Alternative to solux lamps for viewing prints/homemade viewing booth?

[Per Bjesse]

I am wanting to set up an area next to my calibrated monitor to view prints in to tune my softproofs, and some research seems to indicate that solux MR16 lamps is what people used to use. However, it seems virtually impossible to find a desk or floor lamp for MR16 bulbs nowadays. I don't have the budget to buy a viewing booth, so this leaves me kind of stumped. What are people doing? I want to do something that gets me 80-90% of the way to optimum without spending a ton of money.

One thing my internet research has dug up is these CRI 95 bulbs: https://store.waveformlighting.com/products/filmgrade-flicker-free-a19-led-bulb but CRI of course is not the be-all-end-all. Has anyone tried this?

Any tips?

 

[Patrick Robert James]

Ottlite

I have one of their older florescent desk lamps. Works great.

 

[tedr1]

I opted for 98 CRI fluorescent lighting, two 4ft T8 32W tubes in a holder suspended from the ceiling. The lamps are Philips ALTO II 5000K part number F32T8/TL950 and if you shop with care can be found for under $20 a piece, sometimes a lot less. The genuine article has printed on the tube Philips ALTO II F32T8/TL950 If it doesn't say this on the tube then don't buy it it is something different. The lamp holder is a metal shop light from HOMEDEPOT, includes ballast, plugs in a wall outlet and has a pull chain switch and is about $20.

 

[Chan Tran]

You can use these flourescent bulbs
https://www.gtilite.com/products/color-viewing-lamps/

 

[tedr1]

Those GTI lamps "approach 95CRI" and cost $40 each. These are 98CRI and cost $10 each https://www.lightingsupply.com/philips-f32t8-tl950