Safelight Options

punkzter · Oct 25, 2017

I'm at the point with my darkroom planning where I need to figure out what safelight I want to purchase. BH has an 11-watt bulb that I was considering:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/15766-REG/Delta_35110_Brightlab_Universal_Red_Junior.html

I thought that I might pair it with this lamp from Amazon:

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01E9IY6US/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=AXC6VLRHTOFD2&psc=1

Alternatively, BH hasn't had this in stock for a while, but they do sell a light with filters:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/43177-REG/Doran_PRSL5R_Economy_Darkroom_Safelight_with.html

Is one route better than the other? I was set to purchase the Doran safelight, until I read that the filter can wear out over time.

Thanks,
Brad

jim10219 · Oct 25, 2017

I use the universal red bulb with a gooseneck light fixture. I like being able to position the light wherever I need it, as it's not very bright and kind of hard to see with. That comes in especially handy when registering multiple layers of contact prints. Plus, it's cheaper.

pentaxuser · Oct 25, 2017

The middle one at 150 W and in a shiny reflector may not give you much safelight exposure time for your paper. On a more serious note 150 watts, especially in such a reflector might be a bit strong as even a ceiling light even for a very large darkroom. If you need general room illumination what's wrong with a ceiling light at 100W max or a modern 11W LED light?

pentaxuser

punkzter · Oct 25, 2017

I think that the 150 watts just refers to the capability of the lamp...I was confused about that, it certainly doesn't come with a bulb. But, given Jim's reply, I might go this route:

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HR5P6R8/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

a simpler goose neck clip on lamp. and then I'd put the red bulb in it.

Svenedin · Oct 25, 2017

I've used an Ilford SL1 for many years. They are available second-hand for reasonable money and take a cheap 15W E14 pygmy bulb (or at least the 240V versions do). It's quite enough light for my small darkroom. I have it wall mounted quite high up but it can also sit on a counter top and the angle of illumination is adjustable.

MattKing · Oct 25, 2017

These red LED rope lights (one strand) are what I have been using recently: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DJD78IM/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Strung temporarily up nearer the ceiling, they provide a really nice, bright, almost shadowless illumination, and easily pass a Kodak safelight test (with pre-exposure) with Ilford and Oriental variable contrast paper.
They are cool in operation, use relatively little electricity, and add a festive mood to the darkroom .

Svenedin · Oct 25, 2017

MattKing said:
These red LED rope lights (one strand) are what I have been using recently...........
They are cool in operation, use relatively little electricity, and add a festive mood to the darkroom .

Festive mood sounds fun. When I was a child my father went a bit overboard with Christmas fairly lights strung back and forth across the ceiling............he never took them down. We had those lights up for years and years!

bdial · Oct 25, 2017

I use a combination of vintage Kodak safelights with amber filters and a RGB LED string running only on the red channel.
If I were starting fresh, I'd use only the RGB LED's. There are various sources, the ones I am using came from Home Depot.

Lee Valley Hardware sells some nice mounting tracks and diffusers for them (along with the LED strings).

pentaxuser · Oct 25, 2017

MattKing said:
They are cool in operation, use relatively little electricity, and add a festive mood to the darkroom .

If they are able to make me go Ho, Ho, Ho without it being 24th December and even after I discover I must have put the fix in the film tank first then they are the lights for me

pentaxuser

adelorenzo · Oct 25, 2017

I use inexpensive LED bulbs (http://www.dx.com/p/e27-0-7w-7-led-25-lumen-red-light-lamp-bulb-85-265v-ac-37160#.WfD8O49SxhE) that are super bright and pass all my safelight testing. That bulb from B&H is just a regular white bulb with a coat of paint, you'd have to worry about that coating failing over time as well.

Safelight Options

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