Hobbies And Interests
Directional Lighting
LED lighting proves advantageous for directional lighting, such as flashlights, desktop lamps and other lights intended to focus on one specific area. Unlike fluorescent lighting, LEDs light a focused area, instead of flooding a general, wide space. Robert G. Nulph, Ph.D. writes in a November 2008 article on Videomaker.com that directional lighting is key in film noir -- a mystery genre filmed in black and white -- where it accentuates mood through strong, single-point light that creates shadows and focuses on one small portion of the frame, such as one character's profile.
Flood Lighting
More useful for lighting up entire rooms, fluorescent light bulbs appear in grocery stores, classrooms, offices and other public buildings. In cinematography, fluorescent lighting works for a scene in which focused light is unnecessary, such as a living room during the daytime. According to Eartheasy.com, fluorescent lighting imitates sunlight by creating a warm white light that LEDs cannot duplicate.
Lifespan
Eartheasy.com estimates a 50,000-hour "projected lifespan" for LEDs. Fluorescent light bulbs, on the other hand, only last about 10,000 hours, which is about 10 times longer than the typical incandescent bulb. The website cautions, however, that the lifespan of a fluorescent bulb decreases when switched off and on frequently.
Cost Considerations
LED bulbs cost more than fluorescent bulbs, but Eartheasy.com points out that an LED's lifespan more than makes up the cost of use. The website estimates that running an LED light bulb for 50,000 hours would cost $95.95, while the price tag for a fluorescent light bulb for the same amount of time would reach $159.75 and requires five bulbs instead of one. Another consideration: Fluorescent light bulbs emit heat, while LEDs do not -- so using LEDs may reduce air-conditioning costs for a film studio.
Safety and Environmental Impact
Eartheasy.com explains that fluorescent light bulbs contain mercury, a poisonous and potentially harmful element if the light bulb breaks on a movie set. LED bulbs, however, contain no mercury or other injurious elements and are less likely to break because of their compact nature. Eartheasy.com also reports that LEDs utilize about half the amount of wattage of fluorescent lights -- six watts of an LED equal 14 watts from a fluorescent bulb -- and require less electricity overall.