have described the Aurora as “the best of both worlds” between raw output and user-friendly functionality. All of these creative modes, in combination with the lights’ impressive intensity, make the Aurora panels possibly FilmGear®’s most versatile light yet.

HELIOS H500B, H700B, and H700C

Our award-winning Helios series of LED space lights is one of our most in-demand products and it isn’t hard to see why. The bi-color H700B model won NAB’s 2019 Product of the Year Award for its stellar output and unrivaled color accuracy throughout the entire 2700-6000K range. We later developed the H500B off of the same LED design to light smaller studios that wanted the same reliable CRI and TLCI (95+), but didn’t need the H700B’s intense throw. Since 2019, you can see hundreds of our Helios space lights lining the ceilings and rafters of stages all over North America, like SCS, where they’ve been used to light shows like Goliath and films like Mulan.

More recently, we took the beloved H700B form factor and elevated it to new colorful heights with the H700C RGBW space light. In CCT mode, the H700C features the same color accuracy as its bi-color cousin with a wider color temperature range up to 10000K. It shares the same HSI, GEL and Scene modes with the Aurora panels, evenly scaling up the magnitude of the effects across the entire studio. Being able to swap gels on hanging sets without having to climb up under the included silk skirt and target is not only a huge timesaver but also a potential lifesaver. Combine that with the built-in wireless DMX, and they’re ready to go with minimal setup.

Both the Aurora and Helios series show not only our dedication to light quality, but also that FilmGear®’s engineering prowess extends far beyond traditional lampheads. Kick off the new year with two lights that are paving the future for LED lighting in film!

Call 323.780.8880 or email sales@filmgearusa.com to order yours before the sale ends January 14!

Ending the Year with a Soft but Strong Finish!

Merry Christmas from all of us here at FilmGear®! Last week, our F-Series and Daylight Boxers had their time to shine but FilmGear®’s End of Year sale is finishing strong with our bi-color Soft Panels, SL Panels, and Light Pads on sale for 35% off, and our Dual Color LED Flo-Boxes and Mini Panels are 30% off. With such a variety of lights there’s something for every production!

Comet LED Soft Panel

FilmGear®’s Comet series of soft panels is the premium choice for bringing a softer glow to your image, thanks to the light’s thicker, professional grade diffusion. Both the 100W and 200W models come in 2700K-6000K, in 1x2 and 1x4 form factors, which help to more evenly light tall or long subjects. The wider feet allow you to set up even without stands, which also works wonders keeping them from falling like a stack of dominoes in your truck!

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LED SL Panel

However if you are looking for something with a thinner form factor for use in more narrow spaces, the ultraslim SL Panel is the perfect solution for you. The reduced thickness also brings down the total weight to just 10 lbs for the 100W model, which pairs nicely with the V-mount battery plates to elevate the panel’s portability. The 200W SL Panel’s 2x2 form factor adds more evenly spread coverage in all directions, which studios love using to backlight subjects.

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LED Light Pad

Meanwhile, if lightweight mobility is your priority, our 100W Light Pad only weighs 4.4 lbs, making it essential for set up and go shoots like documentaries where heavier light panels would be more of a hindrance than a help. And our Light Pad comes in a kit that includes a softbox, eggcrate, ballast, and mounting bracket, all wrapped up in a lightweight carrying bag so you are fully equipped for any situation. Though this light is optimised for portability, you don’t have to worry about sacrificing color accuracy, since both the CRI and TLCI exceed 95 over the 2700-6000K range.

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Dual Color LED Flo-Box

But when it comes to soft light, panels need not be your only LED option. A few weeks back we highlighted the daylight and tungsten LED Flo-Boxes, but this week we’re asking the question, “Why not both?” with our dual color line. These lights keep the same freeform maneuverability that you can expect from a FilmGear® Flo-Box, but now you can flip between warm tungsten and cool daylight with just the press of a switch. Less swapping tubes means fewer accidents, which means you’ll be saving even after the 30% End of Year discount!

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Mini Panel

At FilmGear®, we’re known for our big lights, and you’ve certainly seen quite a few of those over the past few weeks, and even in the 1x4 and 2x2 panels above. But we know that size isn’t everything, and the Mini Panel is proof of that. Small but mighty, the Mini Panel packs 8W of high-power SMD LEDs into a form smaller than an iPhone. The internal battery lasts up to 17 hours, so you can comfortably go cordless, which makes it a lifesaver for sneaking into tight nooks and crannies. Alternatively, you could use the ¼” threaded adapter, included in both the standard and deluxe kits, to mount it directly onto your camera as a key light.

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Though there are many bi-color options when it comes to soft light, each of these lights has a unique place in your lighting lineup. Be sure to choose the ones that meet your 2022 needs with our End of Year Sale to ring in the new year with FilmGear®!

Call us at 323.780.8880 or email sales@filmgearusa.com to order today!

Huge Daylight Savings from FilmGear®!

We’ve spent the past few weeks diving into our various Fresnel lines, but as the days get shorter, we’ll be needing more daylight than ever, so this week, it's time to show some love to our powerhouse F-Series of faceted PARs as well as our nifty Daylight Boxers. Both HMI lines put the emphasis on output without ditching the smooth quality of their Fresnel cousins. Get your daylight savings this winter with 30% OFF of our legendary F-Series and 40% OFF of the Daylight Boxers!

