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Arri M18 vs Joker 1600

J

Justin McAleece

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I'm in the market for a light of this size and output. What do people think is the better choice? Is the light output similar and are there any specific things that are better from one to the other? What if you had $10K to spend would you buy an LED or Plasma solution instead? Thanks in advance.
 
The Joker 1600 can be run off of a 20 amp house circuit, but the M18 does not always work well on a 20 amp house circuit.
 
Yeah the M18 is pretty finicky with power on house currents. Don't forget KFlect makes a reflector for Joker 800 and soon 1600 to drastically increase the efficiency 10 fold.
kflect.com/introduction/rls-scheinwerfer/
 
Bob Gundu said:
Yeah the M18 is pretty finicky with power on house currents. Don't forget KFlect makes a reflector for Joker 800 and soon 1600 to drastically increase the efficiency 10 fold.
kflect.com/introduction/rls-scheinwerfer/
Click to expand...

That's enough power to rule the world!

;)
 
I love both!

M18, 20a, if it is tripping, turn down the dimmer to about 90% and it will hold.

M18 is the more popular rental light (here in southern california). As a traveling owner / shooter, Joker is the way to go. If you go M18's, you need a cube truck to support. Jokers can work from any small personal vehicle.
 
I will rarely be renting it out by itself and I would like to be able to fly with it as I have done so with my Joker 800 a few times. It can save a lot of money to fly with it instead of renting. I'm in much more of an owner/operator situation so I think I might go with the Joker.

BOB - I went to the Kflect site and I'm intrigued by what they have there, but I couldn't find a price or where to purchase. Do I have to call them?
 
Justin McAleece said:
I will rarely be renting it out by itself and I would like to be able to fly with it as I have done so with my Joker 800 a few times. It can save a lot of money to fly with it instead of renting. I'm in much more of an owner/operator situation so I think I might go with the Joker.

BOB - I went to the Kflect site and I'm intrigued by what they have there, but I couldn't find a price or where to purchase. Do I have to call them?
Click to expand...

Justin, you just missed the Group Buy on their products! PM me your email and I'll send you some prices.
 
Just a thought, the M18 allows to be lamped with 1200W alternately and there are high speed ballasts available. But OK, for traveling the joker will probably be the way to go.

I don´t understand the hype about the Kflect. Gaffers use boards, flags, metals, mirrors and all fancy reflecting stuff for decades, what am I missing here?

Cheers, Ulf
 
Ulf Krentz said:
I don´t understand the hype about the Kflect. Gaffers use boards, flags, metals, mirrors and all fancy reflecting stuff for decades, what am I missing here?
Click to expand...

If you look at the link Bob sent, the K-Beam is a head attachment like the K-5600 Beamer... so it is adding efficiency to the projection of the light right at the source, not at some secondary bounce point. But even their "bounce" reflectors seem to me to be a much easier and SYSTEMATIC way to reflect light with highly controllable effects.
 
Hi Justin

I think the Joker stuff is great, but have you had a look at the Dedo 400 series of HMI?

http://www.dedolight.com/dedolight/default.php?la=0&pg=00000400070309&id=DLH400D&section=0

I admit they aren't as powerful, but we've hired the 400's many times and will probably buy some soon, we currently own a few of the 200 Dedo HMI and they are great for travelling. Although the 400 are rated at 400 you can run them at 575w, which because of optical design is closer to an 800w HMI. They are also great for higher frame rates in terms of being flicker free.

Good Luck
 
Thanks for all the great responses guys.

Bob, I had looked at the mirror systems during the Group Buy, but I didn't realized they had on-light reflectors. Those are quite intriguing.
 
Dedo's 400d is an exceptional light.. Mainly due to the cleanness and cut'ability' of the beam.... The overrun capacity is also usefull.

However the standard ballest is pretty useless for HS work.. It is a 75hz balllast. Dedo do sell a 300hz and 1000hz version . Unfortunately they don't make it switchable (which is madness). You trash your bulbs and put up with a pointless squeal on standard speed work.

I also have had dreadful experience with the reliability of dedo''s ballests... (Anecdotal I accept)

Jokers are just so flexibile and all of ours are HS switchable..




Adrian Weinbrecht said:
Hi Justin

I think the Joker stuff is great, but have you had a look at the Dedo 400 series of HMI?

http://www.dedolight.com/dedolight/default.php?la=0&pg=00000400070309&id=DLH400D§ion=0

I admit they aren't as powerful, but we've hired the 400's many times and will probably buy some soon, we currently own a few of the 200 Dedo HMI and they are great for travelling. Although the 400 are rated at 400 you can run them at 575w, which because of optical design is closer to an 800w HMI. They are also great for higher frame rates in terms of being flicker free.

Good Luck
Click to expand...
 
Justin McAleece said:
...What if you had $10K to spend would you buy an LED or Plasma solution instead? Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
So I don't know that that these lights work for your specific application but the question of LED sparked this thought. Take a look at Aadyntech lighting. http://aadyntech.com. I've dealt with them on a few situations and clients really like them a lot. LED lights tend travel very well...
 
I would go with the Joker 1600. I love using Joker lights...the m18 is great but if you're shooting on location I've run to a lot of concerns on not being able to work on older circuits.
 
Wow, I'd be curious to know what the reflector can do on the Joker !
 
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