Kaiser 2454 Slimlite LED light panel - experience or alternatives?

Tom Kershaw · Feb 25, 2020

I've been looking at light panels for a potential "camera scanning" set-up and there don't seem to be many alternatives to the Kaiser unit, apart from suspiciously cheap products available via Amazon and eBay et al. I would need the larger Kaiser panel as I'm planning to "scan" upto 8"x10" film.

Is there an alternative that I've missed, and any impressions on the 2454?

see link: https://www.speedgraphic.co.uk/ligh...lite_piano_large_led_light_panel/29033_p.html

Tom

GLS · Feb 26, 2020

I used to have a cheap LED panel which I used when digitising my film. It did the job, but I have since bought the Kaiser you linked to, and it is excellent.

To my eyes the light from the Kaiser panel is perfectly even over the whole surface, whereas the cheap one certainly wasn't. The Kaiser also has a higher CRI, and I have noticed the difference (i.e. more accurate colours) when inverting colour negs especially. Also it is much larger, which helps. In summary, worth the money IMO.

Tom Kershaw · Feb 26, 2020

GLS said:
To my eyes the light from the Kaiser panel is perfectly even over the whole surface, whereas the cheap one certainly wasn't. The Kaiser also has a higher CRI, and I have noticed the difference (i.e. more accurate colours) when inverting colour negs especially. Also it is much larger, which helps. In summary, worth the money IMO.

Thanks. This confirms my suspicions of the cheaper models, particularly as I would be scanning colour negatives. I need to sort out a copy stand next, I have an eBay offer in on a Kaiser RS2, but if that doesn't go through I'll keep looking, possibly for an RS1. Irritatingly I passed up on the opportunity to buy a LPL copy stand a few months ago for sale in Holt (Norfolk) which I could have just gone and picked up.

jtk · Mar 9, 2020

Mine is a Durst 609 (enlarger) column with Logan 4x5 alleged 5000k box. I don't think any of these lights are full daylight spectrum, which would call for flash or Macbeth tubes (which I have in a salvaged x-ray viewer). I use this with Omega 35mm D2 film holders. Bogen 3025 tripod head and Andoer quick release. Rock solid.

Deleted member 88956 · Mar 9, 2020

There are other options, but I don't remember exact make. Is offered on Amazon in 2 sizes and is daylight corrected in similar price park as Keiser. Also worth ebaying for are Cabin panels from OGD. They were never cheap but excellent.

jtk · Mar 11, 2020

There's a distinct difference between "5000/5200k" and alleged "daylight".

Daylight ( verour skysion) is full spectrum, tho varies time of day, season etc. The flat panels are very consistent but they deliver a chopped spectrum, Vs speedlights etc. I think they are weakest with skin tones. If I was dealing with fashion/portraiture I'd ditch to a strobe with modeling light (for alignment and to confirm focus).

PhilBurton · Mar 12, 2020

jtk said:
There's a distinct difference between "5000/5200k" and alleged "daylight".

Daylight ( verour skysion) is full spectrum, tho varies time of day, season etc. The flat panels are very consistent but they deliver a chopped spectrum, Vs speedlights etc. I think they are weakest with skin tones. If I was dealing with fashion/portraiture I'd ditch to a strobe with modeling light (for alignment and to confirm focus).

How about using such a panel as a light table to sort slides prior to scanning with a "real scanner."

Phil Burton

jtk · Mar 12, 2020

PhilBurton said:
How about using such a panel as a light table to sort slides prior to scanning with a "real scanner."

Phil Burton

Amusing. The fly in the ointment is Kodachromes.

jtk · Mar 12, 2020

The best would be Normlicht.

PhilBurton · Mar 13, 2020

jtk said:
Amusing. The fly in the ointment is Kodachromes.

Why amusing? Why is Kodachrome an issue?

jtk · Mar 14, 2020

PhilBurton said:
Why amusing? Why is Kodachrome an issue?

Because it isn't as linear as ektachrome. It doesn't respond as perfectly to chopped spectrums. You can seem to have everything balanced but on second look you'll notice that something is odd. This is where strobe/speedlight or Macbeth or perhaps Normlicht or the sky above
has the edge.

PhilBurton · Mar 14, 2020

jtk said:
Because it isn't as linear as ektachrome. It doesn't respond as perfectly to chopped spectrums. You can seem to have everything balanced but on second look you'll notice that something is odd. This is where strobe/speedlight or Macbeth or perhaps Normlicht or the sky above
has the edge.

Point well taken. However, my question was about using this LED panel as a light table just to sort and cull slides prior to duplication, not as a light source.

Tom Kershaw · Mar 14, 2020

The idea is to use the light table / copy stand / camera combination to digitise the film source material. Some have managed to get very high quality results from this process. I have a film scanner (up to 6x9cm) but am interested in quick proofing of roll film and large format negatives, alongside potential web uploads etc.

jtk · Mar 16, 2020

Tom Kershaw said:
The idea is to use the light table / copy stand / camera combination to digitise the film source material. Some have managed to get very high quality results from this process. I have a film scanner (up to 6x9cm) but am interested in quick proofing of roll film and large format negatives, alongside potential web uploads etc.

Good. So what's your question?

Kaiser 2454 Slimlite LED light panel - experience or alternatives?

Deleted member 88956

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