Digital BW, The Print

My 18w Ott-Lite vision saver bulb just died and I just discovered they no longer make this bulb. The switch on this lamb quite working long ago. Fortunately, it was in the "on" position and I've used a switched surge protector for the on/off function ever since. These bulbs were always a pain to replace anyway. Even dangerous, I think.

Anyway, I'm wondering what you guys are using for lighting these days. Is it too soon to expect LED to come to the rescue? If so, what's working for you?

Thanks.....

On Feb 25, 2010, at 4:55 PM, keesatindy wrote:

> My 18w Ott-Lite vision saver bulb just died and I just discovered  
> they no longer make this bulb. The switch on this lamb quite working  
> long ago. Fortunately, it was in the "on" position and I've used a  
> switched surge protector for the on/off function ever since. These  
> bulbs were always a pain to replace anyway. Even dangerous, I think.
>
> Anyway, I'm wondering what you guys are using for lighting these  
> days. Is it too soon to expect LED to come to the rescue? If so,  
> what's working for you?
>
> Thanks.....


If there's only one 18w Ott floor lamp, then that's one of two Ott  
lamps which I have. I had no idea that its bulb has been discontinued.  
The one in my Ott floor lamp says "True Color", not "vision saver". I  
found it in a craft store for a little more than $100+, maybe 125.

The other Ott lamp I have is a 13w desk lamp. Its bulb isn't branded.  
But the whole assembly was too inexpensive (about $25?) at Staples for  
anything about it to be anything special.

Both these Ott lamps work, after a fashion, for me. But I'm sure I  
scrutinize my prints under them less carefully than many, probably  
most, subscribers of this list scrutinize their prints under their  
lamps. I care also about how mine look under ordinary lamps (mine are  
now mostly compact fluorescents) and even in daylight, both outdoors  
and near windows. But when I get worried about how one of them looks  
in some particular, I look at it hard under the Ott lamps.

I don't recommend my casual approach, and I hope to improve on it, for  
color as well as for B&W prints, without waiting for LED bulbs.
--
Sam

<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint/message/99507;_ylc=X3oDMTJyNnZpbGhsBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE1BGdycElkAzM3MDIzMTEEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MDE5MTgyBG1zZ0lkAzk5NTA3BHNlYwNkbXNnBHNsawN2bXNnBHN0aW1lAzEyNjcxODM2NTk->
*Hi:**
There are many substitutes for the spectral characteristics of the "Ott
light" on the market.   Simply Google "Ott light substitute".

Here is one that I have dealt with:

http://www.fullspectrumsolutions.com/compare_bluemax.htm?gclid=CJW63_qKkKACFZhf2godP1sOeQ

Hope this helps.......... Jack Winberg*


Ott-Lite replacement
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint/message/99507;_ylc=X3oDMTJyNnZpbGhsBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE1BGdycElkAzM3MDIzMTEEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MDE5MTgyBG1zZ0lkAzk5NTA3BHNlYwNkbXNnBHNsawN2bXNnBHN0aW1lAzEyNjcxODM2NTk->
Posted
by: "keesatindy" restorephoto@...
<restorephoto@...?Subject=+Re%3AOtt-Lite%20replacement>   keesatindy
<http://profiles.yahoo.com/keesatindy>  Thu Feb 25, 2010 4:58 pm (PST)

My 18w Ott-Lite vision saver bulb just died and I just discovered they no
longer make this bulb. The switch on this lamb quite working long ago.
Fortunately, it was in the "on" position and I've used a switched surge
protector for the on/off function ever since. These bulbs were always a pain
to replace anyway. Even dangerous, I think.

Anyway, I'm wondering what you guys are using for lighting these days. Is it
too soon to expect LED to come to the rescue? If so, what's working for you?

Thanks.....


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Bulbs are available online. For example: http://www.lightbulbsdirect.com/page/001/PROD/OTT/OLPL18TC

The bulbs use industry-standard bases and you can find other brands (at much lower prices), just make sure you get the color temperature you desire.

