Astera Launches QuikPunch Luminaire

Astera launches QuikPunch, the latest in its Quik series, which started with the QuikSpot launched at the end of 2024.

QuikPunch delivers precise, high-quality light via its fresnel lens, featuring a 13 - 60-degree zoom, with no stray light and 8,000 lux at 3m! It is optimized for fast set-up and practical operation and comes complete with a battery-driven PrepBox and ChargingPlate. It delivers Astera's unique color science, based on its high-color-rendering RGBMA Titan LED Engine -- but as it happens with QuikSpot, QuikPunch adds OutputGain for deeper color saturates.

It does exactly what the name suggests, "punching" high-quality light into the picture while consuming just 75W of power, producing an output equivalent to a 200W LED PAR for stage and event use. All this plus a 4.5 hours of runtime (at full intensity) makes it among the most energy-efficient spotlights to date, the company says, and ideal for multiple professional lighting disciplines.

In addition to the versatile 13 - 60-degree zoom, QuikPunch has a sharper and easier-to-control optical footprint. It outputs an accurate zero-spill beam just like a theatrical PC fixture but can also be the equivalent to a traditional 650 W fresnel luminaire.

"The 60-degree beam angle makes it an excellent wash light for evenly illuminating large surfaces like cycs or set pieces," the company says. "Unlike conventional fresnels, the light can be accurately shaped and controlled via a set of eight-way barndoors, and even at 45-degree, it produces a sharp and controlled beam."

The barndoor benefits from QuikPunch's accurate fresnel-based beam performance, even when the zoom is not in the flood position. The zoom is adjusted simply by turning the QuikTurn barrel of the fixture and stops at 30 degrees, indicating the center of the zoom range.

QuikPunch is designed to hold all existing Astera AX9 PowerPAR filters and front attachments -- very convenient for projects working with a mix of other Astera products. It works particularly well with the Rotatable 17 x 46-degree Elliptical Filter which widens the beam coverage on both vertical and horizontal axes.

The EdgeSoftener filter is a useful accessory when a frost effect is needed for producing a better in-camera wrap, or to slightly soften the cut in the background, emulating the softer, warmer retro look of classic tungsten fresnels without adding light spill.

Also included is a removeable yoke and foldable feet. The removable yoke -- mountable or detachable in a matter of seconds -- is highly adaptable for tilt adjustment, and the fixture has two foldable feet and an inbuilt airline track.

It comes with the Astera KickStand and it also includes a 3/8" thread directly in the housing, and it is compatible with other cool accessories like TrackPin Compact, the new TrackSpigot 28/16 for film tripods, and FlexCovers for events or designs where lights need to be blended into the environment. FlexCovers, made from flexible, lightweight material, are currently available in white and mirror finish.

Both QuikPunch and QuikSpot include a very useful TiltMeter -- a software-based tool that can assist with more accurate fixture positioning. Displayed on the fixture's OLED screen, when the Astera button is pressed (while not connected to the ChargingPlate), the display flips to show only the tilt angle, thanks to an inbuilt accelerometer. Pressing the button again returns the display to standard mode once focusing of the fixture is complete.

QuikPunch has Astera's robust engineering and build quality and is supplied with SatefyLink for front attachments such as barndoors.