Photoflex StarLite CoolStar 150 Fluorescent Lamp - 150 Watts/120 Volts

Comments about Photoflex StarLite CoolStar 150 Fluorescent Lamp - 150 Watts/120 Volts:

I'm using the CoolStar 150 mostly in small product photography and some videos for the Web and have found to be a very useful in these respects. Highly recommended for long shoots in small spaces as it doesn't put out too much heat.

Comments about Photoflex StarLite CoolStar 150 Fluorescent Lamp - 150 Watts/120 Volts:

Have several assignments this winter/spring to shoot video productions in artists studios and balance with window light. These have worked great so far, the right tool for this application.

Comments about Photoflex StarLite CoolStar 150 Fluorescent Lamp - 150 Watts/120 Volts:

I already owner the 32K lamps but adding the Coolstar 150 to my lighting equipment has really given me much more options in lighting. Even using the two color temperature lights together has given me some really great looks.

Comments about Photoflex StarLite CoolStar 150 Fluorescent Lamp - 150 Watts/120 Volts:

High price but a great value considering the quality of the daylight balanced bulb, I would definitely recommend this item. I use this bulb usually indoors where there is a lot of light spilling through a window and you don't want 3200k lamps.

Comments about Photoflex StarLite CoolStar 150 Fluorescent Lamp - 150 Watts/120 Volts:

Because I shoot in small and enclosed places such as offices, the use of tungsten lighting can be disturbing to talent who is not used to the glare and heat. Fluorescent lighting is a suitable substitute that dissipates a third of the heat and keeps the client comfortable.

I use the StarLite CoolStar in PhotoFlex lightboxes where they perform nicely. Since I can't always shutter daylight streaming into a location, the 5200K output plays with natural light almost seemlessly.

The lamps are shipped in a professional style case that protects with a hard shell and padding.

As with all fluorescent lighting, the Coolstar lamps need a couple minutes to come to full output. They don't seem to suffer from color change as they warm up. Still, be sure to do a white balance before shooting. If you're a pro, I didn't really have to write that.

I would like to see a dimmable version of the CoolStar.

I expect pricing for the lamps to drop as competition comes into place where they will become a no-brainer alternative to tungsten.

Comments about Photoflex StarLite CoolStar 150 Fluorescent Lamp - 150 Watts/120 Volts:

I have a long history with tungsten lighting, particularly various Lowel fixtures, but also a Photoflex Starlite system. I have always worked with hot lights because I shoot both stills and video, which dictated continuous source.

The Photoflex StarLite CoolStar 150 is my first foray into fluorescent lighting.

Mostly I shoot residential interiors, mainly log homes. Lots of wood, and lots of difficult nuances in hue and shading in the brown spectrum.

I use Photoflex light sources within a Photoflex LiteDome, creating a large soft source key light, like a Chinese lantern. I usually haul these lights out when I have a large vaulted great room to illuminate, or else when I need a soft box for interviews.

APPLICATION

Obviously, there are huge plusses for this florescent light source:

1) Daylight color balance. This solves a lot of problems for me because I am always fighting mixed source lighting. Tungsten lighting on interiors is fine, except daylight spill from windows, and views including windows and doors.

2) Low power consumption. 3 StarLite CoolStar 150 watt Fluorescent lamps draw only 450 watts, far less than my quad Starlite heads, which draw 4,000 watts.

3) Cool light. The fluorescent fixture runs very cool, and is a great choice for interviews.

DOWNSIDE

1) Not much throw. Even using 3 StarLite CoolStar lamps in a Photoflex Constellation3 fixture, light falloff is a major consideration. Unless you can work in close with the light, forget using small f-stops. This is especially serious when shooting stills where depth of field is critical.

In fairness, my LiteDome enclosures were made for hot lights, and include a diffusion panel inside the "tent" structure. Since this diffusion is unnecessary with a fluorescent source, I might achieve a slight increase in output by removing it. Still, I'm afraid there would be little difference in throw.

2) This is a huge bulb. It is roughly the size of a standard football. No featherweight, by the time you get 3 lamps mounted in a Photoflex Constellation3 fixture, you will need a beefy stand and shot bags to ballast the entire light. One major plus: the Photoflex Cruz Tube cases are superb. These appear to use a foot long section of plastic sewer pipe within the bag for protection. These are much better quality than the average Photoflex bag, and definitely road worthy. I would not consider purchase of the StarLight CoolStar without the Cruz Tube case.

3) Not really a comment on the StarLite CoolStar lamp, but the Photoflex Constellation3 fixture, while quite nice overall, has an under-engineered stand mount. The light fixture plus three lamp, along with the LiteDome, exert considerable weight on the mount. The one Photoflex supplies with the Constellation3 is not confidence inspiring. In fact, you would be well advised to limit it to use with medium LiteDome enclosures, though I am working with a Large.

4) This lighting system is fairly involved on location. It takes time to setup, time to move, and time to strike. Like any dome style light, it can be demanding to position. This would not be a problem for small product photography or a studio, but for my application of residential interiors, I am always backed into a corner, and every inch counts.

Overall, I am very excited about this daylight source. For some people, this might be a great primary light fixture. For me, it is a fairly inexpensive addition that really opens up a lot of possibilities in the way I work. I think adding daylight source fluorescent lighting to my kit will change the way I work.