Studio Lighting

[skraw]

I have a set of two "Photoflex Starlight" hot box lights. I am using 500 watt tungsten bulbs. The lights can take 1000 watt bulbs, but I can't stand the heat! Will the 1000 watt bulbs be hotter? I have two small light boxes, and I wish to upsize for larger subjects. But the larger boxes are over $200. Are there cooler bulbs I can get for these lights? Or can I get aftermarket hoods? I am also wondering if I should invest in a set of strobes. I usually shoot product and food. Any guidance will be appreciated.

[savona]

I do not have a lot of experience with hot lights. I know they make the compact florescent that are color balanced for photography. They do not go up to nearly 1000W though, at least not that I have seen. They generate almost NO heat and last a lot longer than tungsten bulbs. I use them for my occasional product shot (mostly jewelry). I also use a light tent, something like this, but home made.

http://www.ezcube.com

If you are doing food and products and most of your shots are smaller items, you can definitely use these. I have 4 x 250 watts daylight balanced florescent that I use for my light tent. If you are doing portraits you would need to get a light system that hold 4 or so behind a single umbrella or softbox. I made something to do this and it worked out quite well. It was just a piece of plywood with ceramic bulb sockets attached to it. Then I added a piece of wood that would slip into the top of my light stands.

Strobes are the way to go if you can afford them.

Good Luck!

[skraw]

You mean, I can get flourescent bulbs and put them in my Photoflex lights? Will they be as bright? If this is the case, I could then buy larger hoods that are not heat resistant, making them cheaper, correct?

[savona]

You mean, I can get flourescent bulbs and put them in my Photoflex lights? Will they be as bright? If this is the case, I could then buy larger hoods that are not heat resistant, making them cheaper, correct?

I am not familiar with the photoflex lights, but I took a quick look at their website and I would say you are correct.

[Adaptive]

watch out with putting softboxes on hot lights. Make sure you get good ones, most of the ones that you get with cheap kits are very poor quality and they WILL melt especially at the seams. I'm not sure with hot lights but with strobes; shoot through umbrellas are just as good as softboxes, I don't know what everyone's infatuation with softboxes is. I always see people spending all this money making home made softboxes when they could save alot of time effort and money just by ordering some shoot through umbrellas for like $12-$25+.

[Adaptive]

If interested I have

2 - 500watt lights with stands
1 - 250watt light with boom stand
1 - rolling hard case
7 - extra bulbs
1 - set of barndoors
all cables
umbrellas

$200



http://www.ritzcamera.com/product/SV00000028.htm

[studio206]

yeah you gotta buy a special type of soft box for hot lights or you'll catch everything on fire lol umm as far as the heat... well it comes with the territory lol that's why they call them "hot" lights... well and the color temp too. but to answer your question, yes a 1000w light bulb will create more heat because it is burning more energy... they make diffusers that will make the light not as intense but as long as you are using hot lights, you will always have the heat. the daylight balanced florescents... i use them around my house lol very pretty light soft light, but it has a bluish cast but they say they say its 6500K o.O so i dunno... but like steve they last longer and hardly give off any heat at all.

[Desmond]

Yes, hot lights can make the room *really* hot. The 1000W bulbs will make the room warm as toast!

You would need the equivalent of 130W in a Fluoro to reach the same 1000W; but it would not give as much heat and not cost so much to run You can get a pair of 65W globes to replace what you have if you wish.

As studio206 says, they do have a bluish cast, so WB the camera before taking shots LOL, and you'll be fine.

Des.

[QuaziPhoto]

Savone sent me a diagram (well not exactly) of a little thing he made to have 4 fluoro lights in a single socket. With his permission I will try to find and post it.

[savona]

Savone sent me a diagram (well not exactly) of a little thing he made to have 4 fluoro lights in a single socket. With his permission I will try to find and post it.

I dont know if I have the diagram anymore, but if you have it be my guest and post it. I have found a MUCH easier way though...

I found this splitter for light sockets in home depot. What I did was buy three of them. I plug one into the socket and then the other two into that. I would not recommend doing this with hot lights or incandescent lights. These things are plastic and 4 bulbs may cause a fire or melt something. I use the flouro lights which are the fluorescent compact bulbs and they create almost NO heat. I found 4 150 watts compact fluorescent bulbs that are daylight balanced at home depot also. So I have a VERY effective 600 watt light now!

Hey when your broke you find to make due!