Can you have too much light?

[Emily]

I think I may order some fluorescent daylight bulbs, probably from here: smartlineco (http://photography.search.ebay.com/_Lighting-Studio-Equipment_W0QQcatrefZC12QQfrppZ25QQfsooZ2QQfsopZ3Q QsacatZ30078QQsassZsmartlineco)

There are 30W and 55W. The people here who have talked about them have mentioned the 30W. Is there a reason not to get the 55W? Light's a good thing, right? I don't have anything to put them in yet, but it's looking like the classic Lowe's/Home Depot aluminum reflector clamp-on lamps are the probable home for these bulbs. Dunno yet if I'm going to go with two or three. I've been using three halogen desk lamps for my pictures, one on each side and one behind and above, but the last pictures I took I really hated. What do people use and like?

Oh -- important detail -- I have a (cheapo knock-off) EZ cube (white fabric photo tent).

Muchos thanks.

[wnbresn]

Hi Emily. Actually too much light can be a bad thing if the camera you have cannot adjust itself to handle it correctly. I use two 27w N:vision compact fluorescent bulbs I get at home depot for about 7 bucks a piece. Spaced on each side of my light box about a foot or so away. Believe me when you turn them on you will have all the light you need. Fluorescent daylight bulbs produce more light per watt then incandecent bulbs. That 27 watt bulb produces as much light as a 100 watt incandecent bulb.

[JanMD]

wnbresn, does Emily have to worry about the heat factor with the more powerful fluorescent bulbs? Or is that negligible regardless of wattage, given that they aren't incandescent?

Jan

[Emily]

I guess the camera is a detail worth knowing, too. I have a Fuji F810 digital. I think it's a 6 megapixel. I also have a Nikon 995 that I'll probably want to use from time to time. It's a 3 megapixel.

I was just thinking that the more light, the smaller the aperture you can use, so the greater the depth of field.

[wnbresn]

Jan
Here is a chart I found that compares compact fluorescent bulbs light output to incandesent bulbs:
• 60 watts incandescent = 15 watts compact fluorescent
• 75 watts incandescent = 20 watts compact fluorescent
• 100 incandescent = 26-29 watts compact fluorescent
• 150 incandescent = 38-42 watts compact fluorescent
• 250-300 incandescent = 55 watts compact fluorescent

I can't find heat charts though. I think the heat of a 55 watt bulb will not be bad, certainly a heck of a lot cooler that a 300 watt incandescent and the 55 watt CF bulbs will produce the light needed to stop down to higher F stops. But its a trade off. It will also produce more hot spots unless you position the bulbs right. Sometimes I actually aim the lights up and off of a white sheet to get the light I want

[JanMD]

Wow! Excellent chart, Wnbresn, thank you. I didn't realize there was such a difference! Hmmmm!

Jan