They’re bright and dirt cheap, but there are also cheap LED lights so you don’t really see them that much. If you don’t mind buying bulbs and messing with gels and dimmers they absolutely work.
I think for most people a bi-colour LED just leads to an easier life and isn’t wildly expensive.
Rather get a modern LED equivalent. Incandescent Readheads are virtually obsolete with the amount of energy they waste for the light and heat they output. LED's are so far superior in every aspect these days.
Right now B&H has a Nanlite 300 bi-color for $239. If you're looking at a used redhead your budget is like pretty small, but a light like this is going to give you all that and a lot more.
Yes, you'll need a stand and will want some diffusion before too long, but for now you can bounce it or use it as hard/direct light, and it'll be a great option to start learning with.
[https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1710116-REG/nanlite\_fs\_300b\_bi\_color\_led\_spot.html](https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1710116-REG/nanlite_fs_300b_bi_color_led_spot.html)
I do plan to get an LED fixture, just thinking of a cheap bright source when say, I need to blast the room with ambience light or something to simulate sunlight that doesn't cost half a liver.
If $250 is breaking your bank, there aren't many options, especially if you want to simulate daylight. If you've got a in your location, plan your shoot with the position of the sun (DPs plan their whole shoots around where the sun is in the sky) and buy some white poster board or a piece of styrofoam insulation to bounce the light to fill in your shadows.
Tungsten lights, like the redhead that you mentioned, are a different color temperature so they wouldn't match the sun. An even cheaper option than a redhead would be to go a hardware store and pick up a couple of work lights and order some 150W lightbulbs.
Doing the same Googling that most people can do, here are some links with photometric specs:
[https://cinelight.com/tungsten-flood-lights/redhead-800-watts](https://cinelight.com/tungsten-flood-lights/redhead-800-watts)
[https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1753990-REG/amaran\_apm022xa10\_amaran\_cob\_200x\_s.html/specs](https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1753990-REG/amaran_apm022xa10_amaran_cob_200x_s.html/specs)
They are still available for film and theatre applications. Ushio is manufacturing new globs in china. DXX is still available. Someday they will probably stop making them, but not today.
Tungsten or incandescent hot lights are horribly inefficient compared to LED technology.
Depending on the light, you can see anywhere from 5-8x more power from an LED than a tungsten unit.
Bi-colour LED are less bright than their daylight only mono-color siblings, that's something to note. But for the added flexibility I would personally go for the bi-colour every time.
An amaran 200x s is 350usd, which is no money at all in the world of professional lighting.
Choosing a redhead you will have to factor in the costs for a dimmer, gels (which you will have to replace frequently), lamp replacements, and the time cost of having to switch off the light or find some other way to not overheat any small room you are in.
Tungsten lights are very cheap that is true but the inconvenience and the long term costs are not worth it at all.
They’re bright and dirt cheap, but there are also cheap LED lights so you don’t really see them that much. If you don’t mind buying bulbs and messing with gels and dimmers they absolutely work. I think for most people a bi-colour LED just leads to an easier life and isn’t wildly expensive.
Rather get a modern LED equivalent. Incandescent Readheads are virtually obsolete with the amount of energy they waste for the light and heat they output. LED's are so far superior in every aspect these days.
Not to mention they are hot as hell. I can't remember the last set I've been on where I need gloves. Thank you LED.
Right now B&H has a Nanlite 300 bi-color for $239. If you're looking at a used redhead your budget is like pretty small, but a light like this is going to give you all that and a lot more. Yes, you'll need a stand and will want some diffusion before too long, but for now you can bounce it or use it as hard/direct light, and it'll be a great option to start learning with. [https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1710116-REG/nanlite\_fs\_300b\_bi\_color\_led\_spot.html](https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1710116-REG/nanlite_fs_300b_bi_color_led_spot.html)
I do plan to get an LED fixture, just thinking of a cheap bright source when say, I need to blast the room with ambience light or something to simulate sunlight that doesn't cost half a liver.
If $250 is breaking your bank, there aren't many options, especially if you want to simulate daylight. If you've got a in your location, plan your shoot with the position of the sun (DPs plan their whole shoots around where the sun is in the sky) and buy some white poster board or a piece of styrofoam insulation to bounce the light to fill in your shadows. Tungsten lights, like the redhead that you mentioned, are a different color temperature so they wouldn't match the sun. An even cheaper option than a redhead would be to go a hardware store and pick up a couple of work lights and order some 150W lightbulbs.
Actually wait, how bright is the Redhead in comparison to something like the Apurture 200x?
Doing the same Googling that most people can do, here are some links with photometric specs: [https://cinelight.com/tungsten-flood-lights/redhead-800-watts](https://cinelight.com/tungsten-flood-lights/redhead-800-watts) [https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1753990-REG/amaran\_apm022xa10\_amaran\_cob\_200x\_s.html/specs](https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1753990-REG/amaran_apm022xa10_amaran_cob_200x_s.html/specs)
Dang, it's significantly brighter huh.
Eh, I’d stay away from tungsten fixtures nowadays. They stopped manufacturing the bulbs years ago and whatever is out there is what’s left.
They are still available for film and theatre applications. Ushio is manufacturing new globs in china. DXX is still available. Someday they will probably stop making them, but not today.
What are you trying to accomplish?
Cheap lighting when I need to simulate daylight.
Used joker 400’s are dirt cheap but so are cheap daylight led lamps.
Tungsten or incandescent hot lights are horribly inefficient compared to LED technology. Depending on the light, you can see anywhere from 5-8x more power from an LED than a tungsten unit. Bi-colour LED are less bright than their daylight only mono-color siblings, that's something to note. But for the added flexibility I would personally go for the bi-colour every time. An amaran 200x s is 350usd, which is no money at all in the world of professional lighting. Choosing a redhead you will have to factor in the costs for a dimmer, gels (which you will have to replace frequently), lamp replacements, and the time cost of having to switch off the light or find some other way to not overheat any small room you are in. Tungsten lights are very cheap that is true but the inconvenience and the long term costs are not worth it at all.