[Distanted]

I use transformers to power my 110 lights in my 220 house in Germany. I haven’t experienced any noticable affect to the lamps themselves, but I agree with the other post that they are bulky and heavy (like a car battery).

If you are talking about fluorescent lighting, they flicker at whatever hertz you are using, so a 50Hz socket will cause the lamp to flicker at 50HZ, which looks awful on U.S. cameras shooting at 60fps. You can mask this in-camera by setting the shutter to 1/00th sec. but this eats about a stop of light.

If you are using halogen lights, its probably much easier just to buy 220 version bulbs and simple plug adapters.

[Distanted]

Even if you bring your own gear, its wise to look up a couple of rental houses in each city before you go. As Bob pointed out, the odds of all your gear making it through the airlines unscathed is not too good. I would anticipate replacing at least a few bulbs. And take out plenty of accident/theft insurance.

I don’t know what frame rate you’re planning on using, but be aware that fluorescents (sp?) flicker at 50hz in Europe verses the U.S. at 60. We have to shoot with the shutter at 1/100 to eliminate the flicker when shooting NTSC. Even the so-called flicker-free lights do it.

I agree with Bob…it sounds like a lot of gear to carry around unless you have a couple of sturdy grips. I can’t wrap myself around the idea that you need to chromakey your subjects for a documentary. I’d rather carry a minimal kit and shoot people in their natural habitat.