Hi everyone,

I'm very new to the indoor lighting game, and playing around on a shoestring right now until I can afford to buy some real gear.

I've experimented with a number of different things (all in the sub-$150 range), and so far what I've found works best for my needs is two simple cheap umbrella kits, with 85W CFL (so 350W-ish equivalent) bulbs. It works surprisingly well (not going to win any lighting awards, but okay for what I'm doing), but I'd like to get a bit more light on my subjects without adding too many more lights.

So I was looking around and came across 200W and 250W 5500K CFL bulbs (indoor grow lights, it looks like). The problem is, they seem to be E39 bases, and my umbrella kits are E26.

Does anyone know of a cheap umbrella or softbox solution with an E26 base? Or are there instructions somewhere on how to replace the base?

Thanks so much, and pardon the ignorance present in the questions!

Am I asking the wrong question? I'm open to being corrected on a fundamental misunderstanding, if that's the case!

Did you try google?

MEDIUM (E26) TO MOGUL (E39) BASE SOCKET ENLARGER (http://www.bulbtown.com/MEDIUM_E26_TO_MOGUL_E39_BASE_ENLARGER_p/d350.htm)

Hi everyone,

The problem is, they seem to be E39 bases, and my umbrella kits are E26.

Does anyone know of a cheap umbrella or softbox solution with an E26 base? Or are there instructions somewhere on how to replace the base?


Electrical Distributors/Wholesalers and a number of online places sell the E39 to E 26 adapters for under $4.00 each. Photo places like B&H sell the same thing for just under $10.

I just bought some last week for $3.12 each; Leviton part number 8681; mogul to medium base adapter.

Hi Brendan,

What are you using to mount the lights to the light stand for the umbrella? I'm having trouble finding a fluorescent mount for my lights stands and umbrella