I bought this cheap umbrella continuous lighting kit:

http://www.amazon.com/PHOTOGRAPHY-CONTINUOUS-LIGHTING-UMBRELLA-Fluorescent/dp/B000GX484U/sr=1-14/qid=1167847723/ref=sr_1_14/104-8989030-8750366?ie=UTF8&s=photo

It would seem that the distributor has gone out of business. There is a seller on Amazon, but they seem kinda iffy.

I'm trying to buy bulbs for this thing. Any idea where I should go looking?

Thanks

Charles

I bought this cheap umbrella continuous lighting kit:
I'm trying to buy bulbs for this thing. Any idea where I should go looking?
Try visiting a nearby electrical supply distributor. I have several near me and most have an extensive reference of bulb specifications. You would just need to ask for one that matches:

- socket type
- wattage (27w)
- colour temperature (as close to 5500K as possible)
- and, because it's fluorescent, also ask for the highest CRI (colour rendering index) they have (over 85 but 95-98 is better)

"Daylight" compact fluorescents are surprisingly common, you just want to find one with the best output for video work.

You might also take a trip to Home Depot. Pick up N:Vision 100watt flouresent bulbs for $4.97 each.
They are 27 watt 5500 degrees kelvin. I use them for outside shooting and anytime I need daylight.
By the way they are incredible grow lights for plants. I have to fight my wife for them all of the time.
Gary

Hey Gary

My wife just got these at 60 watt. They didn't seem to fit the umbrella holder though...But now that I know...I'll go get the 100s.

Charles

Here's a great page that I found while searching for N:Vision lights :

What Compact Fluorescents To Use Where
http://members.misty.com/don/cfapp.html

Home Depot and Lowe's have a better selection now and you can find the 5500K's quite regularly and they work fine for most work -- especially video and digital photography. I don't use film of any kind any more so i can' testify to their effects on film. They also carry "neutral white" which is 3500K which i actually like quite well too.

Got them this weekend - $7 for a 100watt Daylight CFL by N:vision. Seems to work pretty well. Thanks to all.

Great Charles, Now hide them from your wife.
Gary

She got her own supply...She got the soft white's I think. Lower wattage...