Halogen bulb question? Please help.

Transmission2

Transmission2

Active member
I have the Rifa Light 44 (250w) and I needed to replace one of the bulbs today for a shoot tonight. I went and got two GCA 250w 120v bulbs, but it seems they are halogen and not tungsten. Does this matter? Can I use it in my Rifa Lite? I did put the bulb in and it worked, but i quickly took it out because Im not a hundred percent sure. Any help would be much appreciated because i need to shoot an interview tonight. One more question...if the halogen bulb is fine, should I make sure that I put the same halogen bulb in the other light so they match?

thanks in advance.
 
You're good. All of the bulbs I've got lying around here are halogens. If the color temp is right, you shouldn't have any problems with compatibility.
 
How do I know if the color temp is right? To my eye it looks to be the same type of light, but Im not totally sure.
 
Transmission2 said:
How do I know if the color temp is right? To my eye it looks to be the same type of light, but Im not totally sure.
Click to expand...

The big differences between tungsten and halogen lamp are the size and that halogens remain clear all their life. Tungsten types burn and evaporate metal, which lays on the glass, darkening and reddening the output.

Size is a factor too, and most old lights had mirrors designed for them. So you couldn't replace them with halogens if they were not positioned in the same place. As halogens were smaller, there was one brand (can't remember the name) that in the '70s released a whole line of halogens inside "old" bulbs, which let you innovate old light heads.

Halogens have a glass material that is sensitive to skin oils, so you shouldn't touch them when you handle them. That is not a problem with tungsten's glass.

I am not sure how many pro lamp heads are made today that still use tungsten lamps. Most are designed for halogens. I didn't know the Rifa wasn't one of them.

About their color type, you will find 3000 and 3200 types in both technologies. Whiter types, on both, last less than redder types. So the color does not define the lamp type.

BTW, and not intending to make this matter more confusing: the central element is tungsten in both lamps. But in the halogen types, the internal gas (halogen) makes the evaporating metal deposit again on itself. In tungsten types it's simple vacuum.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top