Evolution in Tungsten Lamps for Television and Film Lighting

There is a continuing shift from using “conventional” incandescent tungsten lamps toward the new “tungsten-halogen” lamps. The new lamps impose some restraints on lighting equipment designers and have some performance limitations, but they allow new directions in luminaire design and application. Tungsten-halogen lamps have the advantages of excellent maintenance of light output and color temperature during life, increased luminous efficiency and/or life, and lower cost per operating hour. The color temperature and spectral energy distribution of tungsten-halogen lamps are nearly the same as from conventional lamps, and are slightly affected by the halogen used. At least 70 different ratings and shapes of tungsten-halogen lamps are now available for television and film lighting. Some of them are in a standard glass outer bulb with a conventional lamp base, and serve as direct replacements of conventional lamps in existing lighting equipment.