Hey! That's my review! Actually, @Vitaliy_Kiselev contacted me via YouTube to register here! I don't have a lot of views on the channel, and I start doing reviews like a year ago, but I plan to get some more gear and do others. Well, glad to enter this forum! :)

Just saw this video:

Anybody else saw this focus issue in the Chinese copies? The guy says the lens has no engineering in it.

Warning! Following feedback is made by just registered member!

I have bought 2x 650w, one 300w and three 150w As Arris recently. They seem a bit rough in build comparing them with the real ones but they do job just as well. However there are a few issues with the wiring. Although the 650s had an earthing fitted the 300s and the 150s didn't. They were fitted with a twin flex cable when it should have been twin and earth. It is the law in the EU for every metal appliance to be correctly earthed in order to pass what is used here in the UK, the PAT test. The 650 was earthed but poorly and I have decided to re-wire the whole lot with UK grade heat resistant cable. In order to do this you have to take the lights apart and it can be a very fiddly job if you don't have the patience. I have used a real Arri to copy the wiring pattern and they now work like a dream and legal to use in our studio.

They are good value for money but as I have found out the 300watters and below are illegal to use in the EU if you just rely on the manufacturers standard. Oh, and one of the switches packed it before it even got the rewire while another was connected incorrectly with the Neutral to the Live. Also the lightbulbs tend to pop sooner than Euro ones and the spec of the cable tends to be of low grade and unreliable when exposed to heat.

I knew what I expected and I was happy to re-wire them all the way to the ceramic terminal for peace of mind. They are now all happy rubbing shoulders with the real Arris and proudly sport a PAT label for a prestigious studio.

Wonderful fresnels, just don't rely on their factory wiring. Please get a competent person to sort them out for you.

Best regards,

have read in a number of forums that the Chinese as-arris may not have the appropriate earth termination in the power cord

I have huge doubts about this rumors. I'll ask their manufacturer directly.

I have a question to everyone: I want to purchase one of these 650W As-ARRI fresnel light with a dimmer. Has anyone purchased it? Is this particular As-ARRI reliable???

If not, could you please post links to the reliable sellers whome you purchased from and have received a reliable product??? PLEASE! (This would also be useful to future readers who will come to read this thread.)

I'm asking because I've heard that there are at least 5 (FIVE) different factories that manufacture these As-ARRI lights. So we need to know which sellers sell trustworthy versions of these As-ARRIs. (For example, I've read a negative review of the ones marked "JieTu", so I'll stay away from them.)

I just received an 'As Arri' Junior 150w Fresnel. It came with two bulbs but unfortunately one was already dead upon arrival. When checking prices I was shocked to see some local Australian dealers charging up to $45 (AUD) for a single 150w bulb!

This is approximately 1/3rd of the total price I paid for the entire light and about 3x the price for the 650w globes. Considering these globes are rated for around 25 hours life expectancy it works at to about $2 per hour per globe.

Can anyone suggest a supplier for A1/248 150W bulbs or equivalent that doesn't charge such ridiculous prices? - TIA

@Lohmatij

I saw quite many opposite reviews from pros.

So, your main complain is cable insulation that can break at -20.

Considering light optput, can you provide any examples and measurements?
As I just don't see how big difference can happen.

Another big thing to consider is that about 5 factories produce similar light in China, so things like cables are not universal.

I heard that these chinese arri-like lights tend to have a very short life span, mainly due to frying cables or things like that...

Could anybody give any confirmation on that ?

I have a set of 3 x 650watt 'as Arri' fresnels purchased from the same eBay store you linked to. They seem pretty good though the finish is a bit rougher than genuine Arri's. I did have a lens crack which appears to be caused by an excessively tight fit in the front housing.

To reduce the light output of tungsten lights you need to use wire scrims not dimmers. Using scrims wont affect the colour, only the output. As Vitaliy said using a dimmer will change the colour temperature which you don't want.

You will need to use gels if you want to change the colour temperture. ie a full CTB gel to convert them from 3200k to around 5500k (daylight).

Also I would recommend buying better quality globes when you need to replace them such as Osram. I'm a bit suspect whether or not the 'No Name' Chinese globes differ in output and offer the same life span as the major brand globes. They may but who knows?

So far my requirements are Dimmer, Color temperature control, Barn doors and Fresnel lens.

You want too much.
First, tungsen fresnels change color temperature with dimming.
Second ,none of tungsen fresnels allow you to adjust color temperature.

Should I look for other features when choosing? It would be awesome to have LED with Fresnel, but alas...

LED fresnels exist. Just are not cheap.