Lights recommendation for light tent

[Rigged4Mini]

What are the recommended lights for a light tent? I built one out of wood frames and vellum paper but the lights I use may not be powerful enough as my images are always coming out unsharp or washed out. I am using standard daylight desk lamps that have about 15-20 watts.

 

[airhead]

#1 choice = OTT lights
#2 choice = Staples is carrying a daylight lamp about half the price of the OTT, I have not had a chance to take any photos under it to see how \"daylight\" it is.
#3 choice = HalogenA bulbs on a cheap swing arm
#4 chice = Reveal bulbs.

I\'ve found about 75 watts of halogen or reveal on each side and on the top works

 

[Arctica]

not to sound like im completely ignorant, but what is an OTT light?

 

[airhead]

Originally posted by Arctica
not to sound like im completely ignorant, but what is an OTT light?

OTT is a brand of light and lamp. The light is color corrected flourescent.
They are not cheap.

http://www.ottlite.com/

 

[skeeve]

Originally posted by airhead
#2 choice = Staples is carrying a daylight lamp about half the price of the OTT, I have not had a chance to take any photos under it to see how \"daylight\" it is.

If it is what I own, it is not really \"daylight\". It is extremely harsh and if anything has a tone of lamps in operating room.

 

[Willowwing]

the OTT are only like 15-20W the reveals are 100W cna you got a good enough light out of 20W? Just curious.

 

[Legacy Account]

Halogens work fine....

 

[squidders]

Willowwing: I guess for most people, the colour temperature is more important than the brightness.

It\'s easier to have a longer exposure than to adjust for true daylight colour.

Does anyone know of an OTT stockist in the UK? Their international distributors didn\'t seem to list any.

 

[airhead]

Originally posted by Willowwing
the OTT are only like 15-20W the reveals are 100W cna you got a good enough light out of 20W? Just curious.

The OTT are flourescent. Roughly equal to a 40 or 60 watt incandescent for a 13 or 18 watt OTT.

 

[jgemrich]

For goodness sake don\'t buy an OTT light just for daylight balance. You can buy daylight balanced bulbs from a variety of sources that fit a normal fixture.

Here....

http://store.tabletopstudio-store.com/lightbulbs.html I use the 55 Watt in a reflector fixture.