bulbs for practicals and cases for those bulbs at DVinfo.net

Mike Watson · March 29th, 2011, 12:07 PM

I do a lot of shooting in hotel suites and private homes and offices. It's always nice to get a lamp in the shot for "atmosphere", but with today's camera technology I generally need to dim the practical to get it to match the scene. Years ago I started carrying a handful of in-line 300w dimmers for this purpose.

As years have worn on, I run into more and more CFL's, which of course aren't dimmable. Then I have to come up with something on-site - wrapping the CFL with spun or something, to knock it down a bit.

I'd like to start carrying regular edison bulbs, but they're as fragile as a ... well, you know. Are there cases for this sort of thing? What is everyone else doing in this respect?

Bob Grant · March 29th, 2011, 04:46 PM

I've made cases out of short lengths of PVC pipe with push on end caps. If you want to get fancy use the screw on end caps. Add small blocks of foam to protect each end of the CFL and they'll survive a reasonable amount of abuse.
Alternatively you could use a case with foam and suitable cutouts similar to what the venue audio guys use for bulk mic stowage.

March 29th, 2011, 12:07 PM	#1
Mike Watson Trustee Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,082	bulbs for practicals and cases for those bulbs I do a lot of shooting in hotel suites and private homes and offices. It's always nice to get a lamp in the shot for "atmosphere", but with today's camera technology I generally need to dim the practical to get it to match the scene. Years ago I started carrying a handful of in-line 300w dimmers for this purpose. As years have worn on, I run into more and more CFL's, which of course aren't dimmable. Then I have to come up with something on-site - wrapping the CFL with spun or something, to knock it down a bit. I'd like to start carrying regular edison bulbs, but they're as fragile as a ... well, you know. Are there cases for this sort of thing? What is everyone else doing in this respect?

March 29th, 2011, 04:46 PM	#2
Bob Grant Trustee Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 1,570	Re: bulbs for practicals and cases for those bulbs I've made cases out of short lengths of PVC pipe with push on end caps. If you want to get fancy use the screw on end caps. Add small blocks of foam to protect each end of the CFL and they'll survive a reasonable amount of abuse. Alternatively you could use a case with foam and suitable cutouts similar to what the venue audio guys use for bulk mic stowage.