Lights

Techniques and equipment.

Moderator: Moderators

Lights

Postby agosnell » Jun 20, 2012 3:48 pm

Hi

A friend of mine once told me about how having 4 speakers instead of 2 speakers is just more sound not louder sound.

I was wondering if that translates to lighting?

What I am getting at is I need more light for pics mainly.... I have 2 1800 lumen lights and I have lit up a particular passage in a cave.
If I buy 8 more of these lights and put in the same passage as I did with the 2 that I have, would this be like having a single 18k lumen light?


Also would the combined lighting distance increase?
pEAcE
User avatar
agosnell
Prolific Poster
 
Posts: 131
Joined: Jul 6, 2008 5:17 pm
Location: Atlanta
Name: Alvin Gosnell
NSS #: 48081
Primary Grotto Affiliation: Dogwood City Grotto
  

Re: Lights

Postby Magee » Jun 21, 2012 9:48 am

The effect of light is addictive, however the effect is not direct in the number of lights. Two lights are brighter than 1 however not twice as bright.
Magee
Occasional Poster
 
Posts: 25
Joined: Dec 10, 2011 3:51 pm
  

Re: Lights

Postby LukeM » Jun 22, 2012 9:51 am

Putting 10 of those lights together would give you 18k theoretical lumens. However, human perception is a funny thing. For instance doubling light output (or sound for that matter) doesn't lead to double the perceived intensity. More like 1.4x the intensity according to some.

If you're talking photography you will realize twice the brightness with twice the power, so for the same shot you would be able to adjust by a full stop with twice the lumens. However, in order to increase distance you will need to account for the inverse square law which you can roughly approximate by quadrupling the output for double the distance.

Also, because of losses in optics (unless they are bare LED) and dimming of the LEDs due to heat you might not be getting the advertised output of your light. Some manufacturers advertise the theoretical lumens output straight from the LED, some places estimate the actual output, and others actually measure the output. Still others just seem to ask their marketing department for guidance.

Hope that answers your questions.
User avatar
LukeM
NSS Hall Of Fame Poster
 
Posts: 705
Joined: Jan 30, 2008 2:53 pm
Location: Albany, NY
Name: Luke Mazza
NSS #: 59317
Primary Grotto Affiliation: Syracuse University Outing Club
  


Return to Photography and Videography Forum

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users