Do CFL's flicker ?

[Erik Vanlenten]

Was wondering if CFL's flicker on camera?

Thank you,

-Erik V.

[Terry VerHaar]

Shouldn't - and they don't for me, as I often shoot with them. Can't vouch for high or "odd" frame rates, but I do think they cycle at a very high rate.

[Erik Vanlenten]

Shouldn't - and they don't for me, as I often shoot with them. Can't vouch for high or "odd" frame rates, but I do think they cycle at a very high rate.

Thanks Terry, I'll have to test them out.

[Stephen Williams]

CFLs shouldn’t flicker at odd frame rates or even at high speeds (use this link for details why.) There is another website called lucidmovement.com that has high speed clips illuminated by CFL banks. If you look at the clips, there is a slight flicker at 2000FPS and hardly any at 1000FPS. There is also a clip of a 16 x 30Watt CFL bank turning on at 2000FPS. Where the bulbs themselves do not appear to flicker in this clip, even at 2000FPS, and the objects lit by the bulbs barely flicker at 1000FPS, suggests that the slight flicker of CFLs may not be noticeable when used in practical fixtures at 1000FPS.

David Miles

Using a bank of CFL's on different phases and using a CFL is not quite the same thing. A single bulb will flicker at 1000 fps test it & see for yourself!

[Stephen Williams]

Was wondering if CFL's flicker on camera?

Thank you,

-Erik V.

At 25 fps Europe & 30 fps US not at all, at higher speeds the will & could at odd speeds. Some people will not notice even when they do.

[Erik Vanlenten]

Thank you Stephen & David for your input.

[Stephen Pruitt]

What DOES flicker like mad at 24fps are those little LED Christmas-type light strings. As for CFLs, I've never experienced any flicker with any of them, but we seldom do high speed or off-speed shooting.

Stephen