ARRI 300 Plus

Last Updated 2 days ago

Overview

This is the replaceable-lamp 300 Plus, not an LED replacement advertised as a ‘300 W equivalent’. It uses mechanical focus, a GY9.5 tungsten-halogen lamp and conventional light-control accessories. There is no built-in RGB engine, wireless control or universal-voltage power supply.

Key specifications

Specification	Details
Source / rated power	300 W tungsten-halogen Fresnel
Lamp base	GY9.5; 120 V and 230 V lamp options are listed by ARRI
Lens	80 mm glass Fresnel
Reflector	Spherical specular high-purity aluminium
Photometric settings	15° spot, 30° medium and 55° flood in the Junior overview
Dimming / focus	Compatible external tungsten dimmer; mechanical spot-to-flood focus
Mount	16 mm / 5/8-inch baby receiver
Weight	Approximately 2.0 kg
Dimensions, H × W × L	269 × 189 × 158 mm, manufacturer metric values including flange
Accessory diameter	130 mm
Protection / earthing	IP20; Class I
Maximum ambient / surface temperature	45°C ambient; 200°C surface
Inclination	Maximum 80° up or down; also observe the lamp’s burning-position limits
Safe distances	1 m to illuminated surface; 0.5 m around the lamphead

Strengths and limitations

Strengths

• A continuous tungsten source gives direct, visible control of the lighting effect.
• Lamp and accessory choices adapt the source to its job.

Limitations

• Heat and electrical load remain central to placement and circuit planning.
• Dimming changes colour; lamp code, voltage and fixture limits must match.

Practical uses

The 300 Plus is useful when a hard edge is wanted without the size and heat load of a 1 kW lamp. Spot it for a smaller background accent, flood it for a broader backlight, or bounce it into a nearby white surface for a compact indirect source. For an interview, it can provide an edge or a controlled pool behind the subject while another fixture supplies the soft key.

Barn doors are effective for keeping light away from the lens or an adjacent wall, but their cut becomes less precise as the source and subject geometry change. A flag positioned closer to the surface being cut can provide a cleaner boundary. If a scene needs an optically sharp slash or a projected pattern, a profile spotlight or dedicated projection attachment is the more appropriate tool.

Setup	Working approach
Controlled key or accent	Choose focus or diffusion for the intended shadow and trim spill with compatible accessories.
Warm practical motivation	Meter at the chosen dimmer setting and balance colour through the camera.

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Output and colour

ARRI’s Junior overview lists centre illuminance and beam diameter at defined focus settings. These figures describe the light without the losses of gels, scrims, a softbox or a diffusion frame. A lamp’s age and voltage can make a used unit differ noticeably from the chart.

Setting	At 3 m	Diameter at 3 m	At 5 m
Spot, 15°	1,867 lux	0.79 m	672 lux
Medium, 30°	1,000 lux	1.61 m	360 lux
Flood, 55°	500 lux	3.12 m	180 lux

The manufacturer identifies GY9.5 lamps for regional mains voltages. Confirm the exact lamp code against the fixture and manual rather than assuming that an apparently identical two-pin bulb is correct. Lamp power, filament position and voltage are part of the optical system; an unsuitable substitute can change the beam or overheat the socket.

At full rated voltage, colour follows the selected tungsten lamp’s specification. Dimming reduces output and shifts the spectrum warmer. A compatible theatrical dimmer makes fades straightforward, but it does not hold a fixed CCT like a regulated LED. For a colour-critical level change, use a suitable wire scrim or adjust distance, then check the result with the camera and a meter.

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Power and batteries

A 300 W lamp draws approximately 2.5 A at 120 V or 1.30 A at 230 V, calculated from its nominal wattage. Several small fixtures still add up across a location package. The head connects to mains appropriate to the installed lamp; it is not made universal-voltage by its simple construction or a change of plug.

The baby receiver fits a suitable 16 mm stand spigot. Choose a stand for the complete assembly, including barn doors, cable pull and any modifier, and use a secondary suspension when required for a hung light. The 130 mm accessory family includes barn doors, filter frames and scrims. ARRI also lists Chimera-related accessories; use a compatible speed ring and a heat-rated lightbank rather than an improvised fabric enclosure.

Control, cooling and camera operation

Use the documented control arrangement for this exact lamphead and power system. Check dimming behaviour, camera settings and thermal conditions at the intended working level.

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Modifiers, rigging and the working package

The Junior overview specifies IP20, 45°C maximum ambient temperature and a possible 200°C surface temperature. It also specifies one metre to the illuminated surface and half a metre around the luminaire. Those requirements matter behind furniture and on small sets, where it is tempting to tuck the fixture into a tight space.

Keep ventilation open and do not move or pack the unit while the lamp and housing are hot. The 300 Plus is limited to 80° up or down in the current overview; the 150’s different limit should not be copied across. Read the operating manual and any additional restrictions printed on the fitted lamp. Replace damaged safety glass or protective components before operation.

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Alternatives and related fixtures

The ARRI 150 is easier to hide for very small accents; the 650 Plus has more reserve for diffusion and longer throws. Neither shares the 300 Plus accessory diameter. A modern compact LED spotlight makes more sense when colour tuning, battery power or reduced heat is essential.

The 300 Plus is strongest as one precise tool within a package. It can work alongside an LED soft key without needing the entire scene to become tungsten, provided the colour difference is intentional or corrected. Meter the light after any conversion gel: daylight correction takes away output, which matters on a 300 W head.

Fixture	Choose it for
ARRI LED L-Series	A colour-adjustable Fresnel with different operating and control hardware.
A supported soft-light system	A larger diffused emitting area when a hard source is not required.

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What people are saying

ARRI: operating the tungsten Fresnel

ARRI’s training presentation introduces the 300 Fresnel and its working format. It provides a practical companion to the exact fixture’s lamp, focus, clearance and accessory specifications. View the source.

Videos

ARRI 300 Plus: family guide

A tungsten-family demonstration; confirm the fixture and lamp configuration shown.

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Rental and used-fixture checks

Look for a smooth focus mechanism, intact lens, positive accessory latch and a yoke that holds the lamp’s position. Inspect the ceramic socket and contacts for heat damage, and have worn cables, connectors and strain relief repaired properly. Check the protective-earth connection as part of an appropriate electrical inspection.

A low used price is less attractive when the head needs a lens, socket, missing barn doors and a complete cable replacement. Ask what is included and test the lamp at its rated supply under controlled conditions. A unit modified for an LED insert should be described as a conversion, with the insert’s own electrical and optical specifications; it no longer has the tungsten performance listed here.

Documentation and specifications

ARRI product information, technical overview and photometrics and operating manual. Read the document for the exact lamphead and regional version in use.

Product photograph: ARRI, via its official product page.

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