ARRI has announced new L-Series Plus Fresnels that are claimed to be 90% brighter than their predecessors. They also feature direct network connectivity with LAN data input and light control via ArtNet and Streaming ACN.
Key features
- L-Series Plus—the evolution of the industry’s favorite LED Fresnels is creating even more value
- Up to 90% brighter than the original L-Series, yet similar in size and weight
- Direct network connectivity with LAN data input and light control via ArtNet and Streaming ACN
- Intuitive SkyPanel Classic onboard control and user interface
- Two sizes: L5-C Plus and L7-C Plus, in blue-silver and black color with different yoke options
The original L5 and L7 have been around for more than decade and they have been workhorses in rental houses across the world. They were the first professional alternatives to tungsten Fresnels and as they were LED they offered advantages like independent control of color temperature and brightness along with instant cost savings through major reductions in power draw and cooling requirements. Lighting technology has changed a lot over the last 13 years, and the L-Series Fresnels were certainly in need of an update.
According to ARRI, the new L-Series Plus provides additional benefits while retaining features such as continuous focusability from spot to flood; a smooth, homogenous light field; and complete control over the color and intensity of light.
Precise light field control can still be achieved with barndoors and flags, permitting the beam shaping and cutting upon which lighting designers depend.
In addition, the fully tunable white light allows for the best results for different skin tones, camera sensors, and mixed light environments, while specific color shades can be matched through full gamut color mixing. Color temperature, tint, and hue can be continuously controlled from 2,800 K to 10,000 K, between full plus or minus green and RGBW colors. There is also a large selection of gels to choose from.
The new ARRI L-Series Plus fixtures come in two sizes, the L5-C Plus and the L7-C Plus. The L5-C features a five-inch Fresnel, while the L7-C Plus features a seven-inch Fresnel lens. The beam angle for the LC-5 Plus is 12° to 46° half peak beam angle, while on the L7-C Plus it is 12° to 47° half peak beam angle.
Will there also be an L10 size variant in the future? The L7-C Plus comes very close to the performance of the L10-C and there is also the alternative of the Orbiter Fresnel. L-Series Plus will only comprise L5 and L7 size models.
As I mentioned earlier, despite being almost exactly the same size and weight as their predecessors, the L-Series Plus fixtures provide up to 90% more light output, making them much more powerful and versatile as lighting tools. Now, it is important to note that the average output increase, depending on model, beam angle, and color temperature is 60%.
Above you can see the photometric data for both fixtures.
The L5-C Plus draws 135W and weighs 5.4 kg / 11.9 lbs. The L7-C Plus draws 220W and weighs 8.7 kg / 19.2 lbs.
L-Series Plus also introduces enhanced connectivity by implementing network data input and lighting control via the ArtNet and Streaming ACN industry standards.
Workflows are simplified by the familiar onboard control and user interface of the classic SkyPanel, while light output is specifically calibrated for optimal reproduction on broadcast and digital cinema cameras, ensuring pleasing skin tones and vividly rendered colors. It is interesting to see that the claimed CRI and TLCI figures are rather low for both fixtures.
The fixtures have been designed to be robust and ergonomic. Their build quality and flexibility is said to make them suitable for a wide range of use cases, from studio and location work on movies and television to live entertainment, photography, theater, and corporate productions.
There is a clever sliding stirrup that allows you to get the perfect center of gravity for the fixtures.
The lights utilize a combination of a passively cooled housing and a discreet encapsulated fan to guarantee silent operation even in the most critical environments.
Three individual knobs permit the brightness, color temperature, and green/magenta point to be fine-tuned, while a focus knob on the side of each fixture allows for smooth adjustment of the beam spread, just like conventional sources.
Existing barndoors and all other L-Series accessories are fully compatible with the new Plus range.
Price & Availability
L5-C Plus and L7-C Plus fixtures will be available from June 2024 in blue and silver or sleek all-black colorways, with either a manual or PO yoke.
The existing L-Series (L5-C, L7-C, L10-C) will be discontinued upon the release of L-Series Plus.
There is no current indication of pricing.
While both of these fixtures are bound to produce good results they do face stiff competition from other LED Fresnels that are on the market.
Specifications
