Quartz Halogen lights

[longhorn8]

Are the quartz halogen work lights that you can buy at the local hard ware store an option for shooting film? Specifically, are they balanced at 3200K? If not, are they close enough where they won't cause problems with good color reproduction...or do you have to correct them with gels? If anyone out there has used these kinds of lights let me know. I'm interested in the results that can be achieved.

Brad

[Actor]

I've used them for still photography and they seem OK. Definitely no problem for B&W.

I've heard that you can buy replacement halogen bulbs for them at photo stores. These are balanced for tungsten, whether for 3200K or 3400K I don't know, and they maintain their color temp to the end. The color temp of incandescent photo lamps drops as they age.

If you replace the bulbs that come with them with photo halogen bulbs then the disadvangages that remain are:
</font><ul type="square">[*]<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">They don't have barn doors.</font>[*]<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">They don't have fresnel lenses.</font>[*]<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">They don't have focusing controls.</font>[/list]<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ August 27, 2003 01:38 AM: Message edited by: Actor ]</font>

[longhorn8]

Yeah, there are definitely some negatives to quartz halogen work lights; i.e. no barn doors, fresnel lenses, etc. I bought a cheap work light from Sears. I am going to test it with some color ektachrome. We'll see how it turns out.

Brad

[seekaee]

Has anyone tried making any barndoors? I was thinking some wood coverd with blackwrap and wiring it to the frame might do the job.

[longhorn8]

Or thin metal sheeting.

[mr stockblack]

I use quartz halogen lights with super8, it is fine with k40 and ecktachrome.

so as far as i know, yes they are balanced.
and to get over the barndoor thing, either point them at the ceiling to bounce, or, as i have done, attach sheet metal barn doors with very stiff hinges. a quick and really effectice solution.

my 500watt lights cost $45, including stand, light, barndoors, and globes.

give them a go!?

[longhorn8]

Alright how about the Smith Victor quartz halogen lights? They are definitely pricier than work lights but are quite a bit cheaper than other companies. (Mole, Arri, etc.)I've found them online but there aren't any stores around here that carry them. What are the pros and cons of these lights?