Last Updated 16 hours ago
Overview
The ARRI SkyPanel S30-RP is a discontinued remote-phosphor soft light. Blue LEDs excite a separate front phosphor panel, and swapping that physical panel changes the colour temperature. It provides a broad 105° field from a 355 × 300mm aperture, with
The complete AC package includes the S30 lamphead, its correct external PSU and the DC head cable. The normal head supply is 48V DC; the separate battery connector accepts 23–36V DC. They use different connector pin counts and must not be treated as interchangeable inputs.
ARRI specifies 100% output through the documented battery input on this model. That makes the S30-RP’s battery mode materially different from the S60-RP’s half-output battery mode.
Battery watt-hours describe stored energy, while the pack and adapter’s continuous discharge rating determines whether the load can be supported. Use a suitable regulated system and the correct polarity; a four-pin XLR connector alone does not establish compatibility.
The manual head is approximately 7.7kg before adding the separate PSU, cable, front accessories and stand. Decide whether the PSU will be independently supported or attached through the approved mount before choosing the support and transport package.
W maximum consumption and a separate PSU. It is distinct from the electronically colour-tunable S30-C.Key specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Fixture / status | Discontinued remote-phosphor LED soft panel |
| Light engine | Blue LEDs exciting a separate phosphor panel; not an RGBW colour-mixing engine |
| Aperture / beam | 355 × 300mm / 105° half-peak angle |
| Maximum consumption | 200W manufacturer reference |
| White-light options | Physical panels: 2,700K, 3,200K, 4,300K, 5,600K, 6,500K or 10,000K; separate Chroma Green option |
| Tint / saturated colour | No electronic green–magenta adjustment or RGB colour mixing |
| Head weight | 6.3kg fixture only; 7.7kg manual version; 9.5kg pole-operated version |
| Separate PSU weight | Approximately 2kg; adds to the working package |
| Mains / normal head supply | 110–240V, 50/60Hz AC to separate PSU; 48V DC to head |
| Battery input | 23–36V DC on 4-pin XLR; pin 1 negative, pin 4 positive |
| Battery-mode output | 100% of full output in ARRI’s published specification |
| Normal head DC connector | 3-pin XLR; pin 1 negative, pin 2 positive |
| Dimming / wired control | 0–100%; onboard controller, 5-pin DMX/RDM, Ethernet, Art-Net and sACN |
| Wireless control | Not built in; external SkyLink or an appropriate receiver is additional hardware |
| Mounting | 16/28mm combo pin in manual configuration; verify P.O. fitting |
| Protection / ambient | Head: Class III, IP20; −20°C to +45°C |
Technical reference: ARRI specifications.
Strengths and limitations
- Strengths: broad soft output, interchangeable fixed-white panels and a substantial Classic SkyPanel mechanical package.
- Trade-offs: physical CCT changes, no electronic tint or RGB mixing, and an external PSU; replacement phosphor panels are part of the used-kit assessment.
- Battery distinction: the published S30-RP battery mode provides 100% output; the S30-RP and S60-RP do not share the same battery limit.
Practical uses
| Setup | Working approach |
|---|---|
| Fixed-white interview key | Fit the required phosphor panel before matching the key. Use a compatible bank or bounce if the physical aperture is too small for the desired softness. |
| Studio fill | Use the broad field as controlled fill with a grid or flags. Electrical dimming changes level without the tungsten filament’s strong warming behaviour. |
| Used-kit or legacy installation | Keep panel types labelled and assess their colour consistency. Budget for the external PSU, appropriate stand and any missing replacement panels. |
Output and colour
The ARRI S30-RP data sheet publishes these full-output values with each listed phosphor panel. The Kelvin value describes the installed physical panel, rather than a menu setting.
| Installed phosphor panel | 3m | 5m |
|---|---|---|
| 2,700K | 469 lux | 169 lux |
| 3,200K | 494 lux | 178 lux |
| 4,300K | 561 lux | 202 lux |
| 5,600K | 563 lux | 203 lux |
| 6,500K | 569 lux | 205 lux |
| 10,000K | 589 lux | 212 lux |
Changing CCT requires changing the remote-phosphor panel. A Chroma Green panel is a separate fixed green-light configuration, not an RGB hue-selection mode. Colour rendition also depends on the panel: ARRI lists CRI >98 / TLCI >98 at 3,200K and CRI >97 / TLCI >96 at 5,600K.
