Best light source for camera repairs

Rekusu · Oct 21, 2024

What ho one and all,

What's the best camera? It is the one you have with you.

Likewise, as a DIY repair beginner, what is the best light? it is obviously, the one you have on your desk.

I have a halogen that certainly provides plenty on light, but is too contrast. Am looking at those LED with magnifier but I don't think the magnifier is the way to go. Tried one without a light and very difficult to use.

Almost need an LED panel to provide bright and soft light, but what is recommended?

Grateful for any suggestions.

Thanks and toodle pip

Sirius Glass · Oct 21, 2024

Hasselblad, as if there were any other answer.

koraks · Oct 21, 2024

Sirius Glass said:
Hasselblad, as if there were any other answer.

Please link us all to the Hasselblad LED panel / work light you speak of.

Sirius Glass · Oct 21, 2024

The OP requested "What's the best camera?"

To which I answered "Hasselblad, as if there were any other answer."

Chan Tran · Oct 21, 2024

Hasselblad is going away. Hasselblad doesn't make lenses, they don't make imaging sensor or make film. Their camera bodies were good but today the camera body needs no reflex viewfinder nor shutter. They really have no job now.

Don_ih · Oct 21, 2024

Chan Tran said:
Hasselblad is going away. Hasselblad doesn't make lenses, they don't make imaging sensor or make film. Their camera bodies were good but today the camera body needs no reflex viewfinder nor shutter. They really have no job now.

Ok....

Rekusu said:
what is the best light?

Ah - for repairs - incandescent light. But it needs to be very bright. I use a magnifier sometimes, too. Mostly just reading glasses, though. I tend not to mess with things that are that tiny. (missed that this was about repairs)

koraks · Oct 21, 2024

Sirius Glass said:
The OP requested "What's the best camera?"

Nope, he didn't. It's what you think he asked, probably because you read those words and immediately started typing before reading on, happy because you could once again recommend your favorite brand. However, if you had actually read past those first few words, you would have noticed he actually asks:

Rekusu said:
Likewise, as a DIY repair beginner, what is the best light? it is obviously, the one you have on your desk.

[...]

Almost need an LED panel to provide bright and soft light, but what is recommended?

(emphasis added)

Chan Tran said:
Hasselblad doesn't make lenses, they don't make imaging sensor or make film.

And they don't make desk lamps, so Hasselblad is irrelevant here.

Back on topic:

Rekusu said:
Am looking at those LED with magnifier but I don't think the magnifier is the way to go.

Works well for me; I use one with a magnifier and a ring of white LEDs surrounding the magnifier. Most of the time I don't use the magnifier, but the accentuated arm & head and bright light source are useful even then. This is the type I use:

With one minor difference: mine clamps to the desk, which is actually more convenient.

GregY · Oct 21, 2024

Sirius Glass said:
Hasselblad, as if there were any other answer.

MattKing · Oct 21, 2024

Perhaps, after this thread, @Sirius Glass , may see the light.
Initially I moved the thread, because I was confused.
I've now moved it back, and changed the thread title.

Chan Tran · Oct 21, 2024

I think Luxo makes good magnifying lamp. They are expensive though. The cheaper ones are about $200. They have one up to $800.

ic-racer · Oct 21, 2024

Best light source for camera repairs?

A calibrated light source

Rekusu · Oct 21, 2024

Oh good grief!!! I was just staring with a little joke; I was wondering about lights!!!!

I have not seen the light with magnifier and a cover for the lens. That may be what I am looking for. Guess I can find one on Amazon and if I don't like it, can always return.

Thanks for the input.

And yes, in the days of film, I started in travel stock with a Blad (500C) but get it up as most libraries preferred the 67 rectangle rather than the 66 square. Mainly because with 66, it is not always easy to see how a rectangle crop (vertical or horizontal) will work. So I moved to a Pentax 67. Amazing camera, lovely lenses, made many good image sales.

Andreas Thaler · Oct 21, 2024

koraks said:
Works well for me; I use one with a magnifier and a ring of white LEDs surrounding the magnifier. Most of the time I don't use the magnifier, but the accentuated arm & head and bright light source are useful even then. This is the type I use:
View attachment 381431
With one minor difference: mine clamps to the desk, which is actually more convenient.

I have one of these types too, and I don't use the built-in magnifying glass either, as it's too bulky.

Two of them would be helpful to be able to illuminate without shadows, but I don't have the space for that.

