Joker 1600

[Jesper Sahu]

ThisJoker kit features a specular reflector and a set of four PAR 64 lenses (Medium, Wide, Super Wide and Frosted Fresnel). Lenses provide various light patterns and a maximum output due to the reflector design and finish.

Without optics, the bare-bulb output is optimal for use in Lightbanks and lanterns due to its ability to create perfectly even distribution within accessories.

The 1600W comes with a dimmable ballast, which is able to work at 300 or 1000 Hz frequencies for High Speed shoots. Drawing only 15 amps on a 120V line, the 1600W ballast can run on any available house power. Using the "Lumenradio" protocol, the new ballast now has an antenna and DMX panel allowing for it to be controlled via a tablet or smartphone.

The 1600 ballast is PFC and draws 7.4 Amps @230V. It is dimmable, and has frequency selection options for high speed turning (300Hz and 1000Hz).Using the "Lumenradio" protocol, this ballast equipped with a small antenna and DMX control on the back, can be controlled from a console or a Smartphone/tablet.

Are you going to rent it out? M18 will certainly be a more popular rental item plus more durable and more&better ballast options. For myself I'd buy a Joker, seems to have a cleaner beam with a Zoom beamer and more flexible (open face, PAR, bare bulb aka Bug).

Jokers are slightly more flexible, but I really don't like their build quality and honestly you could make them all Jo-Lekos and leave them that way and that would be the best bet. For rentals to people, M18 all the way with perhaps a Joker 800 Jo-Leko'd. I'll be honest, it's been rare that I've had a Joker on a show which didn't at some point have some issue (blown fuse in ballast, ballast just simply stops working, globe color way wrong (greenish, old glob), screws missing (too many take apart jobs to make them jo-lekod))

Have re-habbed a number of Joker 400's and 800's. Biggest issues, lost, stripped and cross threaded screws, broken Fresnel and Medium lenses partly due to poor case design (lens pouch in lid) and partly due to medium lenses that stress crack. Much of the damage is caused by technicians that shouldn't be on any film set. Otherwise a fine, versatile fixture. I like how the Joker 1600 incorporates a telescoping handtruck into the case. Can't see how you can wrong with the Joker 800 or 1600.

Just about every time I see an HMI in BTS photos there's a 4x4 or larger diffusion frame in front of it. So why not just start with a slightly softer/larger source? A Cineo C80 is probably just as soft without using a diffusion frame.

...start with a sightly softer/larger source...and what? Can I put a lens in front of a SkyPanel? Can I fire the beam down a Source4 and nail a area on set that the DP wants highlighted? It's got a crapload of point sources, how controllable is the output? Yes, I've used them, they are versatile. I know Arri makes barndoors for the fixture, but how effective are they?

I haven't encountered a Joker down here in Australia yet. But I personally own a Profoto 1.2kw HMI in the same bug-light style, and it's super useful (and has been incredibly robust). I also have an M18, and that's hands-down the best light I own. It just gives you so much output from a conventional household socket or small generator - and is so much faster to work with than a conventional PAR with lenses.

They're different kinds of lights, with different kinds of strengths.

If I could only have one though, it'd be the M18.

The Joker works with a baby stand vs. the M18, a junior stand. A joker kit with baby stand packs neatly in a van and travels well on the plane. When speed, mobility and size is important, the joker 1600 prevails here as well.

In this case the M18 technically prevails, but not by much. The output of the 1800w globe is approximately 10% brighter and the M-Seres reflector design creates diverging rays to produce a crisp shadow and broader throw compared to the Joker 1600.

The joker offers the classic lens based setup as well as a zoom beaker, but I find the zoom beaker makes the light very front-heavy. So I prefer to stick with the classic lenses (med, wide, stipple & fresnel) and standard parabolic reflector. Glass lenses in combination with the traditional parabolic reflector will typically offer brighter levels on narrow throws (checkout the photometrics of the M18 compared to the AS18 (or ARRIMAX 18k vs. standard 18k HMI PAR). The best choice depends on your application. If you need a small footprint and a fast crew, the 1600 is best. If you need cleaner shadow lines and a wider beam, the M18 prevails. Ultimately, when comparing both lights side-by-side these differences are all minimal. A skilled gaffer can work with both choices equally well. And that is the point. The Joker 1600s are not as popular, but they should be. They are a better on-location light and is a more reliable choice when power and time is limited.

