Very nice Hawksmoor!

This may be an effect of the image but the light box looks a little dimmer near the edges than in the centre. I have been thinking of improving my flats and may make a light box of my own soon. I used to take my flats from a cloudy daytime sky, but the clouds were just not uniform enough! Damn british weather - even when I want the clouds, they ruin my pictures!  Nowadays I use a laptop monitor screen.

Dan.

On 07/07/2016 at 14:38, spaceman_spiff said:

Very nice Hawksmoor!

This may be an effect of the image but the light box looks a little dimmer near the edges than in the centre. I have been thinking of improving my flats and may make a light box of my own soon. I used to take my flats from a cloudy daytime sky, but the clouds were just not uniform enough! Damn british weather - even when I want the clouds, they ruin my pictures!  Nowadays I use a laptop monitor screen.

Dan.

Hi Dan

You might be right re the illumination. Have not used yet as weather over Lowestoft has been terrible. I also was  too mean to part with the cash for a piece of white opal acrylic. Instead I utilised a sheet of 0.5mm. Plasticard which I had to hand. Probably a mistake that will cost a pound or two to rectify.  

I too used to use a lap top screen for flats but as I'm getting on a bit and sometimes a little dizzy, was concerned that I would drop it!  Dells are not renowned for their bounce.

Best regards George

23 minutes ago, Hawksmoor said:

Hi Dan

You might be right re the illumination. Have not used yet as weather over Lowestoft has been terrible. I also was  too mean to part with the cash for a piece of white opal acrylic. Instead I utilised a sheet of 0.5mm. Plasticard which I had to hand. Probably a mistake that will cost a pound or two to rectify.  

I too used to use a lap top screen for flats but as I'm getting on a bit and sometimes a little dizzy, was concerned that I would drop it!  Dells are not renowned for their bounce.

Best regards George

I was thinking of using a bank of LEDs behind layers of frosted plastic but just not got round to it yet. It would be significantly brighter than a laptop screen. As for the laptop I have to balance it on a bunch of boxes to get it to the height of the scope. I then have to press the scope against the screen to make sure no other light enters. This has lead to a number of near misses (I normally catch the laptop before impact)! 

2 hours ago, spaceman_spiff said:

I was thinking of using a bank of LEDs behind layers of frosted plastic but just not got round to it yet. It would be significantly brighter than a laptop screen. As for the laptop I have to balance it on a bunch of boxes to get it to the height of the scope. I then have to press the scope against the screen to make sure no other light enters. This has lead to a number of near misses (I normally catch the laptop before impact)! 

I used 3 LED strips from Maplins. They have integrated resistors and a self adhesive backing, so easy to cut, fit and wire. Have tried my light box with an Eos lens on my Canon Dslr. Seems to work OK but until I try with my scopes under the night sky the jury is out.

Hope your light box build goes well!

George