The LED light can be adjusted in color temperature and brightness.

paul ron · Oct 21, 2024

i think the op did ask what the best camera is...

Rekusu said:
What's the best camera?

Sirius Glass said:
Hasselblad, as if there were any other answer.

and of course sirius is a devoutly dedicated hassy man... well thats nothing new.

as for best camera... im an RB guy... ummmm best for who?

anyway, for lights... my work bench has overhead 8' florecents but those led ceiling lights are awsome. plus the led ceiling lights allow you to change the color temps for what you think is most comfortable. i put up a 2x4 over my desk n love it.

MattKing · Oct 21, 2024

Experience indicates that on Photrio, if one starts with a rhetorical question, one is going to receive a literal answer.
Except if you get a poetic one instead.
I expect if you had started by asking the question: "How do I love my Hasselblad?"
@Sirius Glass would have responded "Let me count the ways!"

Chan Tran · Oct 21, 2024

MattKing said:
Experience indicates that on Photrio, if one starts with a rhetorical question, one is going to receive a literal answer.
Except if you get a poetic one instead.
I expect if you had started by asking the question: "How do I love my Hasselblad?"
@Sirius Glass would have responded "Let me count the ways!"

I wonder which Hassy that Sirius Glass loves. Right now Hasselblad only makes the X2D and the 907.

Mike Lopez · Oct 21, 2024

MattKing said:
Experience indicates that on Photrio, if one starts with a rhetorical question, one is going to receive a literal answer.
Except if you get a poetic one instead.
I expect if you had started by asking the question: "How do I love my Hasselblad?"
@Sirius Glass would have responded "Let me count the ways!"

Experience also indicates that nearly every thread on this site will become a Hasselblad thread if the moderators allow it to.

Andreas Thaler · Oct 22, 2024

Perhaps there are other suggestions for light sources, especially for shadow-free illumination of the work surface with equipment on it.

Lamps with ring-shaped LEDs are well suited for this, but it depends on the size of the ring.

For critical points on equipment, e.g. looking through openings, I use a small LED hand lamp with a variable beam of light.

koraks · Oct 22, 2024

I've not tried this, but I imagine a head lamp instead of a hand lamp might be useful for camera repairs and the like. Preferably with a light source mounted close to your eyes so any dark corners you peek into are automatically illuminated.

Mike Lopez said:
Experience also indicates that nearly every thread on this site will become a Hasselblad thread if the moderators allow it to.

Except the Leica threads.

4season · Oct 22, 2024

I don't know that it's the best option, but I already owned an inexpensive light stand, boom arm, and spun-aluminum reflector with Edison-style bulb socket, to which I've fitted a big LED cob light. The boom arm allows the light to be positioned directly over my work surface, and the bulb certainly does produce plenty of lumens! My bulb was sold for photographic purposes, and it's high CRI + 5000 degree Kelvin ("daylight") color temperature turned out to be a good thing, because when I'm working with small wires, and especially when I'm tired, brown and orange look maddeningly similar under dimmer or less color-correct light sources.

MattKing · Oct 22, 2024

Andreas Thaler said:
Lamps with ring-shaped LEDs are well suited for this,

And you can use it for "slightly dated trendy" photos of fashion models too!

Andreas Thaler · Oct 23, 2024

MattKing said:
And you can use it for "slightly dated trendy" photos of fashion models too!

Here is one of my models, something like this?

Dan Daniel · Oct 23, 2024

Bounce lighting is good. Direct some bulbs in reflectors to the ceiling. Helps fill in shadows from direct lighting.

Best if the ceiling is white, of course....

Among some ceiling fluorescents, I have a couple of these cheap lights by the worktable-

Mainstays 72'' Brown Combo Floor Lamp With Reading Lamp, Modern Design - Walmart.com

Buy Mainstays 72'' Brown Combo Floor Lamp With Reading Lamp, Modern Design at Walmart.com

www.walmart.com

(click the robot or human link to see the lamp)

monopix · Oct 23, 2024

loccdor · Oct 23, 2024

Yes, I use a head lamp for many things. The old mini-flashlight between your teeth trick works in a pinch, but do it too long and you start drooling.

Best light source for camera repairs

Rekusu

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ic-racer

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Chan Tran

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4season

MattKing

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Andreas Thaler

Dan Daniel

Mainstays 72'' Brown Combo Floor Lamp With Reading Lamp, Modern Design - Walmart.com

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