Lighting - anybody have an experiance of using this sort of thing

[ajohnw]

After taking macro shots of a ball point pen I decided I should have some flexible studio type lighting around. It probably will be used for other things from time to time but not that often.

I've been wondering about this sort of thing

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...ilpage_o00_s00

Some concern about how long bulbs last and also light levels but going on studio work years ago I think that aspect is adequate.

John
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[Mike Buckley]

I've been using a set of compact fluorescent light bulbs rated at 6000 hours for a couple of years and none of them have burned out, though I'm sure I'm not anywhere close to 6000 hours. Mine are rated only 30 watts or 32 watts and I don't know if that would be a factor of longevity.

[Shadowman]

Checked the customer reviews only one comment regarding the lights and it had more to do with the switch than longevity of the bulb.

[ajohnw]

I had my tongue in cheek a little when I said adequate but thought if too much or if they don't last long I should be able to find some lower power ones as in normal bulb terms I would have thought 100 - 150w would be enough especially with the silver brolleys on..

John
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[Mike Buckley]

I had my tongue in cheek a little

I wondered why you were considering such powerful bulbs when shooting ball point pens and the like. I assumed you would be doing other kinds of photography requiring more fire power.

[ajohnw]

The reviews look good. One bulb blew quickly and the seller replaced and I seem to remember a comment about a faulty switch that was also fixed. I can do that sort of thing for myself if needed.

Most comments seem to relate to flimsy but the stands seem to be more robust than some due to the diameters and for the price? I did look at some studio gear a while ago - diffuse aluminium heads 500mm dia and stands to take them but the prices surprised me and then there is the problem of storage. Flash head can be cheap but set up wont be so easy.

They claim 8000hrs but in such a small size compared with say a 60w strip light.

John
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[Mike Buckley]

Regarding the other equipment, I pretty much rely on the Impact brand. Like you, I don't have the needs requiring heavy-duty equipment made to endure significant use and abuse and understandably costing more. Impact pricing and products are consistently a good value in my mind.

[ajohnw]

I wondered why you were considering such powerful bulbs when shooting ball point pens and the like. I assumed you would be doing other kinds of photography requiring more fire power.

Not sure Mike. Distance might help get more even diffuse light levels. There is not much choice really on bulbs at this level. Some use 4 in each reflector. Each one is a lower power but yet more light. Some use lower cri 6400k bulbs which wouldn't be a good idea..

I suspect these could also be used to illuminate a home made soft box. I did look at that sort of thing but the stands tend to be low or rather more expensive than these and I can always fit lower powered bulbs if needed. The UK doesn't use Edison screw fitting bulbs much but they are about.

Maybe ok for macro at 1/8000 sec but I doubt it.

John
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[Mike Buckley]

You mentioned a lamp that uses four bulbs. I use one that has five bulbs with three switches on the back that control which bulbs are lit ( a bit more convenient than unscrewing bulbs to turn them off). I use that size because I'm working in a very small space. The size of the reflector that is used to accommodate so many bulbs makes it possible to produce a relatively large area even when the lamp is relatively close to the scene being photographed. In other words, the way I use the lamp is more about the relative size of the area being lit than the amount of total watts.

[Stagecoach]

John,

Regarding the lighting system on the link I would question it's suitability for macro work and especially in relation to the 'biro' type of subject project.

If you consider your camera and subject positioning would you be able to move this type of gear due to its size physically around your subject and adequately be able to control specular highlights on subjects where it's a problem.

Personally, I have found that for very small subjects where reflection and highlights are a concern you can not beat a small easily moved desk-lamp type source and diffusion material positioned to control highlights.

My biro shot was a real challenge with lighting, the solution being a piece of A4 copy paper, folded at 90 deg between light source and subject.

Grahame

[rpcrowe]

I have not used this setup. However, I have a softbox that utilizes four CFL bulbs and is quite nice. I originally purchased this softbox to illuminate videos of puppies and used it along with a camera mounted LED light.

I also use this as a fill for shooting stills with a hotshoe mounted flash with a Demb Flash Diffuser Pro and it also works great for that.

I don't know the hours that the CFL will burn but, I have been using the softbox for several years and have not changed bulbs. I usually shoot around 5-10 dogs per week at a half hour to an hour for each dog. So these cFL bulbs certainly last longerthan incandescent bulbs.

My generic softbox is available all over eBay (I don't remember specifically which one I purchased) and has two switches, one controls each pair of lights.

[chauncey]

FWIW...I am becoming a fan of these lights. http://www.amazon.com/Cree-18-Watt-D...rds=led+lights
Used with a dimmer switch, they work fine.

[jcuknz]

John ... The page also suggests some clamps which I would steer clear of if they are like the ones I bought, the price suggests that they are similar products.
Problem is the springs are very strong, much stronger than the plastic they are holding together.