Independent measurements
In his 2016 hands-on test, Matthew Allard measured a 3,200K S30-RP panel at 1m with a Sekonic C-700: 4,740 lux, measured CCT 3,536K and average CRI 97.5. Those results belong to that review unit and panel, separately from ARRI’s nominal table.
Power and batteries
The complete AC package includes the S30 lamphead, its correct external PSU and the DC head cable. The normal head supply is 48V DC; the separate battery connector accepts 23–36V DC. They use different connector pin counts and must not be treated as interchangeable inputs.
ARRI specifies 100% output through the documented battery input on this model. That makes the S30-RP’s battery mode materially different from the S60-RP’s half-output battery mode.
Battery watt-hours describe stored energy, while the pack and adapter’s continuous discharge rating determines whether the load can be supported. Use a suitable regulated system and the correct polarity; a four-pin XLR connector alone does not establish compatibility.
The manual head is approximately 7.7kg before adding the separate PSU, cable, front accessories and stand. Decide whether the PSU will be independently supported or attached through the approved mount before choosing the support and transport package.
Control, cooling and camera operation
The RP models provide intensity control rather than the C-model’s colour-mixing interface. ARRI’s data sheet lists onboard control, 5-pin DMX in/through, RDM, EtherCon networking, Art-Net and sACN. Check the exact unit’s installed firmware and supported personality before patching a studio system.
Wireless control is an accessory path. Do not assume a used SkyPanel RP has an integrated CRMX receiver, Bluetooth or the S60 Pro’s wireless hardware. Include an appropriate external receiver or the documented SkyLink arrangement if wireless control is needed.
Check the operating fan behaviour, low-level fade and any visible banding at the intended shutter and frame rate. Keep the phosphor-panel retention and protective arrangement intact; the blue-pump light engine is not intended as a bare white-light operating mode.
Modifiers, rigging and the working package
| Item | What matters |
|---|---|
| Remote-phosphor panel | Use the correct S30-RP panel size, colour temperature and retention arrangement. An ordinary C-model diffusion panel is not a substitute for the phosphor conversion panel. |
| Softbox / grid | Choose the explicitly compatible S30 accessory and keep the RP panel installed as required. A softbox changes source size and output; a grid changes spill. |
| Yoke / centre mount | Check the exact manual or pole-operated hardware, safety attachment and load including the PSU if mounted on the head. |
| PSU / head cable | Match the supply to the fixture and inspect locking connectors, cable condition and strain relief. |
Inspect the phosphor surface for scratches, discolouration and damage to the frame or latch. Different panels can age differently, so compare the actual daylight and tungsten panels through the production camera when buying a used kit. IP20 calls for a protected working environment.
Alternatives and related fixtures
| Fixture | Why compare it |
|---|---|
| ARRI SkyPanel S30-C | Electronic CCT, tint and full-colour adjustment in the equivalent Classic aperture. |
| ARRI SkyPanel S60-C | A larger or longer Classic soft-panel format when the aperture and coverage matter more than a smaller head. |
| ARRI L7-C Plus | A focusable LED Fresnel when the job needs a directional beam rather than a fixed broad soft source. |
| ARRI SkyPanel S60-RP | A wider remote-phosphor aperture, with a different published battery-output limit. |
What people are saying
Matthew Allard’s original SkyPanel hands-on report praised the light and build while highlighting the transport and stand burden for a solo operator. His remote-phosphor measurements were of the S30-RP; the article also contrasts the C model’s greater colour flexibility with the RP model’s physical-panel approach.
Videos
The ARRI SkyPanel Classic video library covers the family’s accessories and handling. Colour-mixing demonstrations concern C-model fixtures; the RP’s colour temperature is set by its phosphor panel.
LensProToGo: SkyPanel family overview. Related Classic handling and accessory context; the demonstrated RGB colour functions belong to the C models, not the RP engine.
Rental and used-fixture checks
- Confirm the RP model and actual phosphor panels included; a listing for “SkyPanel” is insufficient.
- Inspect every phosphor panel, latch, corner fitting, connector and yoke; test each panel on the actual head.
- Run the supplied PSU and head cable, then test the intended battery adapter at the documented output limit.
- Compare colour and intensity across the used panels after warm-up, including daylight and tungsten options.
- Check cooling, dimming, DMX/RDM and any external wireless accessory; include the PSU, cable and stand in the transport assessment.
Documentation and specifications
- ARRI SkyPanel S30-RP specifications and downloads
- ARRI Classic SkyPanel – User Manual
- ARRI SkyPanel S30-RP – Data Sheet
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