How-to: Powerful DIY video light (800 watt equivalent)

Griffin builds a powerful, DIY video light for $86, using hardware store parts, and eight 100-watt-equivalent compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs. Also discussed: three-point lighting and color temperature / white balance.

Light output: 12,800 lumens, or 13 incandescent bulbs worth of power, but uses only 184 actual watts
Color temperature: 5,000 degrees Kelvin (often called "daylight")
Power consumption: draws 3.2 amps

Wiring diagram: http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-v...

TEST FILM: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNS7bq...

Watch Erik Beck's ($43) DIY video light: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pKdOG...

• Category

  Film & Animation

[Ben Godson]

This is the most helpful thing I've ever watched....ever. Now I can finally have professional looking videos instead of my nasty looking blog posts! I wish I had known you were around in SXSW, I would've loved to say hello.

[Indy Mogul]

Thanks!

[Gabby Causo]

Can I just pay you to make this for me?

[Lea Prel]

genius... im starting a channel here at youtube and so far this is the best

[Devon Orand]

Yeah as a gaffer i feel like this lighting rig should not be done by amateurs. Electricity is dangerous. Cool though. I wouldn't use cfls though, can't control them at all...

[Adoborama]

yeah that's good idea! i don't have time to build it. can i just buy from you guys? i'll pay for the shipping cost too.

[UrbanFarmboy]

Do you encounter any problems clipping the wax paper or gels so close to the lights?

[Masterengineer]

couldnt u just have soldered the wires together, to make it look neater and give you more space to add maybe a wireless button.

[Joe Collings]

grow op

[chess chester]

Wouldn't the fluorescent light be a problem for my shutter? I like to shoot 1/48 shutter speed.

[inurb4se]

I was just thinking the same thing

[ResonanceArray]

Excellent and very helpful vid - thanks Griffin!

[funwithjohnandluke]

indy mogul is back!