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Sam McCandless <samcc@...> wrote:

>
> On Feb 25, 2010, at 4:55 PM, keesatindy wrote:
> 
> > My 18w Ott-Lite vision saver bulb just died and I just discovered  
> > they no longer make this bulb. The switch on this lamb quite working  
> > long ago. Fortunately, it was in the "on" position and I've used a  
> > switched surge protector for the on/off function ever since. These  
> > bulbs were always a pain to replace anyway. Even dangerous, I think.
> >
> > Anyway, I'm wondering what you guys are using for lighting these  
> > days. Is it too soon to expect LED to come to the rescue? If so,  
> > what's working for you?
> >
> > Thanks.....
> 
> 
> If there's only one 18w Ott floor lamp, then that's one of two Ott  
> lamps which I have. I had no idea that its bulb has been discontinued.  
> The one in my Ott floor lamp says "True Color", not "vision saver". I  
> found it in a craft store for a little more than $100+, maybe 125.
> 
> The other Ott lamp I have is a 13w desk lamp. Its bulb isn't branded.  
> But the whole assembly was too inexpensive (about $25?) at Staples for  
> anything about it to be anything special.
> 
> Both these Ott lamps work, after a fashion, for me. But I'm sure I  
> scrutinize my prints under them less carefully than many, probably  
> most, subscribers of this list scrutinize their prints under their  
> lamps. I care also about how mine look under ordinary lamps (mine are  
> now mostly compact fluorescents) and even in daylight, both outdoors  
> and near windows. But when I get worried about how one of them looks  
> in some particular, I look at it hard under the Ott lamps.
> 
> I don't recommend my casual approach, and I hope to improve on it, for  
> color as well as for B&W prints, without waiting for LED bulbs.
> --
> Sam
>

> My 18w Ott-Lite vision saver bulb just died and I just discovered they no longer make this bulb. If so, what's working for you?
> 
> Thanks.....
>

You can still get bulbs for your 18 inch lamp. Ott-Lite has discontinued the original bulbs, but there is an upgrade that replaces the old bulbs. When I first saw this post I checked out the availability of my bulbs! I have an Easel Clamp-On 13 inch True Color lamp. They no longer make the True Color bulbs, the upgrade is called 
High Definition". With that being said, LemenLight, http://www.lumenlight.com/bulbsandtubes.html does still sell the True Color bulbs, as well as Amazon.com. You may want to consider a brand new assembly.

I believe that the Ott-Lite was/is a great option for viewing prints for less than $200. A "Viewing Cabinet" will cost much more and may take up more space. But they are readily available digital photo outlets like Calumet Photo, https://www.calumetphoto.com/item/GX1105/.

jarvis

In his posting of Fri, 26 Feb 2010,  writes
>"keesatindy" restorephoto@sbcglobal.net    keesatindy
>
>Thu Feb 25, 2010 4:58 pm (PST)
>
>My 18w Ott-Lite vision saver bulb just died and I just discovered they no longer
>make this bulb. The switch on this lamb quite working long ago. Fortunately, it
>was in the "on" position and I've used a switched surge protector for the on/off
>function ever since. These bulbs were always a pain to replace anyway. Even
>dangerous, I think.

snip

Guys

You may not be aware that the Ott-Lite products are not good for 
critical appraisal of prints as they have a spiky spectrum unlike true 
daylight or tungsten bulbs.  Off course tungsten is far less blue than 
daylight and therefore not really suitable as it gives a distorted 
appearance to what you are evaluating. The best option is the bulbs and 
enclosures available from So-lux. 
http://solux.net/cgi-bin/tlistore/infopages/index.html

Cheers

Richard
-- 
Richard Kenward      <www.artisan-digital-services.co.uk>
phone +44(0)1873 890456
fax +44(0)1873 890565

You may not be aware that the Ott-Lite products are not good for 
critical appraisal of prints as they have a spiky spectrum unlike true 
daylight or tungsten bulbs.  Off course tungsten is far less blue than 
daylight and therefore not really suitable as it gives a distorted 
appearance to what you are evaluating. The best option is the bulbs and 
enclosures available from So-lux. 

Solux create their own color universe; no other artificial light source produces results similar to them. On the other hand, professional proofing booths and light boxes produce results very similar to Ott-Lites, both being multi-phosphor fluorescents. So if your goal is to be seeing what other proofing lights show, an Ott-Lite isn't a bad low cost choice. Multi-phosphor fluorescents also use much less energy, last far longer, and retain their color accuracy much longer than Solux bulbs, as well as reducing the possibilities of burns, and not overheating your studio. Solux really need to be switched on quickly for a print check, then turned off again, due to heat as well as fairly rapid color change over time. Multi-phosphor fluorescents can be run 24/7 with little energy use, little heat buildup, and little change over time. So these other factors should be considered when choosing a light source.


