Legendary Line Shines: F-Series now 30% off!

FilmGear®’s End of Year sale continues with 30% off on our family of legendary daylight faceted PARs: the F-Series. Whether you’re an industry vet or an up-and-comer, there’s no better time than now to fortify any lighting package with these cornerstones of film lighting.

The F-Series’ faceted reflector unites the best of both worlds between the powerful raw output of a PAR and the smooth light quality of a Fresnel. By moving away from their traditional twin lamp design and instead specifically tailoring each reflector to match the corresponding bulb, we’ve taken the F-Series one step further in eliminating all imperfections from the outputted field.

While veteran Local 728 gaffer Mazi Mitchell gets plenty of compliments on the F-Series’ light quality, he knows that none of it means much if your lamphead can’t survive the day-to-day stresses of set life. He’s happy to report back “FilmGear®’s HMI lampheads held up in the harshest of environments” after shooting for months in the Georgian humidity. And he’s not alone: our oldest heads have braved 10+ years of everything mother nature threw their way, from the deserts of the Middle East to the monsoons of Southeast Asia, earning their workhorse reputation.

These workhorses are some of our most popular lampheads for a reason. Grab an F-Series or pair it with a trusty electronic ballast for 30% off from now until January!

Black Friday is behind us but that means the End of Year Sale starts now! For all inquires please contact us at info@filmgearusa.com or 323-780-8880 so we can brighten your day.

End of Year Sale Returns! FilmGear®'s Power Beams at a Powerful 20% Discount!

It’s time for FilmGear®’s highly anticipated End of Year Sale again, featuring massive discounts on all of your FilmGear favorites! We’re starting with our hot new take on the classic beam projector: FilmGear®’s Power Beams. At 20% off from now until next January, there’s no better time to add this specialty lamphead to your arsenal!

Getting those tight shafts of concentrated light can be nearly impossible without a beam projector. It certainly makes it tricky for filmmakers to recreate the parallel rays from the natural sun or the staggering impact of a military searchlight. That’s why FilmGear® partnered with gaffers around the globe to develop a more powerful and more reliable beam projector that’s been rigorously production-tested with 100+ Power Beams in USA and 300+ more worldwide. As Local 728 gaffer Jacob Abrams puts it, ”I’m just glad to be able to finally own a beam projector and not need to sub-rent them! Great optics and build quality all around!”

Thanks to their improved heat dissipation, twin lamp support, and reinforced glass mirror, the Power Beams are loaded with more output, more versatility, and more resilience than the beam projectors before them. The Power Beams are ready to light the world—are you?

Finish 2022 the right way with 20% off on all Power Beams!

Tungsten:

Daylight:

*All Power Beams come with wheeled cases

Email info@filmgearusa.com for a quote or call 323-780-8880 for more info!

How to get the most out of your Power Beams

The filmmaking world has been buzzing with both excitement and curiosity about FilmGear®'s new Power Beams! Here are a couple of the most popular questions that we received on how to get the most out of these beloved beam projectors:

How do filmmakers use beam projectors?

Beam projectors have been used for decades to produce visible shafts of light in atmosphere, which produces strongly directional columns of light when combined with haze. Their parabolic glass reflectors are entirely optimized to collimate the light emitted from the bulb into clean, parallel rays, though that also produces reflections of the lamp in the field. For a traditional beam projector, this was not an issue, since it delivers on its beam beautifully, but a recent growing trend of using beam projectors as narrow spotlights has led many modern gaffers to add diffusion to soften the field’s features. Experienced cinematographers often still opt to aim the field offscreen or hide it behind objects in the foreground to get the maximum brightness for their beam without worrying about the spot.

Why are beam projectors so hard to find?

The parabolic glass mirror required to get a near 0º beam angle requires rigorous engineering controls that make beam projectors a both difficult and expensive lamphead to manufacture. With so few beam projectors available for rental or purchase, filmmakers all over the world reached out to FilmGear® for a solution.

How do the Power Beams compare to traditional beam projectors?

