HMI Fresnel

[gherriott]

Just been putting together my hires list for a show coming up and on there the designer has specified a 2.5K HMI Fresnel with motorised shutters (douser)....the quote came back at around £750 for the lantern and £450 for the shutters.....now I almost choked at this. Having never used a HMI fresnel I was bit taken-a-back. The question is, is this usual? Why are they so expensive? - and if they are so expensive why not just use a Mac 2k instead for the the same, if not less than the quote for the lantern?!

 

Just a general query, would appreciate your comments.

 

Cheers,

 

Greg

[Stee_cri1]

Hi greg

 

this is not a bad quote I dont think where has it come from?

 

Have you tried HSL?

 

Thanks

 

Steven

[paulears]

HMI Fresnels are bright, and don't remotely look the same as the light that comes from a mac. I'd suggest that if budget is a problem, then you need to talk to the designer and see if they're prepared to compromise. At the end of the day it's the LD v producer's wallet. I often work with a designer that specifies tnungsten Arri fresnels - he just likes the light.

[gherriott]

Thanks for the comments so far - it's not a case of budget anymore (we can't afford it so have had to go for a mac 2K instead, through compromise with the designer), but I am just curious having never used/seen a HMI fresnel in operation, just why they are so expensive, and why is the light different to that of a mac? They both have the same light source? (I am presuming here, there might be a crucial difference between the bubble of a mac, or the optics compared to that of a fresnel, but am just asking for comments here)

 

Thanks

[jonathanhill]

I would assume that the LD wants the CT that an HMI will give you along with the spread that you can only get from a 10 or 12 inch Fresnel. A 2.5kW HMI Fresnel is going to output significantly more than a MAC2000. The hire cost does seem expensive, how long are you needing the hire for?

[gherriott]

I would assume that the LD wants the CT that an HMI will give you along with the spread that you can only get from a 10 or 12 inch Fresnel. A 2.5kW HMI Fresnel is going to output significantly more than a MAC2000. The hire cost does seem expensive, how long are you needing the hire for?

 

It was for 3 weeks. Thanks for that - was unaware that there was much of a difference between the colour temps of the two lamps.

[niclights]

Why do you say they are the same lamp source? Surely the Mac is only 1.2kW?

[tokm]

£750 for the lantern and £450 for the shutters

You what.. Even SLX are cheaper than that :D Theyre website says £85 and £49.50 per week respectively!

 

If you haven't already, I'd really suggest you try one of the following tv LX companies: Panalux B&E, ELP or Richard Martin Lighting. Its likely you'll get a deal seeing as you want the gear for 3 weeks, I'm sure stage would also be prepared to do a deal to.

 

Someone's trying to rip you off me thinks.

 

T

[paulears]

The thing with TV lighting is that they've always had a price premium - I guess down to sales being limited compared with normal theatrical style equipment. Many are also fitted with pole operation which adds to the price again. The ballasts are flicker free, and add to the price. However, I can't quite see that they're really a ten grand piece of kit by the components - but ..........

[Bryson]

I'm still missing the part where a Mac 2K (wash, I presume?) is considered a drop-in replacement for a 2.5Kw HMI Fresnel.

 

Can someone enlighten me? (Pun intended.)

[adamharman]

£750 for the lantern and £450 for the shutters

You what.. Even SLX are cheaper than that :D Theyre website says £85 and £49.50 per week respectively!

 

Those prices are per day, if you click on the items, it gives week rates. £255 for the lantern and £148 for the shutters, which is almost exactly what Greg has been quoted.

[gareth]

Kit like HMI fresnels are so expensive because they're generally considered to be TV/film lighting kit, and hire prices for that kind of kit are a lot higher than many people in the theatre industry generally expect!