Broncolor 1200W HMI [Archive]

Kenn Christenson

08-19-2008, 05:39 PM

Anyone have any experience with the Broncolor 1200W HMI? I just bought one from ebay. It puts out a lot of light, unfortunately, it's way too noisy to record sound anywhere near.

Anyone know how to quiet the light down? It sounds like an industrial mercury vapor lamp.

Charles Angus

08-19-2008, 10:21 PM

Get an electronic ballast?

I'm assuming there's no "Normal / Flicker Free" switch - also know as the "Normal / Noisy" switch. Flicker free is only for off-speed filming. (ie 24, 23.98, 25, 29.97 should be fine on normal.

Kenn Christenson

08-20-2008, 06:38 AM

There is a normal and a "flicker free" switch. The head is still noisy in the normal mode. If I use the dimmer knob I can lose a lot of the noise, but I also lose a lot of the light.

M Hsu

08-20-2008, 08:10 AM

oh you bought that...hmm.. I was looking at that... however I've been pretty happy with my cool lights HMIs they're relatively quiet. Man I did wonder how much of a bargain that was.. I was watching it for sure.

Kenn Christenson

08-20-2008, 08:58 AM

I've got a call in to Broncolor and see what they say. I'll post what I find out. One thing I CAN say is that this light sure beats lugging around the Desisti Mag ballasts I've been using!

Richard Andrewski

08-20-2008, 02:44 PM

The Broncolor is a bit more loud with "head noise" than our hot restart version electronic ballast.

Chosei Funahara

08-23-2008, 04:54 AM

I had Broncolor also, I couldn't use it in a tight space; I returned it.

Bill Goehring

08-23-2008, 07:38 AM

Kenn, I hope you will forgive me for the slight detour ahead...

Hey Richard, I've been monitoring DVX User for any reviews on your 1200W HMI, but still no word I can find. Do you know of any published anywhere yet? I'm also looking forward to the arrival of your 575W par on the slow boat from China in a month or so.

By the way, I just returned from a three-day tour in a private six-passenger aircraft for a political video/spot with your three location flouros and 150W CDM and was very happy with how they performed.

I was thankful that I had what I needed and could still get the plane off the runways in some small rural communities. And I was also thankful that I had the light I needed without baking the subjects to a crisp and raising temps on set the way tungsten instruments would have, especially in mid-August.

Richard Andrewski

08-29-2008, 10:33 PM

Hi Bill,

Thanks for your comments. Ｉjust sent you an email.