FilmGear®'s Power Beams aim to bring this classic light back into the modern era. Their lamp holders are capable of adjusting the height to match the LCL for higher power lamps than ever before, while also maintaining legacy support for older bulbs to capture the exact same look that the industry knows and loves. The Power Beams deliver on not just a brighter beam projector but a sturdier one as well, fully equipped with a reinforced glass mirror to power through the various bumps and bruises that come as a natural part of life on set.

How can I get the cleanest field from a Tungsten Power Beam?

While the primary function of a beam projector is to produce the brightest beams possible, that doesn’t have to come at the cost of an uneven spot. For Tungsten Power Beams at full spot, the reflector recreates a perfect mirror image of the bulb’s filaments. At full flood, this effect is much less noticeable, and can be supplemented with some diffusion to smooth out any wrinkles in the field.

Why does the field from a European Tungsten Power Beam look rounder than the field from a Tungsten Power Beam in U.S.A.?

Another uniquely tungsten challenge lies in the shape of the incandescent filament arrays themselves: if the source has an uneven aspect ratio, the field will take on an oblong shape. For the 5/2kW and 24/20kW Tungsten Power Beams, the bulbs are typically within the acceptable range to produce a circular spot, but our American gaffers have found that the 110V 12kW and 10kW bulbs have a much wider array than their 220V counterparts in Europe. Luckily, the 110V 12kW Tungsten Power Beams can easily be configured to run with 220V lamps for shoots that need their perfectly round spot.

110V and 220V bulb comparison

How do I get a cleaner field from a Daylight Power Beam?

HMI bulbs give Daylight Power Beams their remarkably bright beams, but they’re not without their own challenges as well. Chiefly, the edge of the field seems to dance around the spot due to the nature of the HMI arc choosing different paths between the electrodes, thousands of times per second. This intrinsic quality of HMI bulbs has historically made daylight beam projectors less common than tungsten ones, but when gaffers need the absolute brightest beam possible, they go with the Daylight Power Beams and aim the field either out of the shot or through a smaller window to eliminate edge effects.

Why does the field from a Daylight Power Beam look like an egg?

The gap between the electrodes controls the overall shape of the field: an older HMI lamp’s electrodes will be slightly degraded, widening the gap to produce a more elliptical shape. To get a more circular spot, newer bulbs are the way to go.

Any other questions?

If your question wasn’t answered, feel free to send them in to info@filmgearusa.com. We’ll be answering more FAQs in the coming weeks, so stay tuned and stay curious!

Towards a Brighter Future: FilmGear®’s LED Summer Sale!

FilmGear®’s Summer Sale goes beyond just our legacy tungsten and HMI lights—we also embrace a brighter future with our wide range of vibrant LEDs! You too can join in that embrace, with 30% off on our Helios space lights, Aurora panels, and Apollo Fresnel families until August 12!

Helios LED Space Lights (30% off)

FilmGear®’s Helios line of LED space lights has been taking over studios all over the world, and it’s not hard to see why. Our bi-color 500B and 700B models output a bright yet soft blanket of 2700K-6000K white light with NAB award-winning output and CRI/TLCI. 

The new and improved RGB Helios 700C and 1100C take full advantage of FilmGear®’s new MCOB LEDs and unique TIR lenses to paint your canvas with a wash of vivid color through the HSI or gel modes. For more dynamic effects, the scene mode presets and built-in wireless DMX/Bluetooth give life to your whole set.

Aurora LED Panels (30% off)

While the Helios covers the skies, FilmGear®’s Aurora panels are boots-on-the-ground workhorse lights built to be a permanent fixture on any lighting truck. Getting 40% brighter output for less power draw than the competition, this LED panel makes for a potent key light even outdoors, while still maintaining softer shadows on your subjects.

But great key lights need to be more than just bright—FilmGear® understands that they need to be ready to go whenever and wherever, and the Aurora’s integrated ballast, robust heat sink, and sturdy feet are built to handle the often rough and tumble nature of set life. With its hearty build and all of the bells and whistles you’ll find on all of our RGB LEDs, including scene and gel presets, FilmGear®’s Aurora panels will be guaranteed staples in your lighting arsenal!

Apollo LED Spot (30% off)

The Apollo takes the simple plug-and-play nature of a tungsten Fresnel and marries it with the efficiency of LEDs. And just like its tungsten predecessor, its Fresnel lens gets you hard yet clean output, so you’ll have more striking contrast and sharp shadows to play with in your shot. 

