ampguy
Veteran
Besides the "Reveal" line of bulbs, does anyone use "Full Spectrum" lighting indoors? What are the usage and benefits?
noimmunity
scratch my niche
Ted, I've been using them for years. Great for the drab grey winters of northern Taiwan.
If you're in North America there is a huge variety of full spectrum lighting, including halogen, tungsten, and flourescent. There are also differences in wavelengths covered, with some being therapeutic and even allowing excellent plant growth. I'm limited in my choices to bulbs made in france. Very happy with them.
If you're in North America there is a huge variety of full spectrum lighting, including halogen, tungsten, and flourescent. There are also differences in wavelengths covered, with some being therapeutic and even allowing excellent plant growth. I'm limited in my choices to bulbs made in france. Very happy with them.
ampguy
Veteran
Thanks!
Thanks!
I got a floor standing 27W "full spectrum" reading lamp, but it is fixed temp of I think (4.5K - specs are on box), there are 4 6" or so flourescent columns. Since the K of the light is fixed, I guess the "full spectrum" refers to a high output of lumens?
We used to use CFLs for years to try to save on bulbs and get equivalent lighting, but have found that most don't last very long when used in high on/off situations and hung upside down.
Thanks!
I got a floor standing 27W "full spectrum" reading lamp, but it is fixed temp of I think (4.5K - specs are on box), there are 4 6" or so flourescent columns. Since the K of the light is fixed, I guess the "full spectrum" refers to a high output of lumens?
We used to use CFLs for years to try to save on bulbs and get equivalent lighting, but have found that most don't last very long when used in high on/off situations and hung upside down.
bmattock
Veteran
I believe you are referring to the newer style of fluorescent bulbs that are designed to replace standard incandescent bulbs, right?
Click on the light for a link to a blog where the use of these bulbs is discussed.
These are referred to as 'full spectrum' CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lights) because they put out light at something like 6500K (Kelvin), which is more-or-less 'daylight' white, as opposed to the 3800K yellowish-white that standard incandescent bulbs put out.
If those are the ones you mean, I love 'em. They are inexpensive, they put out a nice real white light, and they don't get hot like the older style continuous lighting.
Their one real drawback is that it takes a bunch of them to get enough light on any but tabletop shots. Not a huge deal, but it can be bothersome in a DIY setup. Some commercial light makers are already making larger wattage 'daylight' CFL and grouping them together in lighting stands with softboxes and snoots and so on to make them more 'pro-friendly' right off the bat, but they're not cheap.
I have a bunch of them, and I use them with those cheap aluminum clip-on work lights that you can buy at hardware stores like Lowes and Home Depot (they cost about $5 to $9 USD each). I clip them on light stands or whatever I have handy, and with a nice piece of white hobby paper, I've got an instant tabletop product setup. Great for selling stuff on eBay, and less expensive than the $150 light boxes others sell.
Here is something someone else did and put the setup on Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/erica_marshall/2239562643/
That's kind of like mine, but i don't bother with the light tent.
I find them a bit hard to use for portraiture, mainly because they don't put out a huge amount of light - so it does take a bunch of them. But again, they're cheap, the last a long time, and they don't get hot, so it could be worth the tradeoff if you're on a low budget and you're a DIY kind of guy when it comes to lighting.
The 'Daylight' feature is not as important if you're shooting digital and can set a custom white balance, but it does help if you're shooting film, or if you don't have custom white balance or just don't want to mess with it.
Click on the light for a link to a blog where the use of these bulbs is discussed.
These are referred to as 'full spectrum' CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lights) because they put out light at something like 6500K (Kelvin), which is more-or-less 'daylight' white, as opposed to the 3800K yellowish-white that standard incandescent bulbs put out.
If those are the ones you mean, I love 'em. They are inexpensive, they put out a nice real white light, and they don't get hot like the older style continuous lighting.
