HMI

[<HMI EDU.>]

can someone tell me about HMI lights?
whats the best use indoor outdoors?
the type of mood it sets anything?

[Camopz]

HMI's are rated 5600 as opposed to tungstun which is rated 3200

matches sunlight/ commonly used outdoors

ex. - to even out contrast, replicate or
boost sunlight...ect.

I would'nt say there is a proper use for using HMI's, they can be used in many ways indoors and out. It depends on what look/mood your going for.

ex. - used ungelled out of sunlight with camera balanced/filtered for tungstun(3200) and used with tungstun lights it will give you a blue cast from that source (colder look)

where tungstun(3200)will give you a warmer look

[<HMI>]

do you think they are a good investment?
i just bought a set of 2 jokers
for a low price, and want to experiment with
them.

[2000lux]

Well I'd like to have some! HMIs are generally pretty expensive. I'm curious what the "good price" was if it was low enough to get them to just experiment with.

Most people use thier HMIs outside because they are color balanced for the sun rather than for indoor tungsten lights. In news HMIs are generally used for reporter live shots, outside, during the day. I have seen them used at night to light up buildings and other things in the background because they are generally very powerful lights (however, the building looks blue). I've seen them used indoors for interviews in sun rooms, green houses, and other places where a lot of sun was coming in through the windows and it would be a major pain to gel the windows.

They're a tool like any other. A drill makes holes. If you want a hole, use a drill. If you want to drive nail, use a hammer instead. HMIs produce light color balanced to match the sun. If you don't want that color light don't use them, if you do, then you've got just the thing!

-Brian

[adam]

HMIs are great for out door lighting, aside from their 5600k light they are incredibly powerful. A 200w bulb can produce almost as much candle power as a tungsten 1k (I'm guestimating). This combination is powerful when working from a live truck. A 575w HMI won't blow a truck's circuit but will give you more light than any amount of tungsten lights you might be able to run off a loaded generator. 2 Jokers will probably be able to reasonably get you good pictures in most outdoor conditions, if you have a way to scrim the sun down.
A lot of folks comment on the "soft" light that HMI's provide. There is a wonderful wrapping effect of HMI's that is difficult to put into words, the light seems to be diffused when compared to tungsten lighting.