With the bi-color or RGB Apollos, you’re getting Fresnel lampheads with more utility than ever, including all of the modes, presets, and wireless controls of our other LEDs. These lampheads run nice and cool and won’t take up your entire circuit, making them easy to maneuver and rig up at a moment’s notice. At the end of the day, FilmGear®’s Apollos are all about saving you the most precious resources of all, time and energy!

FilmGear® is committed to a brighter future with a wide spectrum of LEDs to satisfy the needs of gaffers on any level of production, and our Summer Sale is the ideal time to experience them yourself! Email joanna@filmgearusa.com or call 323-780-8880 to place your order for these staples of our LED lineup while supplies last!

It's Always Sunny in Filmadelphia with FilmGear®'s Summer HMI Sale!

FilmGear®’s Summer Sale rolls on, this week featuring the sun’s twins: the HMIs!

F-Series (30% OFF)

Ranging from the compact F800 to the unstoppable F18k, FilmGear®’s F-Series of faceted PARs doesn’t waste a single drop of your HMI bulbs’ output. Their faceted reflectors are designed to specifically match each globe, ensuring not only the maximum output but also a clean spot, free from any of the dark halos or uneven centers that plague other faceted PARs.

Beyond just the pristine light quality, gaffers love the F-Series for being a practically unbreakable light. The F-Series’ sleek dark lavender-themed design has disguised these workhorses’ remarkable resilience through rough handling, hot weather, and wet climates all over the world for over a decade. Pair them with FilmGear®’s trusty electronic ballasts for a truly durable duo!

Daylight Fresnel (30% OFF)

If the F-Series brings the sun’s power, FilmGear®’s Daylight Fresnels bring out the sun’s most filmic aesthetic, complete with a smooth wash, tight beams, and crisp shadows whether as a key, fill, or highlight. Our gaffers love these versatile lights for their ability to be easily shaped and controlled, making for a powerful tool in the hands of an astute filmmaker.

The Daylight Fresnel line ranges from 18kW down to 575W, all with the same hard yet even output and the signature toughness of FilmGear®’s HMIs. With such a vast array of options for such a vast array of applications, you can hardly ever go wrong with a Daylight Fresnel!

Daylight Boxer (40% OFF)

For on-the-go, run-and-gun shoots, FilmGear®’s Daylight Boxers bring up to 800W of bright and punchy daylight output to even the tightest of spaces or budgets! These conveniently sized HMI lampheads that give you portable adaptability with their set of 5 PAR lenses, softbox, barndoors, ballast, and optional ellipsoidal attachment all packed into a rugged travel case. Whether you need a softened spread or a hardened spot, FilmGear®’s Daylight Boxer is always ready to go!

Email joanna@filmgearusa.com or call us at 323-780-8880 to place your order while supplies last!

Simply Effective: Summer Sale on Tungsten Lights from FilmGear®!

Following up from last week’s Power Beam sale, this week’s Summer Sale shifts towards generalist lights: FilmGear®’s Tungsten Fresnels and Tungsten Maxibrutes!

Tungsten Fresnels (15-40% OFF)

With their hard yet clean light quality, FilmGear®’s Tungsten Fresnels are a no-brainer when picking the first light to put on your truck! Ranging from the petite 150W to the mighty 24kW, these trusty workhorses have created that iconic tone of warmth in films for decades. The raw output of our 24/20kW and 12/10kW lampheads continue to stand the test of time, still accompanying the sun on sets today. 

The Tungsten Fresnels’ refreshing simplicity saves precious time on set, ready to go at just the flip of a switch. With such an easy plug-and-play light, you can spend less time fiddling with ballasts and menus and more time fine-tuning the nuances of your perfect shot.

Every gaffer deserves a reliable set of classic tungsten lights as the foundation for their truck. At  15% off for 10kW and above  and 40% off 5kW and below, now is the time to bring it back to a classic with FilmGear®’s Tungsten Fresnels.

