Mighty

Technical Details

The Mighty operates with an 18kW HMI (Hydrargyrum Medium-arc Iodide) lamp and features a built-in, sound-dampened 25kW diesel generator, producing less than 65 dB(A) at 7 meters. The Fresnel lens system allows for spot adjustments from a 10° to 60° beam angle. The electronic ballast operates with Flicker-Free technology at 300Hz for digital cameras. The system requires approximately 3 minutes of warm-up time to reach full light output and can be continuously dimmed without color temperature shift.

History & Development

Mole-Richardson developed the first Mighty Mole in 1985 for exterior shots, as an alternative to heavy tungsten lamp batteries. In 1992, the first Flicker-Free version followed for the emerging digital cameras. Arri introduced a European alternative to the market in 1998 with the M18. Since 2010, manufacturers like K5600 Lighting have offered LED-based Mighty alternatives with comparable light output and significantly lower power consumption.

Practical Use in Film

Cinematographer Roger Deakins used Mighty systems for the nighttime desert scenes in "Sicario" (2015) as artificial moonlight from a distance of 150 meters. In "Mad Max: Fury Road" (2015), John Seale employed several Mighties as mobile sunlight simulations, accompanying the convoy during its journey. The Mighty typically replaces 6-8 conventional 2.5kW HMI lights, significantly reducing cable and crew requirements. Disadvantages include the generator's noise output and limited positioning flexibility due to its trailer format.

Comparison & Alternatives

The Mighty differs from stationary 18K HMIs through its integrated power supply and mobility. Modern LED alternatives like the Arri SkyPanel S360-C achieve comparable light levels with 90% less power consumption, but do not offer the point-source characteristic of the HMI system. For interior shots, multiple 6K or 12K HMI lights are usually used instead, offering greater positioning flexibility and no generator noise.