Lighting for Video: Compact Fluorescent Lights
By Internet Video Gal in Lighting, Online Videos, Video Production Tips
If you are looking to buy lights for making videos, you might want to consider using compact fluorescent lights.
Compact Fluorescent lights (compact flo as they are nicknamed) are becoming popular as the new “green” way to light your home and you can find the bulbs almost everywhere now. They are also being used in video production and they have several distinct advantages over traditional video lights.
Traditional video lights are usually tungsten halogen. They get HOTTER than a firecracker. You can easily burn your fingers on them. I even burned a hole in the wall once when I bounced the light just a little too close. Oops.
Compact Fluorescent lights on the other hand do not get hot. That feature, in and of itself, makes me want to buy some. Sitting under tungsten halogen lights is so hot as to be dreadfully uncomfortable. They heat up the entire room FAST. That leads to having to crank up the air conditioner more IF it is not a noisy one. If it is a noisy one, then it stays off so you get better sound and everyone just roasts. No fun!
Compact flo lights also use less electricity. That’s one of the biggest things that make them a “green alternative.” Compact fluorescent light bulbs crank out an amazing amount of light for the wattage used compared to other kinds of light bulbs.
The light given off by compact fluorescent is nice, soft and diffused. Every compact flo light bulb I have ever seen is already diffused for you by the addition of white paint to the inside of the glass. That does not mean you never need to add supplemental diffusion but right out of the box you have some nice diffusion.
The company Videssence is one of the leading providers of compact fluorescent light fixtures for TV and video production. They sell both standard ceiling mount lights and portable fixtures. They also have recessed fixtures for video conferencing rooms. (That is not an affiliate link.)
All-in-all, I think compact fluorescent lights are a fantastic addition to the world of video production equipment. I bet that guy whose wall I burned a hole in would agree.
Thanks for reading Video Production Tips
Lorraine Grula
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8 Comment(s)
By Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb on | Reply
As soon as our kitchen and dining room lights went busted, we went ahead and bought a Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb to replace them.
Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs last blog post..Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb
By Internet Video Gal on | Reply
HI.
Glad to hear it. Compact florescent bulbs are great in the home. I have them all over my house.
The bulbs last longer, they stay cool and they use less electricity. Compact florescent bulbs have so many advantages over incandescent or tungsten hallogen. I’ve heard of the tungsten light bulbs getting so hot they catch people curtains on fire.
Thanks!
Lorraine
By Michelle on | Reply
I’m looking forward to the day where these bulbs are the standard!
By Internet Video Gal on | Reply
Hi Michelle.
I agree with you. I love compact florescent bulb. I have them all over my house. They have a lot of advantages.
Thanks for reading Video Production Tips.
Lorraine
By Ginny on | Reply
The CFL bulbs are becoming more common/standard Michelle. I work for Home Depot and the sales reports I see show these bulbs moving out of the store more every month!
By Internet Video Gal on | Reply
Hi Ginny.
That is really good to know. I LOVE CFL bulbs for the home. I have them all over my house. Thanks for the info.
Lorraine
By jensen on May 25, 2010 | Reply
Hi,
I have always wanted to explore the possibility to use compact florescent bulb for my video production by DIY some video lighting. But I am not sure what are the color temperature and power rating for these bulbs if you can advise?
thanks
Jensen
By Internet Video Gal on May 25, 2010 | Reply
Hi Jensen.
Good to hear from you. Standard florescent bulbs are greenish on the color/white balance scale. They give a distinct green tint if your camera is not white balanced right. Compact florescent on the other hand is color balanced the same as daylight, so it is blue. Around 5400 degrees kelvin. At least every compact florescent bulb I have ever seen is blue which surprised the holy heck out of me at first. Most compact florescent bulbs give out more power per watt than other sources of light, significantly more than standard incandescent.
I hope this helps you.
Lorraine