ARRI True Blue D40

Last Updated 2 days ago

Overview

Key specifications

Specification	Details
Lamp / technology	4,000W single-ended metal-halide; HMI Fresnel
Lamp base	G38
Nominal lamp colour	6,000K; lamp type, age and ballast mode affect the result
Focus range	6.5°–61°
Lens diameter	300mm
Lamphead weight	18.0kg, manufacturer net reference; ballast and cable separate
Dimensions including pin (H × W × L)	859 x 534 x 403 mm
Stand interface	28mm junior spigot
Scrim / barndoor interface	400mm scrim; 413mm barndoor
Published matching ballast	EB MAX 2.5/4; select lamp wattage and correct head connection
Dimming	50–100% through a compatible ARRI ballast
Lamp circuit voltage	200 V nominal at the lamp; this is not the ballast mains input
Protection	Class I; IP23 lamphead
Remote control	Determined by the ballast; no LED colour engine or built-in wireless receiver

Technical reference: ARRI specifications.

Strengths and limitations

• Strengths: a continuously focusable Fresnel beam, replaceable discharge lamp and conventional barn-door and scrim control.
• Trade-offs: separate ballast and head cable, lamp warm-up, high surface temperature and a lamp-specific operating package.
• Choose it for: controlled daylight at a workable distance; compare an LED when immediate restart, low-power dimming or electronic colour adjustment is central to the job.

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Practical uses

Setup	How to use this head
Distant daylight key	Use the 4kW head where the direction must come from well outside the playing area. Work from the required coverage at the subject, then select the focus position and exposure.
Lighting several windows	Flood or medium focus is more useful than the maximum spot number when the beam has to cover multiple openings. Check the light through the actual glazing, including tint, reflections and frame shadows.
Large diffusion or bounce	The broad flood can feed a large soft source from a distant position. Meter after the diffusion or bounce and check spill around its edges; the raw head’s centre reading is not the finished key level.

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Output and colour

The ARRI D-Series overview poster lists the following nominal centre illuminance with the 4,000W lamp. Distance is 20m; beam diameter is the manufacturer’s field reference for each focus setting.

Focus / beam	Centre illuminance	Beam diameter
Spot / 6.5°	4,939 lux	2.27m
Medium / 30°	1,130 lux	10.72m
Flood / 61°	486 lux	23.56m

Spot raises the centre intensity by narrowing the useful area. Use medium and flood figures when sizing a window source or diffusion frame. These are nominal manufacturer values, not measurements of a particular rental lamp; lamp age, lens condition, focus and operating mode can change the result.

The published 6,000K figure is a nominal lamp reference. HMI does not provide the continuous CCT and green–magenta controls of an RGB LED. Check the warmed lamp with the production camera and meter before choosing correction; changing ballast power can also alter colour.

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Power and ballast requirements

The 4,000W figure belongs to the lamp. The ballast draws additional power and may draw different current at different mains voltages. Use the input label and manual of the actual ballast when planning distribution; dividing lamp wattage by outlet voltage understates the operating package.

ARRI lists the EB MAX 2.5/4 for this head. Confirm lamp selection, connector type, approved cable and any head-cable extensions. VEAM and Schaltbau versions appear in the catalogue; a compatible wattage rating alone does not establish cable compatibility.

A lamphead is not connected directly to mains or a conventional lamp dimmer. Feed the ballast from its specified supply, keep ventilation clear and allow it to run the lamp through its proper start and warm-up sequence. A portable power system must support the ballast’s continuous input and starting behaviour.

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Control, cooling and camera operation

Focus and aim are mechanical at the lamphead. Intensity adjustment, lamp on/off, low-noise operation and high-speed modes belong to the ballast, with features depending on the ballast generation. A listing for this head does not guarantee that a rental includes DMX or a high-speed ballast.

Select the ballast’s operating mode before testing the camera. Higher lamp-drive frequency can help high-frame-rate photography, but “flicker-free” is not a guarantee for every shutter angle and frame rate. Test the intended combination at working output; lamp or ballast sound can matter in quiet interiors.

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Modifiers, rigging and the working package

Item	Working-package detail
Barn doors / scrims	Use the 413mm barndoor and 400mm scrim references for this model; do not order by lamp wattage alone.
Diffusion / bounce	Use a separately supported, heat-appropriate frame or bounce with the required clearance. Verify even coverage rather than judging only the bright centre.
Support	The head is approximately 18.0kg before loose accessories. The 28mm pin identifies the mounting interface, not the load capacity of the complete support.
Cable and ballast	Include the correct head cable, ballast, mains lead, cable management and safe access in the order.

ARRI’s D-Series manual gives 16m as the minimum distance to illuminated persons, objects and surfaces for the D40, plus 1m around the fixture to flammable material. Follow the lamphead label and manual for the particular unit. Keep the lens, protective parts, latch and interlock in serviceable condition; a damaged enclosure is a reason to take the head out of use.

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Alternatives and related fixtures

Fixture	Why compare it
ARRI M40	A lensless MAX-reflector alternative; compare the beam and useful coverage at the same distance, not lamp wattage alone.
ARRI Orbiter	A smaller full-colour LED package with interchangeable optics when controllability and quick colour changes matter more than discharge-lamp output.
ARRI Compact 6000 Plus	A larger daylight Fresnel when the required distant coverage and exposure exceed this head’s working output.
ARRI True Blue D25	A smaller 2.5kW daylight Fresnel where its output is sufficient and the lighter package helps positioning.

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Manufacturer and handling notes

In ARRI’s D-Series presentation, cinematographer Bill Holshevnikoff demonstrates the smaller D5 and D12. The presentation is manufacturer material and is useful for seeing the head, focus and handling arrangement in context.

For the D40, use the exact-model output table, ballast list and accessory sizes above when planning the package. The D5/D12 demonstration below covers the family’s smaller heads and does not establish this model’s output or support requirements.

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Videos

ARRI: Bill Holshevnikoff on the True Blue D5 and D12. Related D-Series handling demonstration; the featured heads are D5 and D12.

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Rental and used-fixture checks

• Confirm the exact lamp, ballast, head cable and connector version before collection.
• Inspect the Fresnel lens, reflector, protective assembly, lamp holder and door interlock; do not bypass an interlock to test a damaged head.
• Run the lamp long enough to check stable colour, focus travel and the selected ballast mode.
• Check the tilt brake, sliding yoke and accessory latch with the actual barn doors fitted.
• Test the planned frame rate and shutter with the complete operating package, and include lamp hours and spare-lamp availability in a used purchase.

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Documentation and specifications

• ARRI True Blue D40 specifications and downloads
• ARRI True Blue D-Series – Overview Poster
• ARRI True Blue D-Series – User Manual
• ARRI True Blue D40 – Photometric Files (IES) Dec2011

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