C. David Tobie
Global Product Technology Manager
Digital Imaging & Home Theater
Datacolor
CDTobie@...
www.datacolor.com/Spyder3

-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Kenward <richard@...>
To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sat, Feb 27, 2010 9:45 am
Subject: [Digital BW] Ott-Lite replacement


In his posting of Fri, 26 Feb 2010,  writes
>"keesatindy" restorephoto@...    keesatindy
>
>Thu Feb 25, 2010 4:58 pm (PST)
>
>My 18w Ott-Lite vision saver bulb just died and I just discovered they no 
longer
>make this bulb. The switch on this lamb quite working long ago. Fortunately, it
>was in the "on" position and I've used a switched surge protector for the 
on/off
>function ever since. These bulbs were always a pain to replace anyway. Even
>dangerous, I think.

snip

Guys

You may not be aware that the Ott-Lite products are not good for 
critical appraisal of prints as they have a spiky spectrum unlike true 
daylight or tungsten bulbs.  Off course tungsten is far less blue than 
daylight and therefore not really suitable as it gives a distorted 
appearance to what you are evaluating. The best option is the bulbs and 
enclosures available from So-lux. 
http://solux.net/cgi-bin/tlistore/infopages/index.html

Cheers

Richard
-- 
Richard Kenward      <www.artisan-digital-services.co.uk>
phone +44(0)1873 890456
fax +44(0)1873 890565




------------------------------------

Please visit the Group Homepage to check the Files, and other resources as they 
are often being updated.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint

If you wish to receive no emails or just a daily digest, or you wish to 
unsubscribe, please edit your Membership preferences by visiting this same page.

Please follow these basic guidelines:
- As threads develop, trim off excess portions of earlier messages to keep them 
short.
- Good manners are required at all time. No personal attacks or flames. Hostile, 
aggressive or argumentative users may be removed from the membership without 
notice.
- Keep your posts and threads related to the group topic of digital B&W 
printing. Users who persistently make off-topic posts may be removed from the 
membership.
- By posting on this forum you agree to abide by the group rules and guidelines, 
and to abide by the actions and decisions of the group Owner and Moderators. See 
“Group Topic, Rules and Guidelines” in the Files section:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint/files/

BY PARTICIPATING IN AND/OR POSTING MESSAGES TO THE DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT YAHOO! 
GROUP YOU EXPRESSLY UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT THE “OWNER” AND “MODERATORS” OF 
DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT YAHOO GROUP SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY DIRECT, 
INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT 
NOT LIMITED TO, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, GOODWILL, USE, DATA OR OTHER 
INTANGIBLE LOSSES (EVEN IF THE  “OWNER” AND “MODERATORS” OF DIGITAL BW, THE 
PRINT YAHOO GROUP HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES), 
RESULTING FROM: (i) THE USE OR THE INABILITY TO USE THE DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT 
YAHOO GROUP; (ii) UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO OR ALTERATION OF YOUR TRANSMISSIONS OR 
DATA; (iii) STATEMENTS OR CONDUCT OF ANY THIRD PARTY ON THE DIGITAL BW, THE 
PRINT YAHOO GROUP; OR (iv) ANY OTHER MATTER RELATING TO THE DIGITAL BW, THE 
PRINT YAHOO GROUP.
Yahoo! Groups Links



 


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

If one currently owns a fixture that has the common base/2-pin configuration similar (though not exactly like) the Ott-Lite, then which replacement bulb, and at what color temp, would you recommend for the purposes of members of this user group?

Thanks,

Howard

 



________________________________

From: Richard Kenward <richard@...>
To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sat, February 27, 2010 9:45:36 AM
Subject: [Digital BW] Ott-Lite replacement

  
In his posting of Fri, 26 Feb 2010, writes
>"keesatindy" restorephoto@ sbcglobal. net   keesatindy
>
>Thu Feb 25, 2010 4:58 pm (PST)
>
>My 18w Ott-Lite vision saver bulb just died and I just discovered they no longer
>make this bulb. The switch on this lamb quite working long ago. Fortunately, it
>was in the "on" position and I've used a switched surge protector for the on/off
>function ever since. These bulbs were always a pain to replace anyway. Even
>dangerous, I think.

snip

Guys

You may not be aware that the Ott-Lite products are not good for 
critical appraisal of prints as they have a spiky spectrum unlike true 
daylight or tungsten bulbs. Off course tungsten is far less blue than 
daylight and therefore not really suitable as it gives a distorted 
appearance to what you are evaluating. The best option is the bulbs and 
enclosures available from So-lux. 
http://solux. net/cgi-bin/ tlistore/ infopages/ index.html

Cheers

Richard
-- 
Richard Kenward <www.artisan- digital-services .co.uk>
phone +44(0)1873 890456
fax +44(0)1873 890565





      

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

The "True Color" is a different animal. My wife has that model which I've borrowed until I decide what to do re my own "Vision Saver" unit. It has a different bulb/bulb base. I like my crane neck style lamp a lot. It's served me well for several years. It's just the pain-in-the-butt bulb replacement (and the failed on/off switch) that are negatives for me.

