Practical Lighting: How are new LED bulbs changing your approach?

Hey everyone,

I'm Tanya Volkov, a DP, and I'm genuinely curious about how other DPs are adapting to the influx of new smart bulbs and affordable LED practicals. On my last project, an indie feature shot on a KOMODO-X, I experimented with some Philips Hue bulbs in a few practicals, thinking the color control would be a game-changer. While dimming was smooth, I found the color rendition sometimes felt a bit 'off' compared to traditional tungsten, even when trying to match specific Kelvin temperatures. It wasn't quite as rich. I also played with some budget Aputure PavoTube II 30X for some accent work, and their dimming and color were fantastic, but they're not always suitable for every practical fixture.

With all these advancements, how has new technology impacted your approach to bulb selection, dimming, and achieving precise color control for practical lighting on set? Are there specific tools, brands, or techniques you've adopted to integrate these effectively, especially for projects where absolute color fidelity is crucial?