Their one real drawback is that it takes a bunch of them to get enough light on any but tabletop shots. Not a huge deal, but it can be bothersome in a DIY setup. Some commercial light makers are already making larger wattage 'daylight' CFL and grouping them together in lighting stands with softboxes and snoots and so on to make them more 'pro-friendly' right off the bat, but they're not cheap.
I have a bunch of them, and I use them with those cheap aluminum clip-on work lights that you can buy at hardware stores like Lowes and Home Depot (they cost about $5 to $9 USD each). I clip them on light stands or whatever I have handy, and with a nice piece of white hobby paper, I've got an instant tabletop product setup. Great for selling stuff on eBay, and less expensive than the $150 light boxes others sell.
Here is something someone else did and put the setup on Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/erica_marshall/2239562643/
That's kind of like mine, but i don't bother with the light tent.
I find them a bit hard to use for portraiture, mainly because they don't put out a huge amount of light - so it does take a bunch of them. But again, they're cheap, the last a long time, and they don't get hot, so it could be worth the tradeoff if you're on a low budget and you're a DIY kind of guy when it comes to lighting.
The 'Daylight' feature is not as important if you're shooting digital and can set a custom white balance, but it does help if you're shooting film, or if you don't have custom white balance or just don't want to mess with it.
ampguy
Veteran
Hi Brian
Hi Brian
In the first part of the discussion "full spectrum", no I'm not referring to CFL's specifically.
However, I have used CFL's and mentioned them in the latter part of 2nd post. They actually come in a variety of qualities and K temps and sizes. Feit is a big name out here in the west, and have partnerned with several energy companies (PG&E, Avista, etc.) to allow customers to buy them cheaply rebate free (have seen as low as 0.25 cents each). These, or others are also available widely at dollar stores etc.
I recommend them in situations when they can be used upright as opposed to hanging down, and when they can be left on for hours at a time, as opposed to frequent on/off cycles during the day.
I haven't found any that last more than a year or two, despite what the packaging says, and I don't think they're equivalent to the ratings on their boxes (but close).
With photography, yes, with adjustable WB, they can be fine. They should also be disposed of properly.
Hi Brian
In the first part of the discussion "full spectrum", no I'm not referring to CFL's specifically.
However, I have used CFL's and mentioned them in the latter part of 2nd post. They actually come in a variety of qualities and K temps and sizes. Feit is a big name out here in the west, and have partnerned with several energy companies (PG&E, Avista, etc.) to allow customers to buy them cheaply rebate free (have seen as low as 0.25 cents each). These, or others are also available widely at dollar stores etc.
I recommend them in situations when they can be used upright as opposed to hanging down, and when they can be left on for hours at a time, as opposed to frequent on/off cycles during the day.
I haven't found any that last more than a year or two, despite what the packaging says, and I don't think they're equivalent to the ratings on their boxes (but close).
With photography, yes, with adjustable WB, they can be fine. They should also be disposed of properly.
I believe you are referring to the newer style of fluorescent bulbs that are designed to replace standard incandescent bulbs, right?
Click on the light for a link to a blog where the use of these bulbs is discussed.
These are referred to as 'full spectrum' CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lights) because they put out light at something like 6500K (Kelvin), which is more-or-less 'daylight' white, as opposed to the 3800K yellowish-white that standard incandescent bulbs put out.
If those are the ones you mean, I love 'em. They are inexpensive, they put out a nice real white light, and they don't get hot like the older style continuous lighting.
Their one real drawback is that it takes a bunch of them to get enough light on any but tabletop shots. Not a huge deal, but it can be bothersome in a DIY setup. Some commercial light makers are already making larger wattage 'daylight' CFL and grouping them together in lighting stands with softboxes and snoots and so on to make them more 'pro-friendly' right off the bat, but they're not cheap.
