Should I Worry About Flicker?
 

I am setting up a little interview kit for someone, and the interviews will always be in a 10'x20' office that already has flourescents overhead. He will be using a Sony HDR-XR500V cam which records at 60i. I originally said he needs a small light setup due to flicker but I have never had a problem using my EX1.

So, should I worry about flicker?

If I do get lights, I want KinoFlos. For interviewing 1-3 people sitting at a table and with limited room on either side of the table, would this work: a 110w Kino on the left and another in front of the subjects but a few feet above and in front(attached to a C stand)?

Thanks

Stay with a shutter of 1/60 (or factor thereof 1/120, 1/180...) and you should be fine ASSUMING the ballasts in the fluoros were made in the last 20 or so years.

Oh, except for the fact that you will be mixing colour temp. Kinos are either 3200k or 5600k balanced and Daylight fluoros in the fixtures in the room are likely to be 4500 - 5500.

The shutter speed is not adjustable on the Sony camcorder.

For flouros, how much wattage does one need for just interviews?

Then HOPE it stays at 1/60 or else you'll have "colour crawl" from the non sustained RGB fluoros.

I'll leave the "how many watts" to those that have more experience with fluoros than I.

Steve, I just art directed a series of interview shoots that were all Kino-lit. The key was a 4bank, and the rimlight and fills were both Diva 200's. The background was infinite black, so there was no lights used on the environment. I happened to have taken notes and that yielded around f2.8 on HPX170's.

Not sure if that's helpful to you...