2000W tungsten Fresnel spotlight with stepless focusing from 10° to 60°; standard key light workhorse for film and television production.
The standard Blonde operates with a 2000W tungsten halogen lamp (type CP40 or FEL) at 220-240V. The 203mm diameter Fresnel lens system allows for continuous focusing between spot (10°) and flood (60°) positions. The die-cast aluminum housing typically weighs 8-12 kg and reaches operating temperatures of up to 400°C at the front. Modern variants such as the Arri 650 Plus or Ianiro Piccolo additionally offer DMX control and electronic dimming functions. Lamp life averages 75-200 hours depending on the manufacturer and dimming level.
Mole-Richardson introduced the first commercial 2000W Fresnel series in 1946, after Hollywood studios demanded more powerful alternatives to the 1000W "Baby." Arri followed in 1962 with the legendary Arri 2K, which is still produced today. In the 1980s, manufacturers like Ianiro and Desisti revolutionized the design with improved ventilation systems and more precise focusing mechanisms. Since 2010, LED panels like the Litepanels Gemini have increasingly displaced classic Blondes, as they consume only 180W with comparable light output.
Blondes serve as standard workhorses for key light and fill light in medium to large productions. Cinematographer Roger Deakins extensively used Arri 2K Blondes for the warm interior scenes in "Blade Runner 2049" (2017). Typical workflow: placement 3-5 meters from the subject, diffusion through 216 Lee or Opal Frost filters, control via dimmer board. Advantages: high light output, precise beam shaping, proven reliability. Disadvantages: high power consumption (9A at 230V), extreme heat generation, heavy cabling required.
Blondes are positioned between 800W Redheads (too weak for large sets) and 5000W Seniors (too powerful for confined spaces). HMI daylight fixtures like the Arri M18 offer higher efficiency but require ballast units and more complex wiring. LED alternatives like the Aputure 600D deliver equivalent light output at 20% of the power consumption but cost four times as much to purchase. Kino Flo tubes are better suited for broad illumination but do not achieve the focusing capability of a Blonde.
Ich setze Blondes als zuverlässige Key Lights ein, wenn ich warme, fokussierbare Lichtquellen brauche – die Arri 2K gibt mir genug Power für f/2.8 bei ISO 800 aus 4 Metern Entfernung. Der Fresnel-Spot lässt sich präzise auf Gesichter richten, aber ich muss immer ausreichend Diffusion einplanen, da das nackte Licht zu hart ist.
Für warme, gemütliche Atmosphären sind Blondes unschlagbar – das 3200K-Licht erzeugt natürlich wirkende Innenraumstimmungen, die LEDs oft künstlich aussehen lassen. Ich nutze sie gezielt für emotionale Szenen, da die warme Farbtemperatur unterbewusst Geborgenheit vermittelt.
Blondes bedeuten 16A-CEE-Anschlüsse und entsprechend teure Stromversorgung – bei 10 Geräten brauche ich mindestens einen 63A-Generator. Die Anschaffungskosten sind moderat (800-1500€), aber der Stromverbrauch und die Hitzeproblematik treiben die Set-Kosten durch längere Beleuchtungszeiten und Klimatisierung nach oben.
1. Was beschreibt „Blonde" am besten?
2. Zu welchem Department gehört „Blonde"?
3. Wie viele verschiedene Fachperspektiven bietet dieser Eintrag?
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