Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

I have 3 Einsteins which I think are great! While I mostly do still photography, I recently had to do a video shoot indoors. Since I don't have continuous lighting for video, I cranked the modeling lamps to max and used them to help as fill light in the video.

It works, not perfect, but I was able to use my Buff light modifiers (barn doors and an octobox) for the shoot which was nice. So this got me thinking....

1. What is the color temp of the modeling lamps in the Einstein?

They seemed warm (incandescent-like). Is there a bulb I could use for 5500K (sunlight) light?

2. Could you safely use a higher output daylight temp bulb as a modeling lamp?

I'm trying to find an inexpensive way to use my Buff light modifiers (softboxes, barn doors, etc) in a video continuous lighting environment for occasion use instead of having to purchase another lighting system.

3. Or, is there a way to use any existing continuous daylight video lighting systems with the Buff light modifiers? Any particular types that are known to work?

Seems there should be some overlap, and I'm trying to find a way to use my Buff equipment in a part time video continuous lighting system since I mostly use them in strobe fashion as designed.

Our lights are designed for strobe purposes, where color temperature and extreme brightness of the model lamp are not significant features. The color temperature is in the incadescent range, as they are incadescent light bulbs. Absolute color temperature will vary based on relative power settings (max vs. min), starting in the 3000K range at full.

No, you cannot install anything brighter than 250W bulbs in any of our lights, and some are not even that high, particularly with enclosed modifiers. I am unaware of any daylight balanced bulbs for Einstein, however the Bees and X Series lights have standard Edison bases, so daylight balanced photofloods can be used, provided they do not exceede the max wattage of the lights. (150W and 250W, respectively).

Additionally, I am unaware of any continuous lighting system that can be adapted to the Balcar/Buff mount. As well, we cannot guarantee the suitability of the materials we use for our modifiers for temperatures attained when using very high output continuous lighting.