F-Series

The F-Series brings the raw output of traditional PARs with the smooth, filmic look of Fresnel lenses, giving gaffers the best of both worlds. From the condensed power of the F800 to the unbridled brilliance of the F18k, the F-Series outshines competitors’ output in side-by-side comparisons. This massive output is thanks to the F-Series’ faceted reflectors which are tailored to the exact position of the HMI arc for each bulb class. To that end, the F-Series split off the F12k and F6k to use reflectors that were optimized specifically for 12kW and 6kW HMI bulbs, to further smooth out the distribution, unlike other faceted PAR lights who suffer from dark halos and other fringing effects. The widened flood angles further allow you to take better advantage of the even light quality, turning the F1.8k and F800 into impressive fill lights for indoor shoots using only house power. For outdoor shoots where you need to compete with the sun, the F-Series’ powerful yet clean output makes them absolute must-haves. 

It’s not just output that our F-Series has in spades, but also its durability. You don’t have to worry about taking these lights to rougher territory or having to be too delicate when transporting them. Gaffers have gone over 15 years with these lampheads through constant use. They can weather tropical storms — just ask Mazi Mitchell, who used our F9k, F4k, and F1.8k through months of filming in the coastal Georgian summer humidity — and survive the cold of a winter shoot on the slopes. And of course the F-Series runs off of the same electronic ballasts as our other HMI lights and is compatible with the same VEAM connector pin configuration, meaning you can save both money and truck space with universal ballasts. 

Daylight Boxer

But our F-Series isn’t the only source of daylight we’re discounting this week: our Daylight Boxer is perfect for times when you need that same punchy daylight power as our F-Series but in a much smaller, more maneuverable package. Gaffers love using the Boxers as bounce lights to help fill shots when you need to place the light in a spot where a bigger head would struggle. The standard and deluxe kits add the full gamut of accessories to expand on the versatility and bring the Boxers wherever you need. Throw on a softbox, lantern, or frosted lens for diffusion, or try a barrel to focus the beam, giving you the flexibility to turn the Daylight Boxer into the ideal travel-friendly daylight source.

Standard Kit: 

• 800W Daylight Boxer lamphead

• Rigid carrying case

• Set of 5 PAR lenses with carrying bag

• Electronic ballast (choice of either AC or AC/DC with DC power cable)

• 4-leaf barndoor

Deluxe Kit: 

• 800W Daylight Boxer lamphead

• Rigid carrying case

• Set of 5 PAR lenses with carrying bag

• Electronic ballast (choice of either AC or AC/DC with DC power cable)

• 4-leaf barndoor

• HMI 800W SE lamp bulb with case

• 7m lamphead-to-ballast cable

• Aluminum light stand

• Softbox with T-ring

At 40% off, the Daylight Boxer is a portable powerhouse at a peerless price. So if you are in need of daylight output and really want to increase the variety of your arsenal, our F-Series and Daylight Boxers make a fantastic combo. Don’t let the year come to a close without harnessing the daylight power of FilmGear®’s HMI lampheads!

Call us at 323.780.8880 or email us at sales@filmgearusa.comto place your order!

LEDs Joining the Fresnel Fray! Apollo Series up to 50% OFF!

The Fresnel train keeps on rolling and this time it’s the LED Fresnels turn to take the spotlight! If you want that same even yet hard beam that you can count on from our other Fresnel lampheads plus the simple efficiency of LED, FilmGear® has got you covered with our daylight and tungsten 150/250W LED spots at 50% off, and our bi-color spots as well as the new A500 at 30% off!

It’s no secret that LEDs’ output efficiency outshines traditional film lighting sources like tungsten and HMI bulbs. FilmGear® stays ahead of the game by combining our expertise in traditional Fresnel optics with our award-winning LED technology to bring you the highest per-watt illuminance out of the Apollo series. Drawing only 500W of power, our A500D outputs the equivalent of a 1.2kW Daylight Fresnel, and our A500T outputs the equivalent of a 2kW Tungsten Fresnel, and it won’t even hog your entire 20-amp circuit. If you don’t need the full intensity, you can dim the Apollos down to 0% without any unwanted color temperature change. Electronically dimming HMI and tungsten lights can be a hassle juggling scrims and color correction gels, ballasts and dimmers — the Apollo series replaces all of that with just a simple turn of a dimmer knob, with optional preset dimming curves so you can really fine tune the illuminance. If accurate color is as important to you as it is to us, you’ll be happy to know that the Apollo series maintains their 95+ CRI and TLCI throughout the entire dimming range!

Not only are these lights electrically efficient, but they’re also efficient in the way of saving time on set, as our LED Fresnels can be DC-powered, making them a battery-friendly choice even for competing with the sun in outdoor shoots or productions where you’re in more uneven terrain where a generator would be impractical. It also helps to not have to worry about carrying around delicate bulbs like you would with an HMI or Tungsten head. Up to 5 DMX channels gives you full control over fine-tuning the dimming and color temperature, ensuring that you can operate them from a distance. If you want to work with them more closely, they always stay cool to the touch, so you can work with the intuitive onboard menu without even needing gloves.

With their 30,000+ hours of LED life, these lights will make sure to be worth the investment. The future looks bright for LEDs, and our Apollo series will continue to push the limits of the form, so take advantage of the amazing sales on our LED Fresnels today before this bargain is gone!

50% OFF

• FilmGear® Apollo 250D/250T (Daylight or Tungsten)

• FilmGear® Apollo 150D/150T (Daylight or Tungsten)

30% OFF

• FilmGear® Apollo 500D/500T (Daylight or Tungsten)

• FilmGear® Apollo 300B (Bi-Color)

• FilmGear® Apollo 150B (Bi-Color)

• FilmGear® Apollo 90B (Bi-Color)

Call us at 323.780.8880 or email us at sales@filmgearusa.com to place your order!