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Sam McCandless <samcc@...> wrote:

>
> On Feb 25, 2010, at 4:55 PM, keesatindy wrote:


> 
> 
> If there's only one 18w Ott floor lamp, then that's one of two Ott  
> lamps which I have. I had no idea that its bulb has been discontinued.  
> The one in my Ott floor lamp says "True Color", not "vision saver". I  
> found it in a craft store for a little more than $100+, maybe 125.
> 
> The other Ott lamp I have is a 13w desk lamp. Its bulb isn't branded.  
> But the whole assembly was too inexpensive (about $25?) at Staples for  
> anything about it to be anything special.
>

That's the "True Color" bulb and not the "Vision Saver" style bulb I'm talking about. Seeing that site before writing my original post was one reason I thought the VS bulbs had been discontinued.

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Jeff" <goldner_jeff@...> wrote:
>
> Bulbs are available online. For example: http://www.lightbulbsdirect.com/page/001/PROD/OTT/OLPL18TC

Jarvis, after I posted my original message, I continued to search online for the "Vision Saver" bulb and did find the bulbs with the HD designation. At first I wasn't sure that these were designed for my lamp, but I later found that the unusual notched base is the same and I think this is the only lamp that ever used that unusual base. So, I agree that the HD is a replacement bulb, but how did you conclude that it's an "upgrade?" I didn't find that info. Is the HD bulb supposed to somehow be better than the older standard "Vision Saver" that it replaces?

Thanks....

Tom

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Jarvis" <jarvo@...> wrote:

>
> 
> > My 18w Ott-Lite vision saver bulb just died and I just discovered they no longer make this bulb. If so, what's working for you?
> > 
> > Thanks.....
> >
> 
> You can still get bulbs for your 18 inch lamp. Ott-Lite has discontinued the original bulbs, but there is an upgrade that replaces the old bulbs. When I first saw this post I checked out the availability of my bulbs! I have an Easel Clamp-On 13 inch True Color lamp. They no longer make the True Color bulbs, the upgrade is called 
> High Definition". With that being said, LemenLight, http://www.lumenlight.com/bulbsandtubes.html does still sell the True Color bulbs, as well as Amazon.com. You may want to consider a brand new assembly.
>

Thanks, CD, for the comments. I was looking at the Solux info over the weekend, but the comments I read re the heat generation concern me. I was unaware of the other differences you mentioned.

I've been satisfied with what I can achieve with this Ott-Lite. So, I think I'll save my money for now and, once I've confirmed that the bulb with the "HD" designation is at least comparable to the original "Vision Saver" 18w bulb, probably replace this bulb and then investigate alternatives when it's time once again to replace the bulb.

Tom

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, CDTobie <CDTobie@...> wrote:

>
> 
> 
> 
> 
> You may not be aware that the Ott-Lite products are not good for 
> critical appraisal of prints as they have a spiky spectrum unlike true 
> daylight or tungsten bulbs.  Off course tungsten is far less blue than 
> daylight and therefore not really suitable as it gives a distorted 
> appearance to what you are evaluating. The best option is the bulbs and 
> enclosures available from So-lux. 
> 
> Solux create their own color universe; no other artificial light source produces results similar to them. On the other hand, professional proofing booths and light boxes produce results very similar to Ott-Lites, both being multi-phosphor fluorescents. So if your goal is to be seeing what other proofing lights show, an Ott-Lite isn't a bad low cost choice. Multi-phosphor fluorescents also use much less energy, last far longer, and retain their color accuracy much longer than Solux bulbs, as well as reducing the possibilities of burns, and not overheating your studio. Solux really need to be switched on quickly for a print check, then turned off again, due to heat as well as fairly rapid color change over time. Multi-phosphor fluorescents can be run 24/7 with little energy use, little heat buildup, and little change over time. So these other factors should be considered when choosing a light source.
> 
> 
> C. David Tobie