Using Tungsten Lights in Forgein Country?

[BayAreaPhotog]

I may be taking a trip to a forgein country where their AC is 220. Is it possible to use the travel converter that I use for my hair dryer, etc. on my tungsten lights? Could I plug a 110 power strip into a converter and then plug in more than one light into the power strip? It would probably be safer to rent the lighting equipment over there, but I am not sure how available rentals are. Any thoughts?

[eland]

Hi

Well what you say with a 110 power strip will work, but
it all depends where you plan to go.

If you are going to any civilised country you could rent
or even buy a couple of lights and reflectors as you needed them.

Personally I wouldn't want to lug lights with when traveling
overseas. Do you really need tungsten lights ?
Would a couple of flash guns and slave unit not do ?

If it's for something special like photographing art work,
special permission would be needed to take lights into the museum.
If in somewhere like Paris I would get permission first and
and rent or buy there. I've bought second hand reading lamps
with 150 watt bulbs. When finished, just give them away to the concierge.

I'm curious what you plan to photograph.
When I know, I could advise in more detail.

Regards

eland
hal bruce

[BayAreaPhotog]

I was going to use Tungsten lights because that what I have and have experience with. I have a video background. I have never used flash or strobe systems.

[eland]

Hello again
Thanks you for replying.

I've traveled quite a lot and could advise you better if I knew
1. where you were planning on going, and

2. what you are hoping to photograph using an artificial light source.

Without knowing these specific things it is hard to advise
you.
My feeling is still that a couple of flash guns would
be a whole lot easier to carry around than photofloods
and reflectors.
Flash guns that would fit in your camera bag
or hand bag are very powerful these days and do most
all the thinking for you.
You could look at a small diffuser for softer light if you preferred.

Good flash guns have a slave facility so one flash attached to
the camera can fire off an infinite number of others.

I'm repeating myself.
If you want to tell me what countries you plan to visit
I could give more specific advice.

Kind regards
eland
hal