Light Boxes

[Adam Kavalunas]

Hey guys, time to get a new light box now that I cant use the one at work. What do you guys use for viewing your slides, how do you like them, and how much did you pay. I'd like to keep it under $75, and atleast be 8x10". Thanks!

Adam

[thetooth]

i use a porta-trace 10x12 i think i spent $30.00 . nothing fancy but works great and i have not had to change the bulb in years . thanks

tim

[Gordon Moat]

A Gagne twin bulb (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/117090-REG/Porta_Trace_Gagne_1012_2C_10_x_12_Light.html), for nice even illumination, that I got through B&H Photo (http://www.bhphoto.com). Given a choice, I might go for the wood enclosure, rather than the stainless one I have now. I also have a slim portable light box, though the bulbs seem near failing.

Ciao!

Gordon Moat Photography (http://www.gordonmoat.com)

[Hiro]

I use Logan Electric's 8x10 Slim-Edge Light Pad: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/127288-REG/Logan_Electric_750181_8_x_10_Slim_Edge.html
Paid, I think, $60-70 at eBay. It is compact, easy to put out of the away and fits in a briefcase.

[Stephen Willard]

I have two Porta-Trace 11x18, and I am willing to sell you one. It has very even illumination with stainless steel frame, wall mountable, adjustable stand, very sturdy, and in very clean condition. If you are interested you can email me at stephen.a.willard@gmail.com.

[Renato Tonelli]

I use Logan Electric's 8x10 Slim-Edge Light Pad: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/127288-REG/Logan_Electric_750181_8_x_10_Slim_Edge.html
Paid, I think, $60-70 at eBay. It is compact, easy to put out of the away and fits in a briefcase.

I use the same one for the same reasons.

[Mark Woods]

I bought a McBeth 11x13 from my neighbor who is a printer and had a garage sale for $10. Works great, the color temperature is accurate, and I love it.

[mrladewig]

I bought a lightbox that is roughly 3'x3' at a property disposal auction. The lightbox uses 3 24" bulbs. Paid $10 for the lightbox in a big chest that would hold thousands of 35mm slides (and weighed a ton). The chest will be turned into a tool chest as soon as its warm enough to mess around in the garage.

[mdd99]

My lab uses only Just/Normlicht lightboxes for their even lighting. I liked them so much I bought two, and they are superb. Paid retail for a large one, then a few years later discovered the Pennsylvania branch of the German company sells demo/display models at discount prices, so I picked up a 14x14 model 3000 for about $100.

[robert amsden]

I made my own about 29 years ago. A wood box about 4 feet long and 8 inches wide ,has a 4 foot 2 tube floresent light in it. It has a 1/4 x1 1/8 lattice strip at the top to hold piece of white translucent plexiglass. It is fastened to the wall at the same height as the counter.

[Frank Petronio]

I always had a laugh when I'd deliver a chrome to a local half-assed ad agency and they plop them down onto a homemade box and pronounce it too much this way or that... until I saw the busiest photographer in town editing his stuff on a huge home-made box. It defeated the whole rationale behind trying to do consistent color work but people can get used to something that is "off" if they don't (want to) know any better.

For utility and negatives, the slimline 8x10 panels are great. If you're serious about color chromes and want a consistent reference standard, spend the money for a Just/Normlicht.

[mdd99]

I bought a small Just Normlicht that was a demo for under $75. Don't know if they still sell those items, but you might check: http://www.just-normlicht.de/us/shop/shop.asp?maingroup=1

[Ed Richards]

If you have the room, get a bigger one. I have an 8x10 and constantly want to layout more negatives than will fit.

[John Schneider]

Keep your eyes open for a good used Just Normlicht on eBay. I bought mine new pre-eBay for around $300, but I bought the same model on eBay a few years ago for less than $50.

[JavaDuke]

I use...my imac monitor. I just set the brightness to the maximum, start a browser or text editor, open it to the full screen and voila! I have pretty bright and even light box. Works perfectly for me! or sometimes I use my laptop instead, because I can open it 180 degrees so that the screen lays flat on the desk surface.