fluorescent lighting- compatibility of lights

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Submitted By: Jim Clark

Joined: May 25 2006

Posts:

fluorescent lighting- compatibility of lights

Posted: May 25, 2006 - 11:42am

We are putting together some lights for a mobile studio, to be used in wedding photography, portraits, etc., to accompany a canon rebel XT. We are looking into fluorescent lighting, and feel that, based on reviews, the Westcott Spiderlite TD5 would be strong enough for full body shots. In order to save money, we are looking into a cheaper brand for the fill light, as it would not need be so strong.

So my questions are: Are there any problems associated with combining different brands? Is there a difference in fluorescent bulbs from one brand to another? Can cheaper bulbs replace the system brand?

We are looking at the Paterson Interfit Cool-Light for the fill light. Would this do the trick?

Submitted By: DaveBelew

Joined: Mar 16 2005

Posts:

Re: fluorescent lighting- compatibility of lights

Posted: May 28, 2006 - 2:11pm

Hi,
The color temps of flourescent light bulbs is all over the map. I would stick with one brand and set up the camera to
balance out with that. Otherwise you are looking for trouble.

Submitted By: Jim Clark

Joined: May 25 2006

Posts:

Re: fluorescent lighting- compatibility of lights

Posted: May 29, 2006 - 6:53am

Thanks.

Then is it not possible to use bulbs from the Westcott in the Patterson?

Submitted By: DaveBelew

Joined: Mar 16 2005

Posts:

Re: fluorescent lighting- compatibility of lights

Posted: May 29, 2006 - 8:08pm

Quote:

Thanks.

Then is it not possible to use bulbs from the Westcott in the Patterson?

I have no idea if you can switch bulbs, but I doubt they are interchangeable because of either their voltage or the actual sockets. They also probably have different starters to begin with. Some of the bulbs suitable for photographic use are also quite expensive, so this line of thought may be self defeating.

Submitted By: David B. Brooks

Joined: Apr 19 2011

Posts:

Re: fluorescent lighting- compatibility of lights

Posted: May 29, 2006 - 9:01pm

Dave,

Just the other day I had to do a table top product setup because a canned product shot for an article was not available. I'd given my Profoto flash system to a friend to use. So all I had for lighting was a very old prototype 42 inch "Reflectasol" soft box I had made in George Larson's shop back in the late 70's. It has two 1,000 watt 3200K quartz halogen bulbs and fan cooling. George didn't see a market for it at the time. So I kept it and have used it off and on for 30 years now.

The bottom line is I used it as a single light product setup with a reflector fill, shot with my Canon EOS 5D and a 100mm f/2.8 Canon Macro. Just set the camera white balance to 3200K and bracketed a few shots. Turned out to be a really good, clean, product shot and more easily done than ever working with studio flash and film. If I had a model available and a studio to use, I'd try it with portraits with my Canon 5D.

Now, in the pro video lighting field there are lots of different quartz halogen, portable soft lights available. Why not for digital stills? Clean light that has always been more flattering to peoples complexions than either flash or fluorescents!

Submitted By: DaveBelew

Joined: Mar 16 2005

Posts:

Re: fluorescent lighting- compatibility of lights

Posted: May 30, 2006 - 11:50am

I agree David. I sold my Speedotron outfit several years ago and for table top use now (rarely) I have a couple of shop lights (which my old Gossen color meter rates at 3200K).

I still have an old 36" Larson soft box kicking around, but I think the shop lights are too hot for it so I use a couple of umbrellas.

I do have an alternate lighting system for my Bencher copy stand which uses flourescent for B/W copy work. The normal lights(3200K) (4) are quartz with polaroid screens.