Using low cost fluorescent lights with Video -

See the low cost fluorescent lights I use when I shoot video, and how to quickly set your camcorder to get perfect color under these lights

Find more videos and more info like this at my site at http://www.bmyers.com

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• video
• production
• Bill
• Myers
• white
• balance
• fluorescent

[JDBCreations]

I've heard that for your basic 3 point lighting system you need at least 500 watts... I'm not sure if thats 500 watts for each light or 500 watts all together. I'm looking at this reasonably priced (About $200) light set that includes a spotlight, 2 diffusion lights with umbrellas, barn doors, 3 light stands and carrying bags. All together they're 600 watts. So thats 200 watts for each light. I was wondering if that was good enough for lighting video?

[guerillabill]

@JDBCreations It depends on how large an area you need to light. To light my desktop area I use 1200 watt equivalent fluorescents. What you need depends on the amount of natural light, the area to be lit, the quality of the camera.

Test it first - you may not need any extra light, just a few reflectors to bounce light on the subject

[JDBCreations]

@guerillabill 1200 watt equivalent flourescents? You mean all your lights together are 1200 watts? Maybe I could just buy higher watt bulbs for each of my lights. Wonder where I'd get 'em and how much they'd be?

Btw, I see theres an interesting comment below from etronik about being able to set the white balance (on automatic white balance cameras) by zooming into a white board, turning off the camera, then back on again and the WB will be set within 20 seconds. Does this really work?

[guerillabill]

@JDBCreations You can find the large fluorescent screw in bulbs at Amazon.

And yes, most cameras have an auto white balance feature that works by pointing your camera at something white, and holding down the white balance button for a few seconds.

[jetli814]

Hi Bill

I was getting ready to purchase a fluorescent video light for my project but my friend tought me out of by saying that fluorescent light is not good for African american skin color and that i will not get the vivid picture quality i'm looking for. What's your take on that

[guerillabill]

@jetli814 Most TV and movide studios now use fluorescent lights. Just get the right color temperature bulbs - either 5100k or 6500k 

[guerillabill]

@jetli814 Is your friend a video lighting specialist? If so, listen to him.

If not, consider that most TV shows are now lit with florescent lights, as are most news programs and interviews.

[mikepulcinella]

Great tip! Thanks!

[guerillabill]

No noise, and once the bulb warms up (about 30 seconds), the color temp remains stable.

[Waycrow]

Bill,

Do you find any noise issues with this type of bulb? Also, the color and intensity changes over time, requiring frequent camera adjustments. Not an issue, but something that has to be kept in mind.