It seems like flashlights have a blue tinge in movies...

It seems like flashlights have a blue tinge in movies and are extremely bright. What kind of flashlights do many movies use? Are they just using a blue filter over the flashlight lens so it shows up better on the camera?

I think most of the flashlights used in TV/movies are cool white LEDs, which show up as blue on the camera.

It depends on the white balance of the camera and the post-processing applied. A consumer camera shoots video in auto white balance, so the camera guesses what kind of light you're under. If the camera then sees light from other sources, a dramatic exaggeration of the color differences between the lights is seen. To test this, shine a nice neutral-white light next to a sunbeam and take a photo of it. The neutral-white light will look like yellow butter. Now use the same flashlight next to an office fluorescent, and incandescent, and so on. Your eye sees a small difference, but the camera exaggerates it.

Almost every LED will appear cool-blue because videographers are somewhat obsessed with the 5500K == sunlight == king sort of 'white balance.' The exceptions (The rarer neutral-white ones) will appear butter-yellow or (warm white) brown. That would look funny on screen, so these lamps are avoided.

I like this thread about identifying lights in movies/TV. Seems like Surefire seems to feature quite highly.

I always just assumed that the availability of neutral and warm white LED's was the main stumbling block for movie productions.

I would also doubt that there are many scenes with flashlights shot without at least the slightest amount of smoke in the air to make the beams more visible. That could also add to a bluing effect.

Notice that also, though occasional have seen some nice white beams.

Want a real laugh, get on Netflix (or similar) and watch some of the old Adam-12 episodes. There are a couple where they are using their lights at night. Incandescent that have horrible ugly beams, putting out maybe 10 lumens with 15 feet of throw. . . Imagine walking down an alley looking for a guy with a gun, with a light like that!

If you are Talking about this light, it's a Maxabeam, and has a bluish coloured beam.


Its been used in a lot of TV shows and movies, Jurassic park, X Files, NCIS and many many others.

You will also find many films are shot using "daylight" coloured lamps, at 5500k - some LED are a it bluer and will show up a bit blue

Thanks for the replies everyone.

They don't understand what real flashlights use - neutral white emitters!!

On the topic of flashlights in movies, here's an Oveready Triple XPG they used for a weaponlight in Oblivion. Tint appeared quite coolish.