Retrodiode LED conversion

[Microworldofgems]

Does anyone have any experience with their products?

http://retrodiode.com/

[Hobbyst46]

Does anyone have any experience with their products?

http://retrodiode.com/

I do. Very positive experience with the product and the communication with Fernald.

[JGardner]

I use the older version of their Orthoplan LED conversion. It works well, with one exception: it uses PWM to control LED brightness, so if the control is set to less than 100% I see bands when taking photographs through the microscope.

One big advantage LED has over incandescent illuminators is a constant color temperature--the light does not get redder as the brightness is turned down.

The plastic parts are 3D printed, and a little crude, but everything works as expected.

[stitchy.mitch]

I use one of their products on my Nikon S-kt. The product is good, but will second JGardner on the banding produced in photographs below 100% brightness.

I however find the price point at ~$150 USD to be too high. It is after all an LED, 3D printed plastic housing, an aluminum heat sink and a brightness dimmer. Not that I'd know the true cost of producing such an item, but the value for a dimmable LED with a housing designed to fit into a microscope doesn't seem worth the cost.

However it does work well, and they produce highly functional LED lightsources which are a good option if you're not the DIY type and just want something that works.

[JGardner]

If you want something more robust and professional looking, there's always Nanodyne, but their products are in the $500-600 range.

https://www.nano-dyne.com/led-microscope-lights/

[Saul]

... the banding produced in photographs below 100% brightness ...

At what shutter speed ?

[Rorschach]

If you want something more robust and professional looking, there's always Nanodyne, but their products are in the $500-600 range.

https://www.nano-dyne.com/led-microscope-lights/

Thanks for the link. Yeah, a bit expensive for me. And even worse, there are no models for the Orthoplan.

[Hobbyst46]

... the banding produced in photographs below 100% brightness ...

At what shutter speed ?

With the PWM 21kHz dimmer, banding can occur at high shutter speeds, say 300-400, at 50-100% brightness. My experience. This is almost never a problem, since such speeds are very rare in my work.

BTW, there is a European maker of tailored LED illuminators for old microscopes, I forgot their name. Their prices are roughly the same as retroDiode's.

[Rorschach]

BTW, there is a European maker of tailored LED illuminators for old microscopes, I forgot their name. Their prices are roughly the same as retroDiode's.

This is of interest. As an EU resident, I'd of course prefer local to save on shipping and especially on EU customs & VAT. That is, if the quality is at least as good or better than Retrodiode.

[Hobbyst46]

BTW, there is a European maker of tailored LED illuminators for old microscopes, I forgot their name. Their prices are roughly the same as retroDiode's.

This is of interest. As an EU resident, I'd of course prefer local to save on shipping and especially on EU customs & VAT. That is, if the quality is at least as good or better than Retrodiode.

Found it !! ‪They are named TDKK‬‏. I did not buy from them as yet, but they are pleasantly communicative, and my feeling is that they are high-level professionals.

[Rorschach]

Found it !! ‪They are named TDKK‬‏. I did not buy from them as yet, but they are pleasantly communicative, and my feeling is that they are high-level professionals.
[/quote]

Thanks! I'll check them out! When my finances improve enough (from the several Orthoplan related purchases ), I am going to either buy or build a LED lighting solution for the scope.

[Saul]

[...Found it !! ‪They are named TDKK‬‏. I did not buy from them as yet, but they are pleasantly communicative, and my feeling is that they are high-level professionals.

Looks like a low power LED (looking at the heat sink). Any idea what LED is used ?

[daruosha]

I checked their website. My educated guess tels me the heat sinks are 3-5W rated.

[Saul]

... the banding produced in photographs below 100% brightness ...

At what shutter speed ?

With the PWM 21kHz dimmer, banding can occur at high shutter speeds, say 300-400, at 50-100% brightness. My experience. This is almost never a problem, since such speeds are very rare in my work....

I never experienced banding, because I use long exposures, 3s and longer (shortest - 2s) on my LED/flash unit. If I need shorter - using flash. What type of microphotography requires such 1/50 - 1/500 shutter speed ? I understand, it could be banding problem with video ...

[Hobbyst46]

I never experienced banding, because I use long exposures, 3s and longer (shortest - 2s) on my LED/flash unit. If I need shorter - using flash. What type of microphotography requires such 1/50 - 1/500 shutter speed ? ...

I do not have a flash. Sometimes, for brightfield photography of clear and contrasty specimens, the FOV brightness and camera meter suggest rapid exposure.

[Saul]

I never experienced banding, because I use long exposures, 3s and longer (shortest - 2s) on my LED/flash unit. If I need shorter - using flash. What type of microphotography requires such 1/50 - 1/500 shutter speed ? ...

I do not have a flash. Sometimes, for brightfield photography of clear and contrasty specimens, the FOV brightness and camera meter suggest rapid exposure.

Right, when I have this situation with too bright light & dimmer is at the minimum (and do not want to use flash, or for some other reasons), I'm using ND filters (Microphot) or some extra diffusing material in the filter tray (Optiphot).
Long exposure "absorbs" vibrations - for example, this photo is made with the continuous LED light, 93.75x