LED etc. Bulb / Lighting Suggestions for Video?

Hello Experts,

1. Can anyone recommend some long-lasting LED (preferably) or other kinds of bulbs?

2. Can you recommend a budget-friendly video lighting setup in general?


I'm very experienced at still photography, but I'm new at video and now have a couple of cheap softbox lights (Mount Dogs, 2 of them at $50 each) that I'm starting my YouTube channel with. I'm recording in my home office so they're plenty of light (I only need one of them + reflectors to light the room).

The bulbs lose luminance quickly (after 20-40 hours) and also change color temperature (they get considerably warmer).

Thanks,
Robert

1. Can anyone recommend some long-lasting LED (preferably) or other kinds of bulbs?

The bulbs lose luminance quickly (after 20-40 hours) and also change color temperature (they get considerably warmer).

Most quality LEDs should be able to give you a life of at least 5000 hours of luminance without change or loss however any longer than that will have its temperature change some permanently, albeit so slightly and almost indistinguishable. However, voltage can also affect the luminance when using it continuously. So, expect the luminance and possibly the temp to change if you're operating and leaving it on for 24 hours or more. But after shutting it down for a few minutes, it should get back to its source spec. I'm not sure what brand and kind of LEDs you are using but if you are saying that it will change after 20-40 hours of [non-continuous] use permanently, then there is something wrong with the LED.

2. Can you recommend a budget-friendly video lighting setup in general?

You can go with a typical 3-point lighting setup for starters. COB LEDs is very common for continuous lighting setups for videography and cinematography. Depending on your budget, the choices can start up at the top price brands as follows:
1. Aputure Lightstorm and Nanlite Forza are the more expensive and choice brands
Example models:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ ... light.html
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ ... i_led.html
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ ... light.html

2. Godox comes in between but some models have quality to be contended with. I'm not a fan of the Godox brand, but that is just me.
Example model:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ ... light.html

3. Aputure Amaran and the SmallRig comes as the budget friendly to that of the Lightstorm and Forza respectively.
Example models:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ ... light.html
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ ... light.html

The big difference is in the housing mostly, where the Amaran and SmallRig have plastic housings while the Lightstorms and Forza are not and can take some abuse on set. Also support for Gold or V-mount batteries also makes a difference.

These lights typically have very high CRI over the other knock offs.

Don't forget to get softboxes for them too. They come very handy on set.

Ellory,

Thank you very much.

1. You're right, I did leave the lights on continuously for long periods of time (pretty much all day).

2. I don't doubt that they're cheap but I didn't know about the stress on them when they're on all the time. I'll try again giving them rest periods and see how they perform.

3. Thanks for the recommendations for the lights. I'm keeping it on a budget now but once I get more comfortable and gain more experience with budget lights I'll probably bump up the budget. I know flash well, but not continuous lights.

I have softboxes now and I also use diffusers and reflectors in my current setup and definitely plan to keep using appropriate light modifiers.

Thanks again,
Robert