I use OTT Lights, and they aren't $100 each. I have two portable swivel units which use 13W bulbs.
The base unit with bulb can be found for under $50 and replacement bulbs can be purchased on sale for under $20, or you can also use the 13W Daylight (?) brand which is usually under $10 per bulb. I use the default white balance on my Nikon......works for me.
More important than the bulb type is a good camera and correctly set white balance. If your photos have a "cast" it is usually easliy corrected by using a custom white balance and a grey card -- that's where a good camera comes in -- many of the cheaper ones don't have that feature. If your camera doesn't have that feature, then fiddling with the bulbs will have a greater effect...Mike
Collector of Large Cents, US Type, and modern pocket change.
Reveal bulbs make my coins too red. I have Ott lights which are good for cameo proofs but can make things too blue. If you can color balance your camera you can adjust for those things. Ott lights are advertised as simulating the same light wave lengths as in natural light. Other lights make that same claim. Of course you don't need to simulate natural light when the real thing is available.
Comments
i,ve heard the `ott lights?` are even better....but dont know than much about em personally
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Type collector since 1981
Current focus 1855 date type set
That's what I use but I'm cheap
<< <i>NOTE: No trees were killed in the sending of this message. However, a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced. >>
excellent!
The base unit with bulb can be found for under $50 and replacement bulbs can be purchased on sale for under $20, or you can also use the 13W Daylight (?) brand which is usually under $10 per bulb. I use the default white balance on my Nikon......works for me.
Tom
Coin's for sale/trade.
Tom Pilitowski
US Rare Coin Investments
800-624-1870
The Lincoln cent store:
http://www.lincolncent.com
My numismatic art work:
http://www.cdaughtrey.com
USAF veteran, 1986-1996 :: support our troops - the American way.
President, Racine Numismatic Society 2013-2014; Variety Resource Dimes; See 6/8/12 CDN for my article on Winged Liberty Dimes; Ebay
<< <i>The base unit with bulb can be found for under $50 >>
You can buy 40 Reveal Bulbs for that, and get a variety of wattages.
Russ, NCNE