New and hoping someone can help

[gewoodfo]

Hi All:

I am new to this forum. I am so glad that i have found this. After reading through a couple of the threads, I firmly believe that some of you on this thread will be able to help me with identifying a unique light/fixture for a project that I am working on.

I am trying to design a mobile table top studio for taking high resolution photos of coins and other small objects. When I say small mobile, I mean that the entire studio including camera, laptop, lights, camera stand, illuinated copy stand, power, cables, diffuser tent and blackout tent will all fit into a case that will meet the most stringent airline carry on baggage restrictions in regards to size and weight.

With this, one of my biggest challenges is finding lights that were small, lightweight, low heat output, and have high photographic qualities ( full spectrum natural daylight color temperature of 5000 - 5600 kevin and a high CRI index of 90+.

I have been looking for LEDs lights and have not been able to find any that have the desired photographic and natural daylight spectrum qualities.

I see this kit needed several differnet type of lights that meet thesee specificaltion. some for the base illuminated copy stand, some general floods to cover up to a 11x17 inch area ( Note: this will probably be smaller in size when I get around to making it all fit into a case.) and some spot lights for getting the light close to the coins when using a macro lens with a digital SLR or feature on a Point and shoot digital camera.

I should say that I am not a hands on type of guy nor real technical, so please forgive me if I appear to be asking redundant or trying to accomplish something that is not technically feasible or cost feasible at this time.

Thanks,

G.E.

[Ken_McE]

For a small and powerful high CRI light look into Solux bulbs. http://www.solux.net/ You can run a small MR-16 bulb off 12 volt DC or 12 volt AC. I think they have a CRI around 99. They don't meet your specs in that they are incan and thus run hot and inefficient. LEDs are smaller and more efficient, but I don't think there are any with the high CRI you want. You could round up some "neutral" white LEDs and see if they produce satisfactory images. I should mention that it is considered poor taste to crosspost the same question in different forums.

[gewoodfo]

Hi Ken:

Thanks for your response! I am familar with the Solux firm. They be a backup if nothing else plays out. I beleive that an led solution will work. Seeing some threads on this site that talk about High CRi lights being used in flashlights.

I was hoping that I would get more responses that just yours? I s there som way I can repose the questions to get more discussions?

Also, I am curious about your comment of cross posting being bad form? Could you explain. Yes I have posted othis qusestino on sother sites but only once on this forum. I take that back, I posted it on a very specialied forum and one of the forum admins recommended that I repost it under the general forum area.

Thanks,

G.E.

[Ken_McE]

>I beleive that an led solution will work.

LED will give you enough light for a good picture, my concern is that your colors will always be a little off. You might have a cross section of different LEDs, take pics in visible, UV and IR lighting if you care to. If you use UV on paper, fabric, painted objects keep exposure short so you don't fade the item. You might use LED to set up the shot, flick on the power hungry Solux to take the pic, flick it back off, get more battery life.

>Seeing some threads on this site that talk about High CRi lights
>being used in flashlights.

So track them down, see what bulb they use. Incan is good for CRI, bad for power usage, heat.

> I s there som way I can repose the questions to get more discussions?

Not sure.

>Also, I am curious about your comment of cross posting being bad form?
>Could you explain. Yes I have posted othis qusestino on sother sites

Other sites we don't mind.

> I posted it on a very specialied forum and one of the forum admins
>recommended that I repost it under the general forum area.

Just take down the first when when you post the second copy.

I think you might want to get a small case with wheels and an extensible handle to build all this into. I'd like to suggest you consider 12 volt DC for your power supply. There are lots of standard parts available in this range. If you travel by car you can plug it into the lighter, recharge the battery while you drive. Not sure which battery chemistry you want, but probably not lead-acid (cheap but heavy.)

The components you need, my first impression:


The housing, something like an aluminum attache' case.

AC power adapter either 120 or 240 depending on where you'll be

12 volt power cord for vehicles

Battery, maybe NiCad or NIMH for good power/weight ratio. Having a battery means you can set up anywhere, anytime no outlets required.

Stage where objects will lie, perhaps a flip surface with black velvet on one side, white on the other, you use whatever gives best contrast. Perhaps a second/third surface with other colors.

Camera stand that holds camera at proper distance from stage. You might be able to mount your light(s) on the stand also.

Pockets for camera, diffusers, reflectors, spare bulbs (if incan) spare batteries and memory for camera.

All of this is perfectly doable and should fit well into the limits you want.