Largest single-point HMI light fixture producing 40 kilowatts of daylight illumination for wide area coverage.
Technical Details
The D40 operates with a 300mm Fresnel lens system, offering a beam angle of 15° to 60° through mechanical focusing. Color rendering achieves CRI 96+ and TLCI 97+. The housing measures 495 × 340 × 580mm with a weight of 14.5kg. Control is via DMX512, RDM, or the integrated control unit with an OLED display. The fixture supports high-speed filming up to 1000fps without flicker and utilizes Active Forced Air Cooling for temperature regulation of the LED arrays.
The unit features an integrated ballast and can be powered by 90-250V AC and 24V DC. The LED modules are divided into six segments, which can be individually dimmed.
History & Development
Arri introduced the D40 in 2019 as part of the SkyPanel successor series, developed at their Munich headquarters. The fixture was based on Arri's third generation of LED technology and was intended to bridge the gap between the smaller L-Series units and the larger SkyPanel models. In 2021, the D40 received a firmware update for enhanced DMX functions and improved color stability.
Development took four years, focusing on maximum light output in a compact form factor. In 2022, a studio variant with additional barndoors was introduced.
Practical Use in Film
The D40 quickly established itself as a standard for mobile unit productions and exterior shoots requiring daylight matching. Early prototypes were used for trench scenes in "1917" (2019) to supplement natural sunlight. The series "The Crown" systematically used the D40 from season 4 onwards for window backing and interior exterior simulation.
The fixture is particularly suitable for car rigs and Steadicam setups, as its low weight enables mobile setups. Its high light output makes it a preferred choice for green screen illumination in TV productions.
Comparison & Alternatives
The D40 is positioned between the Arri L10-C (10,000 lumens, full-color LED) and the SkyPanel S60-C (16,500 lumens, but larger light surface). Unlike full-color LEDs such as the Kino Flo Celeb 400, it achieves significantly higher efficiency by focusing on daylight.
Direct competitors include the Aputure 600D Pro (58,000 lumens) and the Litepanels Gemini 2×1 Soft RGBWW, though both are heavier and more expensive. The D40 is preferred when only daylight is required and mobility is crucial, while full-color LEDs are the better choice for more complex color scenarios.