REVIEWS GEAR
REVIEWER: TIM CRAGG I n Tim Cragg’s 30+ years in cinematography, he has photographed 16 theatrical feature documentaries and many films for Netflix, HBO, the BBC and Amazon. Starting out as an editor before moving into the camera department, he’s the proud recipient of a BAFTA, as well as multiple BAFTA and Emmy nominations. One of his best-known projects, Three Identical Strangers , has become one of the highest-grossing documentaries of all time at the UK box office.
so compact, you can hide them almost anywhere, and because they are battery powered, you spend far less time running cables and much more time shooting. No light is perfect. If you are expecting the output of a 600W LED fresnel, you will obviously need something considerably larger. The QuikBeam is not trying to replace bigger fixtures. Instead, it occupies a space that didn’t really exist before: a genuinely portable spotlight that is powerful enough to be a primary creative tool rather than simply a convenient backup. That is ultimately why I think the QuikBeam will become a permanent
fixture in many cinematographers’ kits – or even serve as a complete stand- alone lighting package in its own right. As a compact four-head system, it offers an impressive combination of versatility, portability and speed that is particularly well suited to documentary filmmaking. Astera has built its reputation on practical innovation rather than gimmicks, and the QuikBeam feels like another example of exactly that. It is a thoughtfully designed lighting system that really understands how cinematographers actually work, and for many productions, it could become the first case loaded into the van.
to expect from Astera’s Titan LED engine. Skin tones look natural, whites remain clean and the fixtures integrate seamlessly with the rest of the Astera ecosystem. If you’re already using Titan Tubes, HydraPanels or Plutos, the QuikBeam fits straight into your existing workflow. The IP65 weather sealing is another significant advantage. Documentary shoots rarely stop because it starts raining, and having a fixture that can confidently work outdoors without wrapping it in plastic is incredibly reassuring. Add CRMX, wireless DMX, PoE, the Astera app and swappable QuikBrick batteries, and it is clear that Astera has carefully considered every stage of the workflow for the modern cinematographer. What impressed me most wasn’t necessarily the specifications, but how practical the lights are in day-to-day use. They are perfect for creating a quick edge light during an interview, picking out a practical in the background, producing a shaft of sunlight through a doorway, or simply adding just enough shape to a face without resorting to a much larger fixture. Because they are
QUIKBEAM OFFERS versatility, portability AND SPEED”
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DEFINITIONMAGS
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