ARRI STUDIO T12

Last Updated 11 hours ago

Overview

Key specifications

Specification	Details
Fixture type	Tungsten Fresnel
Lamp options	12,000W / 230V monoplane or approved CP83 10,000W / 230V monoplane
Lamp base	G38
Operating voltage	230V for the listed lamps
Nominal colour	3,200K at the lamp’s rated operating voltage; dims warmer
Fresnel lens	420mm
Focus range	13°–63° on the product page
Lamphead / version weight	26kg net on the product page; approximately 27kg in the family poster
Mounting	28mm junior spigot
Scrim / barndoor	495mm / 510mm
Dimming / control	External tungsten-compatible dimmer; no internal DMX receiver
Protection	Class I; IP20
Dimensions (H × W × L)	812 x 682 x 562 mm excluding pin; product-page reference

Technical reference: ARRI specifications.

Strengths and limitations

• Strengths: a conventional focusable Fresnel field, a replaceable tungsten lamp and predictable warming during a dimmer cue.
• Trade-offs: substantial heat and electrical consumption for the light produced; no internal colour mixing, wireless receiver or electronic tint adjustment.

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Practical uses

Setup	Working approach
Warm sunlight through windows	Place the head far enough away to establish direction across the set. Frame the beam at the windows and rehearse the full shot so a bright patch does not unexpectedly enter faces or reflective surfaces.
Large warm bounce	Use the Fresnel to feed a broad bounce from a working distance. The resulting source is shaped at the reflector; meter its return on the subject rather than relying on raw lamp output.
Long-throw backlight	Use the concentrated setting when the source has to stay outside a large playing area. Match the needed field and support arrangement before selecting this power class.

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Output and colour

The ARRI family photometric poster gives these nominal values at 15m for the 12,000W nominal configuration. The focus angles describe the poster’s photometric configurations; they can differ from the rounded travel range on the product page.

Focus / beam	Centre illuminance	Beam diameter
Spot / 13°	7,733 lux	3.42m
Medium / 30°	2,573 lux	8.04m
Flood / 55°	1,324 lux	15.62m

The narrow spot reading describes a smaller field. Use the beam diameter and the required coverage alongside illuminance, especially when feeding a diffusion frame. The poster does not identify every lamp code or test-voltage detail; a differently lamped rental unit needs its own meter check.

Tungsten produces a continuous spectrum, but its colour depends on filament temperature. Electrical dimming lowers output and warms the light. Use scrims, a suitable neutral-density arrangement or a change in distance when maintaining the lamp’s rated colour is more important than dimming from the console.

Correcting tungsten to daylight with full CTB costs a substantial amount of light. Compare the finished corrected source with an HMI or daylight LED at the subject, rather than comparing the uncorrected lamp’s wattage or peak lux.

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Power and lamp requirements

230V for the listed lamps. Fit a lamp whose voltage, wattage, base and approved operating position match the specific head. A 120V lamp must not be connected to a 230V supply simply because a family listing covers both markets.

These are resistive tungsten loads controlled from a suitable supply and external dimmer, without an HMI ballast. The lamphead does not contain an auto-ranging LED power supply. The connector, cable, dimmer and distribution must be rated for the fitted lamp.

For scale, 12,000W ÷ 230V is approximately 52.2A at rated full power. This is a nominal steady-state calculation for that lamp voltage, not a circuit recommendation; tungsten inrush and dimmer/distribution limits remain part of the installation.

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Control, cooling and camera operation

Intensity is controlled by the external dimming system. A DMX dimmer rack can provide console control, but a DMX cable does not connect directly to this lamphead. Focus, tilt and barn-door shaping remain mechanical.

Keep the ventilation path open and leave room for hot air around the head. The fixture itself has no cooling fan; vibration, filament noise or the external dimmer can still be relevant on a quiet stage. Check any visible flicker at the intended shutter and frame rate.

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Modifiers, rigging and the working package

Item	What to specify
Front accessories	495mm scrims and 510mm barn-door reference for this head. Similar wattage does not guarantee a matching accessory frame.
Soft light	Use a heat-rated, explicitly compatible bank or a separately supported bounce/diffusion frame. Include the correct speedring where required.
Support and clearance	Choose the support for the head, front accessories and leverage at the required tilt. Keep the supply cable clear throughout movement.
Lamp and spares	Include the correct lamp code and voltage, any required adapter, and an appropriate spare for location work.

ARRI’s family reference specifies a minimum 8m to the illuminated surface and 1m around the fixture. The current lamphead label and manual control the actual installation. Keep hot-light accessories clear of the lamp and allow cooling before handling or packing.

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Alternatives and related fixtures

Fixture	Why compare it
ARRI True Blue T5	A related head with a different lens, power class or optical design; compare the actual modifier, output and support package.
ARRI Orbiter	Colour-tunable LED control and an interchangeable optical system where heat, mains load or rapid colour changes drive the choice.
ARRI M90	A high-output daylight discharge package when the scene needs daylight rather than tungsten; ballast and lamp requirements differ.
ARRI STUDIO T24	The larger 20/24kW tungsten Fresnel adds a much larger head, front accessories and electrical load.

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What people are saying

Gaffer Stéphane Bourgoin described using STUDIO T12s on rails for the warm window sunlight on the agency set of Emily in Paris. Moving the rail-mounted sources let the crew change the light direction for different times of day. Read the interview.

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Operating references

• ARRI lamphead manual and operating limits
• ARRI Photometrics: lamp selection, focus and beam planning

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Rental and used-fixture checks

• Confirm the exact lamp code, voltage and approved wattage; a family name alone is insufficient.
• Inspect the lens or protective glass, mesh, reflector, holder and front latch for damage.
• Check focus, yoke movement and tilt lock with the intended accessories fitted.
• Confirm the actual working weight, stand or rig, supply connector and rated external dimming package.
• Arrange the appropriate spare lamp, protective packing and cooling time before collection.

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Documentation and specifications

• ARRI STUDIO T12 specifications and downloads
• ARRI STUDIO T12 T24 – Overview Poster
• ARRI STUDIO T12 T24 – User Manual
• ARRI Studio T12 – Photometric Files (IES) Sep2011

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