| Author | Thread |
|
|
02/03/2010 03:37:23 PM · #1 |
A very generous friend of my husband gave me a lowel tota/omni lampak. It came with everything - had never really been used; I mean the stands were still the in brown paper wraping. It came with everything that is except bulbs (or do you call the lamps). I have the little protective plastic box for the blubs and on it is a list of volts, watts, etc. and the code with which to order but....
How do I choose which bulbs to order? I'm clueless. :-/ |
|
|
|
02/03/2010 05:39:51 PM · #2 |
| the Tota can use up to 750 watt lamps. This is what I use in mine - 500 watt version |
|
|
|
02/04/2010 02:39:57 PM · #3 |
| thanks! :-) just wondering why do you use 500? |
|
|
|
02/04/2010 02:59:07 PM · #4 |
probably because the 750 watt bulbs will blind a bat. I have Lowel Tota Video lights and even for video the 750 watt bulbs are a bit over the top. However I do keep a couple of 750's on hand just in case. Make sure you order a few spares. Those bulbs are very unpredictable when it comes to lifespan.
Originally posted by Luci11e:
thanks! :-) just wondering why do you use 500? |
|
|
|
|
02/04/2010 03:21:45 PM · #5 |
| oh ok :-) thanks (I'm new at all this lighting stuff. Just trying to figure it out) |
|
|
|
02/04/2010 03:44:37 PM · #6 |
Im sure you will enjoy playing with the lights, I can offer a bit of advice. Use umbrellas to reflect the light or a shoot through umbrella to dampen it a bit, Also be very careful with them, because they get extremely hot . Always allow some time for them to cool down before you touch the lamp (never touch the bulb directly because the oils in your skin can cause the bulb the burn out) this includes installing or replacing the bulbs, Use gloves or hold the bulb with tissue paper or something so you do not leave any oils on the bulb. Also if they came with the little guard screens that cover the lights make sure you keep them in place, Those bulbs can explode. I actually melted a hole in an umbrella once when the light burst and chunks of hot glass landed on the umbrella. This happened the one and only time I forgot to put the screen back on the light.
Message edited by author 2010-02-04 15:48:58. |
|
|
|
02/04/2010 04:07:23 PM · #7 |
| WOW! Thanks for that advise Bugzeye! I will keep that in mind for sure. |
|
|
|
02/04/2010 06:49:04 PM · #8 |
yep, Bugzeye gives good advice. The 750 watts are a little too bright for my needs. Definitely use the umbrellas to shoot through and never use them without the screens.
I'd also suggest letting them warm up for about five minutes before you start shooting. I've found if you turn them on and start shooting too soon, the white balance changes over time. However, I've only used these for video, not for photography. |
|
|
|
02/04/2010 06:49:04 PM · #9 |
yep, Bugzeye gives good advice. The 750 watts are a little too bright for my needs. Definitely use the umbrellas to shoot through and never use them without the screens.
I'd also suggest letting them warm up for about five minutes before you start shooting. I've found if you turn them on and start shooting too soon, the white balance changes over time. However, I've only used these for video, not for photography. |
|
|
|
02/05/2010 02:17:33 PM · #10 |
There are charts of commonly used bulbs printed on the lights themselves, in their instruction sheets (downloadable from lowel.com), and on their individual web pages under the tab 'Lamp & Beam Data/Performance'.
Use the three letter ANSI code to identify them. Most lights have several choices of bulb wattage. Check for the proper voltage for your system.
Also remember that you should never touch the glass portion of the bulb with bare fingers.
I've been using those lights for over thirty years and never heard of the need to let them warm up before they came up to spec.
Fluorescents on the other hand...
Message edited by author 2010-02-05 14:57:10. |
|
|
|
02/05/2010 02:38:35 PM · #11 |
| WOW Ya'll thanks for the wonderful advise. All things I would not have known without ya. I'm such a rookie. ;-) |
|
|
|
02/05/2010 02:54:24 PM · #12 |
For examples of how they might be used try this -
lowel.com/edu/ |
|
|
|
02/05/2010 02:56:36 PM · #13 |
| I'm on it! :-) Thank you. |
|
