Betweenie

Overview

The Betweenie is a small tungsten Fresnel spotlight from the US manufacturer Mole-Richardson (model number 3131, marketed as "Solarspot"). With a power rating of 300 watts, it belongs to the family of compact Mole-Fresnel units, whose names humorously denote their size: Inbetweenie (200 W), Betweenie (300 W), and Tweenie (650 W). The name alludes to the unit's power output being "in between" – stronger than the 200-watt Inbetweenie, but smaller than the 650-watt Tweenie. (This should not be confused with the 650-watt Teenie-Mole, an open-face fixture without a Fresnel lens, which belongs to a different equipment class.)

Like all Fresnel spotlights, the Betweenie allows for stepless focusing from spot to flood. A focus knob moves the lamp carrier relative to the lens, thereby changing the beam angle and thus the light's characteristic (hard center or softer, wider field).

Technical Specifications

Set Usage

Due to its small size and low weight, the Betweenie is frequently used as accent, edge, or effect lighting – for example, as a kicker, backlight, or for selectively illuminating small areas of the frame. Its compact housing allows for mounting in positions where larger fixtures would not fit, such as on tight sets, inside vehicles, or close to the subject.

As a tungsten unit, the Betweenie provides warm light at approx. 3200 K and can be dimmed and mixed with other tungsten sources without a ballast. Due to its low wattage, it can be easily operated on standard household circuits. Accessories such as barndoors, gobo holders, and filter frames are available within the Mole-Richardson system.