Travel with flourescent lights? at DVinfo.net

Paul Hildebrandt · October 18th, 2012, 11:22 PM

Is it even worth looking into flourescent lighting for airplane travel, as in, checking them in a hard pelican case for example? The idea of flourescent lighting scares me a bit, but I like the look better than tungsten.

Seth Bloombaum · October 19th, 2012, 01:09 PM

To me, that's the biggest negative of fluorescent systems - those big delicate pieces of glass! How to transport them?

Kinoflo has full-length plastic protective sleeves that slip over a 4-foot tube and stay there. Lots of flo manufacturers have fitted foam-filled cases for the tubes. But, even then, you're left with a fixture that doesn't pack particularly well.

So, there's a good business in renting flo lighting to shooters visiting my town. Because it sets up fast and has that nice soft look.

However, if you must travel by air with minimal over-baggage charges and must be self-supported on-location, I'd look at the Lowel Rifa first, and chimera softboxes for your existing tungsten fixtures second. The "look" of flo lighting is nothing particularly difficult, you can get it with tungsten using softboxes or reflectors of similar dimensions.

Me, I like the Rifa because it travels so well and sets up so fast!

This has been discussed on this forum before, Search is your friend!

Brett Sherman · October 19th, 2012, 02:04 PM

I used to do it all the time. I had a Lowel Caselight. I padded the section that held the spare bulbs with 1/2" foam on the bottom and sides. Then I put bubble wrap between each spare bulb. I weaved bubble wrap through the bulbs attached to the fixture. Then I put the whole case inside a cheap blow mold case that was larger with some extra 1/2" foam to make it fit tight. Once I had this system I never broke a bulb.

Simon Denny · October 19th, 2012, 02:11 PM

I has a set of fluros that I travel with. I have traveled this year on about 40 flights with fluros and check these in through baggage as they are oversize. I put these in a pelican case that has padding top and bottom of the case and have never had a broken fluro. Forgot to mention that I also wrap a towel around each light and make sure that they don't move in the case by packing power cables etc in the case also.

Here is a link so you can see the lights that I use. They are cheapies but have worked no stop for years. http://www.dragonimage.com.au/LightP...ent-Light.html

October 18th, 2012, 11:22 PM	#1
Paul Hildebrandt Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Chico, CA Posts: 83	Travel with flourescent lights? Is it even worth looking into flourescent lighting for airplane travel, as in, checking them in a hard pelican case for example? The idea of flourescent lighting scares me a bit, but I like the look better than tungsten.

October 19th, 2012, 01:09 PM	#2
Seth Bloombaum Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,420	Re: Travel with flourescent lights? To me, that's the biggest negative of fluorescent systems - those big delicate pieces of glass! How to transport them? Kinoflo has full-length plastic protective sleeves that slip over a 4-foot tube and stay there. Lots of flo manufacturers have fitted foam-filled cases for the tubes. But, even then, you're left with a fixture that doesn't pack particularly well. So, there's a good business in renting flo lighting to shooters visiting my town. Because it sets up fast and has that nice soft look. However, if you must travel by air with minimal over-baggage charges and must be self-supported on-location, I'd look at the Lowel Rifa first, and chimera softboxes for your existing tungsten fixtures second. The "look" of flo lighting is nothing particularly difficult, you can get it with tungsten using softboxes or reflectors of similar dimensions. Me, I like the Rifa because it travels so well and sets up so fast! This has been discussed on this forum before, Search is your friend! __________________ 30 years of pro media production. Vegas user since 1.0. Webcaster since 1997. Freelancer since 2000. College instructor since 2001.

October 19th, 2012, 02:04 PM	#3
Brett Sherman Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mount Rainier, MD Posts: 428	Re: Travel with flourescent lights? I used to do it all the time. I had a Lowel Caselight. I padded the section that held the spare bulbs with 1/2" foam on the bottom and sides. Then I put bubble wrap between each spare bulb. I weaved bubble wrap through the bulbs attached to the fixture. Then I put the whole case inside a cheap blow mold case that was larger with some extra 1/2" foam to make it fit tight. Once I had this system I never broke a bulb.

October 19th, 2012, 02:11 PM	#4
Simon Denny Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 1,409	Re: Travel with flourescent lights? I has a set of fluros that I travel with. I have traveled this year on about 40 flights with fluros and check these in through baggage as they are oversize. I put these in a pelican case that has padding top and bottom of the case and have never had a broken fluro. Forgot to mention that I also wrap a towel around each light and make sure that they don't move in the case by packing power cables etc in the case also. Here is a link so you can see the lights that I use. They are cheapies but have worked no stop for years. http://www.dragonimage.com.au/LightP...ent-Light.html