Great review of this LED light. As I just bought this LED light today, and I'm curious could it be a mistake on the brand name from your title "Viltrox RB9", where on the box it says "Weeylite RB9", and I'm holding the box it also has "Weeylite RB9" printed on there?
The company that contacted me was Viltrox, they sent me a light in a box that said Viltrox, but the link to their store sent people to a light branded Weeylite. The app that controls the light is Weeylite. Who knows what the true company or brand name.
Thanks for the great review! That is a cool little light. I'm thinking if you placed a piece of rubylith, trimmed to size, between the light and the diffuser it might enable the light (on white light mode) to work as a safelight, too. I'm also wondering if that light could be used to make split-grade contact prints, using green and blue light. (But I'll bet that app does not feature a timer.) Anyways - super content, as usual!
Fyi, with camera scanning, you'll get much better results around 5000K, give or take thousand, with a low delta uv if possible, as filter stacks and characterization is not optimized for the extremes, especially not the cool extremes beyond 6500K.
Yeah, I definitely wouldn’t try using a temp higher than 5500K, but some people like to mix 5500 and 3200. Your comment made me wonder what we would get if we did a RGB separation type shoot. An exposure for each channel and then combined in Photoshop
I don't have a way to verify that my LEDs are 660nm though that what it says they are. And at least in my first darkroom, I found, at full brightness, I was safe out to I think 8 minutes (on the post exposure test) which was plenty for me given I'd typically run my LEDs at 20% of that. I need to test again in my new space (I have different 660nm LEDs) though it's even more diffuse so my hope is I should get even better results. All told, still can't hurt to do exposure tests just for peace of mind. It's pretty boring sitting in the darkroom for that long not doing much of anything haha but only really need to do them once (per paper type ideally).
Thanks for the review. It's reviews like this to really help us decide on what to buy.
The cold shoe is not for height. You put your cell phone in the adjustable mount, connect the cold shoe, then screw the light on the top.
Great review of this LED light. As I just bought this LED light today, and I'm curious could it be a mistake on the brand name from your title "Viltrox RB9", where on the box it says "Weeylite RB9", and I'm holding the box it also has "Weeylite RB9" printed on there?
The company that contacted me was Viltrox, they sent me a light in a box that said Viltrox, but the link to their store sent people to a light branded Weeylite. The app that controls the light is Weeylite. Who knows what the true company or brand name.
is it bright enough to put in a softbox or umbrella? I'd love to have an LED light with a built in battery for b+w portraits.
Probably not. I am looking at the new Amaran lights from Aputure for that though. They have a Bowens S mount
Thanks for the great review! That is a cool little light. I'm thinking if you placed a piece of rubylith, trimmed to size, between the light and the diffuser it might enable the light (on white light mode) to work as a safelight, too. I'm also wondering if that light could be used to make split-grade contact prints, using green and blue light. (But I'll bet that app does not feature a timer.) Anyways - super content, as usual!
I am considering using my Burke & James Orbit 4x5 as an enlarger. Would a light like this make a good source for this project?
It’s too small for 4x5 but would work for MF or smaller. I would also use something to diffuse the light a bit more before it hit the film.
Any reason you call this a viltrox while it says weeylite on the box and on Amazon? Couldn’t find it by searching for viltrox.
Viltrox is the company I dealt with. The link in the description is to their direct store. Weeylite may be a subsidiary or brand name.
@The Naked Photographer I have my Epson 4990 working (pretty well) with the software VueScan. Maybe could be a good solution for you?
We will see
Is there a light box that you recommend for DSLR scanning?
Not yet. I’m looking at maybe a comparison of different sources.
Fyi, with camera scanning, you'll get much better results around 5000K, give or take thousand, with a low delta uv if possible, as filter stacks and characterization is not optimized for the extremes, especially not the cool extremes beyond 6500K.
Yeah, I definitely wouldn’t try using a temp higher than 5500K, but some people like to mix 5500 and 3200. Your comment made me wonder what we would get if we did a RGB separation type shoot. An exposure for each channel and then combined in Photoshop
For the people who want a LED as a safelight. your red LED needs to bee 660nm (deep red) to be a safe light.. for black and white paper that is..
I don't have a way to verify that my LEDs are 660nm though that what it says they are. And at least in my first darkroom, I found, at full brightness, I was safe out to I think 8 minutes (on the post exposure test) which was plenty for me given I'd typically run my LEDs at 20% of that. I need to test again in my new space (I have different 660nm LEDs) though it's even more diffuse so my hope is I should get even better results.
All told, still can't hurt to do exposure tests just for peace of mind. It's pretty boring sitting in the darkroom for that long not doing much of anything haha but only really need to do them once (per paper type ideally).