houdel Loc: Chase, Michigan USA

I converted most of my fixtures to CFLs a few years ago and am now converting to LEDs. I bought a few 6W actual/50W equivalent 3500K LEDs a while back. Those were the only ones available at the time. Now that here are more options + 5000K bulbs on the market I may start replacing the CFLs. IMHO, CFLs suck. As already mentioned they are slow to start & take time to reach full output. Last winter I had to replace the CFL in my porch fixture with a LED bulb because it got cold enough that the CFL wouldn't turn on at all. And I have already had most of my original contingent of CFLs burn out after three years or so, about the same life as the incandescents. So much for "long life"!

I did find that neither CFLs or LEDs work well with my outside photo sensor controlled fixture. They had a high frequency flicker like you sometimes get with the 48" fluorescent tubes, and after about a week they would not turn on at all. The bulbs were fine - they would work in other fixtures, just not the photo sensor controlled fixture. After several bulb swaps they finally fried the photo sensor so the fixture is now a constant on fixture, but at least the bulbs work in it now!

I also had to replace the 18" fluorescent fixture over my kitchen sink recently. Found a hard-wired 18" multi-LED fixture on Amazon but still only 6W actual/50W equivalent 3500K. I would have preferred more light & 5000K but it was the best I could do for what I was willing to pay. It works fine though.

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

I bought two LED safelights from Adorama for my darkroom 15 years ago. They put out a surprising amount of light and absolutely will not expose print paper, at least b&w print paper. Never tested them with color paper.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

My interest in LED lighting would hinge on correcting White Bakance. Most cameras enable WB settings for the type of illumination; sun, sky, incadescent, flourescent, flash, etc. I looked in the WB options in my Sony a6000 and there was no LED option - there were 4 flourescent options. As we know flourescent itself is a line spectra that activates tube phosphores that spreads the spectra. What do we know about LED spectra: discontinous line or continuous (with a definable color temperature) or some admixture. To my untraibed eye I seem to sense a soectra that is rich in the short wavelengths. Would this mean that red-yellow-green objects to seem too dark?

houdel Loc: Chase, Michigan USA

I take a lot of photos at indoor venues often with mixed lighting. Rather than get too technical about the lighting, I take a simpler approach. I take sample photos with differing WB presets and view them on my monitor, then select the WB that gives me the most pleasing image.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

My Sony a6000 did have a "custom" WB option but I am not skilled enough to use it properly. Would a sample shot of a white card and an 18% gray card under exclusively LED illumination help?

houdel Loc: Chase, Michigan USA

I guess that would be the technically correct if somewhat more complicated solution. I have no desire to carry a 18% grey card around with me everywhere I go just in case I run into some oddball lighting situation. I find it easier to take test shots with different WB settings & pick the one that looks best. Maybe if I were shooting commercial photography I'd go the extra step, but I shoot in RAW so I can tweak WB in post if I need to. Not that I've felt a need to, but I generally adjust hue and saturation in post for aesthetics anyhow.

nicksr1125 Loc: Mesa, AZ

You be able to use incandescent or daylight WB settings with LED bulbs depending on what color temperature they are. Most come in 2700-3000K. Our bulbs at Batteries Plus come in 2700K, 4000K, & 5000K. One of the WB settings on your A6000 should come close enough that a minor tweak in PP should take care of any color cast. I'm not sure whether the spectrum is continuous or not. They're just a bunch of glowing LED chips.

billybob40

Jerry I get 4 for $20. shipped, on ebay.

arlissd

Costco have LED

Collie lover Loc: St. Louis, MO

Another problem with CFLs is that they contain mercury and have to be disposed of in a safe manner. Can't just toss them in the trash like old light bulbs. I don't want anything with mercury.

Chris F. Loc: San Francisco

Yes, and surprisingly enough we have found a pretty nice selection that are priced low at Costco. We've converted almost everything now and my electric bill shows it.

Chris

Chris F. Loc: San Francisco

Yes, and surprisingly enough we have found a pretty nice selection that are priced low at Costco. I even converted the ballasts in a few shop lights in the garage to accept LED tubes. They are bright! We've converted almost everything now and my electric bill shows it.

Chris

hj Loc: Florida

Can you tell us where you got 100W LED bulbs for about $10. Best I can find seems to be approx $20 each.

nicksr1125 Loc: Mesa, AZ

To be fair, CFL's do contain mercury. But, it isn't the silvery liquid we played with as a kid. There is less than an amount that would cover the head of a pin in each one. They should be recycled. Some communities require recycling. Batteries Plus Bulbs accepts all bulbs & batteries for recycling.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I got them at Home Depot a few months back. It might have been a promotional.