Light Tents/Light Boxes - Anyone Use One?

[James D. Farrow]

Does anyone use one of these?

Looking at a variety of them on Amazon and they look O.K. but the
main gripe that many reviews have is the lights that come with them. Yellow light
instead of white. Get hot. Not bright enough. The LED ones seem to fair better.

I assume that getting the box and then looking for separate LED light(s) would be
a better option.

Opinions?  Suggestions?

Thanks,

James

[hulagrub]

Well James, I have a photographer friend who I was watching do some macro, with a really cool light box. He said it was about a $100 and it had snap in leds and it was a really good looking setup. He has applied her but hasn't heard back yet. I'll see him on Tuesday, will try and remember to ask him the brand.
You can see his pix on nwarockhounds.org

[James D. Farrow]

Thanks!

I ordered one without the lights. 16" with 4 backdrops of different colors.
Reviews were O.K. Wasn't a lot so took a chance.

And then ordered a set of lights on their own.
The lights I chose have standard fixtures. They come with CFLs (110V 45W 5500k Day-Light)
but being standard I can get others or LEDS if need be. Stayed away from the ones with proprietary
bulbs (like fancy LEDS) that you can't get anywhere and are usually expensive.

Hopefully they are not bad.

Thanks for the link. Will check it out.

James

[finegemdesigns]

I tried it and didn't like the results. Not using these systems allows reflections which shows off the high polish on my gems. Diffused light gives results that are rather blah IMO.