Best light source for camera repairs

Shadow 2

A
Shadow 2

  • 0
  • 0
  • 3
Shadow 1

A
Shadow 1

  • 1
  • 0
  • 7
Darkroom c1972

A
Darkroom c1972

  • 1
  • 1
  • 12
Tōrō

H
Tōrō

  • 4
  • 0
  • 35

Recent Classifieds

Forum statistics

Threads
198,823
Messages
2,781,453
Members
99,718
Latest member
nesunoio
Recent bookmarks
0

Rekusu

Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2024
Messages
60
Location
England
Format
35mm
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
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Sirius Glass

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
50,364
Location
Southern California
Format
Multi Format
Hasselblad, as if there were any other answer.
 

Sirius Glass

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
50,364
Location
Southern California
Format
Multi Format
The OP requested "What's the best camera?"

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

Chan Tran

Subscriber
Joined
May 10, 2006
Messages
6,816
Location
Sachse, TX
Format
35mm
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

Member
Joined
Jan 24, 2021
Messages
7,741
Location
Ontario
Format
35mm RF
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....

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

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Nov 29, 2018
Messages
22,869
Location
Europe
Format
Multi Format
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:
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)

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:
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:
1729534555558.png

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

MattKing

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
52,935
Location
Delta, BC Canada
Format
Medium Format
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

Subscriber
Joined
May 10, 2006
Messages
6,816
Location
Sachse, TX
Format
35mm
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

Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2007
Messages
16,546
Location
USA
Format
Multi Format
Best light source for camera repairs?

A calibrated light source :smile:

Screen Shot 2024-10-21 at 3.04.48 PM.png
 
OP
OP

Rekusu

Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2024
Messages
60
Location
England
Format
35mm
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

Subscriber
Joined
Nov 19, 2017
Messages
4,863
Location
Vienna/Austria
Format
35mm
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.

1.jpg
 

paul ron

Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2004
Messages
2,706
Location
NYC
Format
Medium Format
i think the op did ask what the best camera is...
What's the best camera?



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

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
52,935
Location
Delta, BC Canada
Format
Medium Format
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

Subscriber
Joined
May 10, 2006
Messages
6,816
Location
Sachse, TX
Format
35mm
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

Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2005
Messages
640
Format
Multi Format
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

Subscriber
Joined
Nov 19, 2017
Messages
4,863
Location
Vienna/Austria
Format
35mm
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

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Nov 29, 2018
Messages
22,869
Location
Europe
Format
Multi Format
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.

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

Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2015
Messages
1,981
Format
Plastic Cameras
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

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
52,935
Location
Delta, BC Canada
Format
Medium Format

Dan Daniel

Subscriber
Joined
Jul 4, 2009
Messages
2,883
Location
upstate New York
Format
Medium Format
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-
(click the robot or human link to see the lamp)
 

loccdor

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 12, 2024
Messages
1,503
Location
USA
Format
Multi Format
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.
 
Photrio.com contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
To read our full affiliate disclosure statement please click Here.

PHOTRIO PARTNERS EQUALLY FUNDING OUR COMMUNITY:



Ilford ADOX Freestyle Photographic Stearman Press Weldon Color Lab Blue Moon Camera & Machine
Top Bottom