At 1600W, the Joker 1600 is comparable to over 6000W of quartz fixture output. It runs off a 15 Amp breaker with 120V of clean power. The Joker 1600 bug-lite feature is ideal for use in lightbanks and lanterns. This creates even distribution within such accessories, eliminates hot spots and maximizes output.

We strive to provide impeccably maintained rental equipment for the entertainment industry that is prepped and ready for your event. Our experienced staff stands ready to help you with your lighting, video, rigging & production needs. Rental inventory availability may vary based on date and 4Wall location. In cases where your preferred item is unavailable, we'll do our best to suggest a suitable replacement.

The Joker Bug-Lite design offers many possibilities one of which is pairing it with an ETC Source-4. K5600, Inc. has, over the years, introduced the Bug-A-Beam Adapter for both the 400 and 800 Jokers. After many requests from users, we created the Bug-A-Beam Adapter for the 1600 Joker.

The Bug-A-Beam Adapater makes the mating of a Source-4 and our Bug-Light 1600 quick and easy. The 1600 lamp offers many advantages in this particular application allowing patterns to be visible in higher ambient light levels, longer distances as well as through the deepest color gels.

The Joleko adds one more tool to the Joker-Bug system providing a controllable high intensity beam projector.

The K5600 Joker 1600 Bug is a daylight HMI fixture that has the same output as a 6kW tungsten. A single Joker 1600 can be powered with a standard 15amps household circuit. This light can be used with Chimera Softboxes. This kit comes with the Joker classic reflector allowing the fixture to be fitted with accessories such as Lens and Scrims.

The K5600 1600w Joker Bug Kit is a daylight balanced HMI output comparable to a 4000w quartz fixture. With plenty of punch and all the flexibility of the Joker Bug line it makes serves as an excellent workhorse fixture both inside and out.

With the included Beamer optical accessory, it becomes a directional Par unit offering various beam patterns through quick lens changes. The Joker Bug offers a flexible optical configuration with beam angles from as narrow as 5 to as wide as 45, the ability to operate as a bare bulb fixture, and a frosted beaker that can be used to soften the light before it even hits the reflector.

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The third shoot took place at night and involved using the Joker 1600 as the key lighting source. We needed to illuminate a 1955 Ford Fairlane and this could only be accomplished with an extremely bright light source.

The Joker 1600 is one bright light source. It can easily compete with the sun to fill in shadows, or it can be diffused, flooded or even dimmed down to suit the situation. I also really appreciate the fact that the light does not need its own generator and is light enough to easily be mobile.

A scene from the movie showing the moonlight/venetian blind effect achieved with the K5600. There are a few minor issues with the Joker 1600 that keep it from being the perfect light for every garage. Although the unit is not that expensive for all it does, a replacement lamp is very expensive at more than $600. With a 700-hour maximum life, this makes it a somewhat costly (and fragile) instrument to operate.

Also, when used indoors the unit takes quite awhile to cool. Needing to vacate one of our shooting locations (an Italian restaurant) so that paying patrons could occupy its tables, the Joker 1600 was the last item to be removed from the set as it was too hot to touch otherwise.

SUMMARY

The Joker 1600 Zoom Beamer is the perfect light for almost all situations. It has enough power to serve as the sun, moon or just about any other concentrated source of light. Its ability to be focused and dimmed makes it even more versatile.

The Joker 1600 is the newest of the Joker generation of daylight fixtures. At 1600W, the Joker 1600 is comparable to over 6000W of quartz fixture output and produces twice as much, or one full stop more light, as our Joker 800.

All-in-all, we love this light for its extremely high light output capability combined with its small and lightweight body. These aspects make the 1600w Joker very mobile, perfect for on-the-go, on-location applications. This unit makes for a powerful and convenient addition to any lighting kit!

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