Lighting? Are The Bunnings Syle Lights useful?

[TonyH]

Are the Bunnings style halogen stand lights any use for photography?

I've asked a friend who has a great set up with some studio lighting and he reckons they're crap and just cast an irreversible blue colouring over everything that's shot.

I'm just not sure as to whether he's being a bit of a photography snob or giving good advice.

I really don't need professional lighting all that often but if they're ok would make use of them with shots around the house along with the sb800. I certainly couldn't justify the cost of professional hiring as it's purely to have a play with.

Any comments?

[owen]

I got what you're referring to from bunings and they do an okay job, they're certainly not blue... if anything they're a tad too warm.

The ones I got are 2 x 500watt which are a bit too dull for being the main light, but if you've got a sb800 then you can use that and use these lights as a secondary one. And for $30 they're pretty good value.

[Dug]

I use them!

I have a set of bowens studio flashes but I also use these lights for warm lighting under fluro lights in offices and for feature lighting in factories. they are quick and easy to set up and meter.

As W. Eugene Smith said "I only ever use available lighting, I use any lighting that I have available to me at the time."