In-Depth Review: CAME-TV 1200 Watt HMI PAR

If you're in the market for an HMI light but don't know whether or not you can trust the quality of the Chinese HMI Arri clones, then look no further. In this detailed review I cover all of the pros and cons of the 1200 watt (1.2kw) Chinese HMI PAR (I've also done a review for their cheaper HMI fresnel) by CAME-TV that costs a fraction of the genuine Arri unit.
This light will cost around $2,700 USD on Ebay (compared to around $10,000 for a new Arri fixture and ballast) and there do seem to be multiple resellers offering the same or similar products. I can only offer my experience and review of the product I received from CAME-TV.
CAME-TV offers two models of HMI light, this review is for the more expensive HMI PAR light that claims to be an exact Arri clone. Everything from packaging, to build quality, to power consumption numbers, UV radiation levels, noise levels, to overall awesome factor of the unit are covered.
This review was shot entirely on the Black Magic Cinema Camera EF Mount 2.5k and the Panasonic GH13 (hacked GH1), an old but trusty camera, using nothing but the kit lens (Panasonic 14-140 f/4.0-5.8), an old but trusty lens!
I also have to give Dennis Hingsberg a shoutout. He originally recommended me to photolight/Came-TV and has also been very happy with their 575 watt HMI, so that's two people happy with them!
Web Links:
www.tommykraft....
KZbin Links:
Came-TV 1200 Economic HMI Fresnel Review: bit.ly/1nrJXuB
Congenial Bob, Short Comedy Sketch: bit.ly/1ZDxm4L
Item Links:
CAME-TV Official Website: www.came-tv.com/
CAME-TV/Photolight Ebay Store: ebay.to/1PlkCt5
Osram/Sylvania 1200W HMI Bulb: bhpho.to/1ZdGsnx
Kill a Watt: amzn.to/1PWYj1s

[@jaybroreviews]

Love love LOVE this vid! Thanks for taking the tone to review it. It helps further my knowledge and it’s well made.

[@grapeseeker]

At 7:49 you say that it won't operate on a generator. On a HONDA EU3000 Generator using the 30amp plug will it still not work? I have the 30 amp adapter plug, but I'm screwed if it doesn't work.

[@b.miragedazzling1934]

Oh perfect ! Thank you very much for this review. From France 🇫🇷✌🏾

[@pdv]

Love these reviews! We talked about the light over on BMCUser months ago! Now that you've had it for almost a year, what do you think? Still good? Still working? :) Thanks, Tommy!

[@michaelsousa8321]

I think it says the power factor is .6 around 5:14

[@raredreamfootage]

Do you know what the lux rating is at 1 meter?

[@reto_scherrer]

thanks for the great reviews. Can you review the came-tv 650 fresnel against the Arri unit?

[@TK2Films]

+Reto Scherrer Thanks much! I may do that in the near future. I've been looking to possibly add another lower powered tungsten light to my arsenal and I do have the actual Arri 650 so it'd be pretty easy to do a comparison. If you're looking to make a decision to buy in the near future though, it would probably be a couple of months out before I can do the review. Thanks again :)

[@clairearendse4877]

I see the video footage flickering at time 8:01-8:35

[@Jsfilmz]

u cant use a generator for real?

[@MattScottVisuals]

Excellent review! Nice results too, cheers :)

[@TK2Films]

Thank you! :) Glad you enjoyed it!

[@debasishnaiding8062]

can you do test with came tv 575 hmi?

[@JoePlomo]

how come no generator?

[@762rk95tp]

It not a washer, but ball bearing. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_bearing

[@jfratis9081]

With hmi pars the focus was an add-on. You really need the lens set to make it work properly. The globe is meant to be installed with the cross bar inside on the top. These are shameless knock offs. Buying these you are feeding an industry that copies all kinds of products and the quality can have real consequences. The same industry has manufactured and remanufactured airline parts which has been attributed to deaths due to failure.

[@thekaiser4333]

This is counterfeiting!