  • 24/20kW Tungsten Fresnel Studio (15% OFF)

  • 12/10kW Tungsten Fresnel Studio (15% OFF)

  • 5kW Tungsten Fresnel Junior / Studio (40% OFF)

  • 2kW Tungsten Fresnel Junior / Studio (40% OFF)

  • 1kW Tungsten Fresnel Junior / Studio (40% OFF)

  • 650W Tungsten Fresnel Junior / Studio (40% OFF)

  • 300W Tungsten Fresnel Junior (40% OFF)

  • 150W Tungsten Fresnel Junior (40% OFF)

Tungsten Maxibrutes (15% OFF)

Continuing the theme of traditional incandescent lights, tungsten maxibrutes have earned their place as an industry staple for the better part of a century thanks to their raw, punchy output. And while they might not have all of the colorful features of our newest RGB LED Max C series, FilmGear®’s Tungsten Maxibrutes are still a nostalgic favorite when gaffers need a ton of light from an inexpensive, wide-faced source.

Though tungsten maxis already boast some of the highest bang-for-buck value, our Summer Sale can get you an additional 15% off!

  • Tungsten Maxibrute 24

  • Tungsten Maxibrute 12

  • Tungsten Maxibrute 9

  • Tungsten Maxibrute 6

Email joanna@filmgearusa.com or call us at 323-780-8880 to place your order while supplies last!

The New Classic

We’re starting off this year’s Summer Sale with FilmGear®’s hottest new beam projectors: the daylight and tungsten Power Beams!

This family takes the classic beam light and expands it to a more modern lineup, featuring up to 18kW HMI and up to 24kW tungsten, with twin lamp support for every model. Their improved output is complemented by their thicker glass mirrors, built to withstand rough rentals and lifetime ownership, giving you bolder beams at longer ranges for decades to come.

This perfect fusion between old school lights and new school technology has got filmmakers everywhere excitedly welcoming their return. And what better way to celebrate their comeback than with 15% off on all Power Beams, from now until August 12, 2022.

The full Power Beam family includes:

Daylight:

  • 36" 18kW/12kW Daylight Power Beam with Wheeled Transport Case

  • 24" 9kW/6kW Daylight Power Beam with Wheeled Transport Case

  • 24" 4kW/2.5kW Daylight Power Beam with Wheeled Transport Case

  • 18" 1.8kW/1.2kW Daylight Power Beam with Wheeled Transport Case

Tungsten:

  • 36" 24kW/20kW Tungsten Power Beam with Wheeled Transport Case

  • 24" 12kW/10kW Tungsten Power Beam with Wheeled Transport Case

  • 18" 5kW/2kW Tungsten Power Beam with Wheeled Transport Case

Email joanna@filmgearusa.com or call us at 323-780-8880 to place your order while supplies last!

Cine Gear Recap!

Thanks to everyone for joining FilmGear® at last week’s Cine Gear LA Expo! For the second year in a row, our Power Beams caught the attention of all at the LA Convention Center, with the 3 newest family members taking the spotlight. Here are some of the highlights in case you missed it:

Though we were limited on hazing up the venue, the Power Beams still shone even without their signature 0° shafts of light. Both daylight and tungsten showed up this year, from the brightest 18/12kW Daylight to the classic 12/10kW Tungsten, along with the newest 1.8/1.2kW Daylight and 5/2kW Tungsten Power Beams.

Want to see these modern beam projectors in their full glory? Schedule a demo with us by calling 323.780.8880 or by emailing info@filmgearusa.com. We’ll be beaming into studios all over LA, but the post-Cine Gear orders are flying in, so call soon or you might miss us!

In addition to bringing beam projectors back, we also showed off our new Helios 1100C RGB space lights and Max series RGB maxibrutes. FilmGear®’s unique TIR lenses optimize the output from MCOB LEDs to yield a directional punch of brilliant color that you don’t get from other LEDs, making them a worthy successor to the tungsten maxibrutes of old.

As always, our favorite part of the event was the chance to reconnect with old friends and make new ones. Your feedback strengthens the core of our design philosophy to make lighting that is engineered for filmmakers, by filmmakers. This year’s theme of old school lights made with new school technology is just more proof of that, reimagining the limits of beam projectors and maxibrutes.

See you next Cine Gear!

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