Trouble is that there is a very similar product which works fine ... the ones which have broken are I'm sure the cheap ones beside the good ones on the shelf
Silly Me

[IzzieK]

John, I have a set of three, including the head light. At Lowes they call it Photo Light. Please do not make a mistake of not checking that the system works as this kind of bulb itself cost around $25 to replace (depending on the wattage I think). If it only electrical, my hubby can fix it but if you have to buy the bulb itself like I did, it is another story.

[ajohnw]

I've pressed the buy it button. No clips.

I will check it all works Izzie. I think the bulbs cost around £15 each in the UK. WM's bulbs could be fitted as well. I am away for a few days when they arrive but will check as soon as I get back. The seller seems to be ok on problems like yours.

I do have a couple of these for macro ish work. I used one plus the overhead lighting for the ball point pen shots I posted

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/00169659/

It was used just for fill in so the 6ft 70/80 strip ceiling light provided most of the illumination and the led lamp was some distance away. This gave typically around 1sec F22, ISO 800. The strip lamp caused the reflections. A photomicrographer I know uses these lamps because they give a very even pool of illumination. They are also available with a clip on base. If I try to use the larger lamps for this sort of thing I don't see them being close to the subject so shouldn't get in the way and diffusers and reflectors - probably kitchen foil in my case could still be used. If I did this sort of thing seriously I would be inclined to use a soft box. I don't like what I read about collapsible fabric soft boxes so I'd guess I would get some thin opal perspex and arrange for it to clip together myself. It's an excellent diffuser.

John
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[JohnRostron]

For desktop macro and close up I use up to four small LED lights, about 9 pounds each from Jessops. I also use them outdoors for photographing fungi.

[xpatUSA]

Some concern about how long bulbs last and also light levels but going on studio work years ago I think that aspect is adequate.

On light levels with those long, plain bulbs, it looks like much of the luminance will miss the umbrella and therefore will not be reflected towards the subject. Unlike floods or flash?

For a long time, I successfully used 13W Sylvania 5500K mini-craft lamps in normal goose-neck desk lamps i.e. the bulbs were inside reflectors. But, as to life, it was not as advertised because they were switched on and off a lot and were in an non-air-conditioned camper (caravan) here in Texas. Plus they were made in a far-off land. Claimed CRI was 85, if I recall correctly. Having said that, the lighting was a little lacking in red, according to my Sigma SD9 but not according to my D50.

As we know, manufacturers can get a 'good' CRI by judicious manipulation of phosphor doping without necessarily giving a wonderfully smooth spectral radiance. The new Ra metric might be better in that respect.

[ajohnw]

True Ted. That type of light arrangement isn't all that efficient really as they are made of tubing. There is a style that uses a flatter spiral. Near 1/2 the light still goes in the wrong direction. The only ones that tend to emit all of their light are the U tube style ones which look like they come from a petrol distillery - we usually gas works in the UK.

The bulb to umbrella distance is adjustable on them which will help but I agree about wasted light. One thought that struck me when I looked at them was fitting LED flood lamps. No brolley needed ?? with these. There are alternatives and I feel one will need a dimmer but a combination of a silver on one and white on the other might get round that,

John
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[xpatUSA]

The bulb to umbrella distance is adjustable on them which will help but I agree about wasted light. One thought that struck me when I looked at them was fitting LED flood lamps. No brolley needed ?? with these.

John
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The brollies might provide diffusion and an extra degree of lighting control. However, LED floods are quite a bit heavier than CFLs. I need big stones on my desk lamps to avoid accidental toppling.

I use these - they come in various 'PAR' (US) sizes and flood angles.

http://www.satco.com/light-bulbs/led...par-lamps/?p=3

The ones I use have built-in diffusers but the individual LEDs can still be seen in some shots of flattish reflective surfaces (e.g. lens elements). Please do not mention the so-called family of angles

They make other kinds too. Didn't find bayonet fittings there but they might have a UK site, who knows?

I found the 5000K ones have a slight blue cast but now I use 3500K which works well enough for my purposes. Dire warnings about spiky spectra are not applicable to these lamps which have smooth spectra, measured and published by an independent test lab. I understand Cree LED lamps are pretty good too.

[ajohnw]

They have arrived. Not bad is how I would describe them, better than expected but still cheap and cheerful. The leg braces are a bit weird but I'd guess they account for use with an over head arm. The switches have a nice positive click - good sign.

I'm not inclined to believe the claimed equivalent light power figures. Usual CFL fictitious figures as expected so I'm glad I went for ones with silver brolleys. Light escape with the brolley right down isn't too bad at all. They provide a large pool of light. I'm going to try some par38 conventional spot lamps for a more concentrated effect.

I'm not surprised high K led lamps give a blue cast. To get there they have to put out an immense amount of blue, truly staggering would be a better way of putting it. A side effect on the specs is an apparent increase in light levels. If I go down that route I will stick with 2700K as per the Ikea lamp I linked to. The suggestion came from some one who is world famous in his field and if good enough for him etc. I have also used it and found no problems.

John
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