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Packing serious output and dramatic beam control into a compact package, Astera’s QuikBeam wins big! A beam come true
he very best lighting is all about doing something beyond simply illuminating a subject. It’s about creating atmosphere,
directing attention or producing an effect that helps transform an ordinary location into something more cinematic. And that’s where the Astera QuikBeam excels. Pro Moviemaker readers have voted the diminutive fixture the winner of the specialist lighting category in our Gear of the Year Awards, recognising an LED light that combines serious creative potential with a practical approach to working on set. At its heart is a compact LED fresnel designed to create clean, defined beams. Its 13°-60° zoom provides plenty of control at the twist of the wrist, while Astera’s clever HotBeam function goes beyond the normal 13° limit to concentrate more intensity into the centre of an even tighter beam. That opens up plenty of possibilities such as punching light through haze for dramatic shafts, picking out individual elements of a set, throwing a pool of light onto a background or using several fixtures to create repeating patterns. QuikBeam can emulate classic effects associated with small tungsten ‘inkies’, but without the heat, power consumption and cabling issues that traditionally blighted them. And there’s plenty of punch, with an output equivalent to a 200W tungsten fixture from a light that measures just 136x120mm and weighs 1.6kg. This combination of size and performance is a big part of its appeal. Specialist lighting often involves extra stands, cables and rigging, but the QuikBeam can be squeezed into small spaces, hidden within sets or quickly repositioned as ideas evolve.
Quik on the draw From handheld use to stand-mounted with barn doors, the weather-resistant Astera QuikBeam makes a great addition to any filmmaker’s toolkit and is fast to put to work
because QuikBeam uses Astera’s proven Titan LED Engine, its RGBMA colour rendering integrates perfectly with other lamps in the Astera ecosystem. Then there are the little details that make a specialist tool more useful in the real world. Built-in 3/8in and 1/4in threads, a removable yoke and IP65-rated construction make it a hard-working tool. And optional barndoors, EdgeSoftener and Rotatable Elliptical Filter provide different ways to shape its output. All of which explains why the QuikBeam stands out. Astera has not simply made a potent little battery-powered fresnel – it has also eliminated many of the practical problems often encountered when using precisely controlled light that creative filmmakers love. The QuikBeam is the specialist light that not only delivers amazing results but can be deployed almost anywhere - a bright idea that is worthy of a Gear of the Year win.
Power is equally flexible, as Astera’s waterproof QuikBrick battery can be swapped in seconds, while USB-C charging provides another option. The QuikBeam also embraces Power over Ethernet, combining power and data through a single cable. Run it hardwired and the battery charges at the same time. For larger installations, fixtures can sit up to 100m from a PowerInjector or Astera’s IP65 NetBox. Support for sACN and ArtNet is ideal for more sophisticated productions. Control comes from built-in CRMX, wireless DMX, AsteraApp, UHF, infrared remote and web-based options. And
Key features at a glance 13°–60° QuikTurn fresnel zoom New HotBeam mode for ultra-tight,
Titan LED Engine with RGBMA colour and OutputGain CRMX, wireless DMX, AsteraApp, UHF, IR and web control IP65-rated housing for indoor and outdoor use
high-intensity output Swappable, waterproof QuikBrick batteries Built-in Power over Ethernet (PoE) with sACN and ArtNet support
More details at astera-led.com
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