I have a bunch of them, and I use them with those cheap aluminum clip-on work lights that you can buy at hardware stores like Lowes and Home Depot (they cost about $5 to $9 USD each). I clip them on light stands or whatever I have handy, and with a nice piece of white hobby paper, I've got an instant tabletop product setup. Great for selling stuff on eBay, and less expensive than the $150 light boxes others sell.
Here is something someone else did and put the setup on Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/erica_marshall/2239562643/
That's kind of like mine, but i don't bother with the light tent.
I find them a bit hard to use for portraiture, mainly because they don't put out a huge amount of light - so it does take a bunch of them. But again, they're cheap, the last a long time, and they don't get hot, so it could be worth the tradeoff if you're on a low budget and you're a DIY kind of guy when it comes to lighting.
The 'Daylight' feature is not as important if you're shooting digital and can set a custom white balance, but it does help if you're shooting film, or if you don't have custom white balance or just don't want to mess with it.
bmattock
Veteran
OK, I see. If you're referring to the GE "Reveal" line of so-called 'Full Spectrum Lighting', I have tried them and I did not care for them. To me, they were more blue than white, and my camera's white balance was completely lost when set to 'auto'. I do not have a color-meter, so setting a custom white balance based on whatever temperature these things are was out of the question for me. I googled and found some guy who claimed he emailed GE and asked, their reply was, "Reveal lamps have a color temperature of approximately 2850 degrees Kelvin and a CRI of 75."
I don't think I'd be interested in trying them again. Very happy with my gaggle of high-CRI, high-K CFL bulbs at present.
I don't think I'd be interested in trying them again. Very happy with my gaggle of high-CRI, high-K CFL bulbs at present.
ampguy
Veteran
Hi Brian
Hi Brian
Yes, the GE Reveal's are cool, but a refreshing experience if using the "Soft White" incandescent bulbs for years.
I'm not really sure what the definition is for full spectrum lighting (I know there's a brand called that), but it is used to describe getting a big does of lumens to you closely to simulate some of the effects of natural sunlight. However, the Full Spectrum brand reading lamp we just got has a specific K of 4500 I think, not sure of the other parameters.
I have to use a custom WB for most all indoor lights, even in a room of flourescents, and with 3 presets for flourescents, still need custom. Also need the custom with sodium lamps in school gyms/auditoriums.
Film seems to work better with weird K lighting I've found.
Hi Brian
Yes, the GE Reveal's are cool, but a refreshing experience if using the "Soft White" incandescent bulbs for years.
I'm not really sure what the definition is for full spectrum lighting (I know there's a brand called that), but it is used to describe getting a big does of lumens to you closely to simulate some of the effects of natural sunlight. However, the Full Spectrum brand reading lamp we just got has a specific K of 4500 I think, not sure of the other parameters.
I have to use a custom WB for most all indoor lights, even in a room of flourescents, and with 3 presets for flourescents, still need custom. Also need the custom with sodium lamps in school gyms/auditoriums.
Film seems to work better with weird K lighting I've found.
bmattock
Veteran
Oh, absolutely. I'm actually talking about special CFL 'daylight' lights, which do have a temp of 6500K (I've seen a few rated at 5500K) and a CRI of about 90 or higher. Those do not need custom WB, auto (or 'flash') works great. They have to overpower any other lighting you've got going on, of course.
For gyms, where I agree the lighting is super wonky, and other such locations, I use my handy-dandy expo-disc and set a custom WB. Works a treat.
We also use the 'daylight' CFL lights in our home in places. I like them - they're very clearly WHITE compared to other CFL and standard incandescent bulbs, which look very reddish-yellow by comparison. My wife finds them distracting, but likes them for her knitting/stitching lights, where good color rendition is important. I'd use them everywhere if she'd let me.
ampguy
Veteran
We want to get back to CFL's because of their efficiency, but need to find some good ones that last long hanging down.
ampguy
Veteran
the units at costco (in 2 packs) are simply a 6500K 23W .41A CFL bulb with small plastic housing, may have a fan back there as I'm sure the light base gets hot.