The Softest External Reading Light

[andavane]

Within the skein of this post:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=211098

there will be situations in which an externally lit screen is preferred. Taking those situations and adherents, the question arises as to which external reading light is the softest to the eye, for which I will clarify my own position further. I am only able to sit in an upright reading/working position for limited periods of time, about 1½ hours maximum. The remaining times I need to recline, where I am propped by my carers, and for periods too I need to lie on my back. For all these positions I have a bewildering amount of gadgets. When on my back the eReader is stored in a self-standing adjustable angle case. This houses Kindle Keyboard (a lovely reader!) and Kindle Paperwhite, the latter being the easiest with a view to lighting. My favourite light (from a lighting point so far) is Octovo Solis, but not clipped to the Kindle when lying on my back as it shines straight into my eyes, so I prop it on my chest with crumpled muslin and then hope for the best.

To help solve this problem, a "Wedo LED Clip-On Reading Light for Kindle Books Pads Clipboards" has been added to my family of gizmos. I attach it to a mini clipboard, tuck on onb my chest and the angle the light any way I want. Pretty good, except the light quality, isn't nearly as good as the Octovo

So in the Glowing —non-Glowing thread, the strand of the question of readers' experiences of external reading lights would would be very welcome!

Regards

John

[BeccaPrice]

It's not a clip-on, but I really like the quality of light from my Ott light that I use as a desk lamp.

[teija]

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

It's not a clip-on, but I really like the quality of light from my Ott light that I use as a desk lamp.

That's an excellent idea actually - not sure why I didn't think about that one. My Ott lite is normally confined to my craft room, but I have a feeling it may venture out sometime soon now.

[andavane]

Never heard of 'em till just now.
I see there are several models.
Which had you in mind?

[BeccaPrice]

They don't, apparently, make the model that I've got any longer, but it turns on when you open it up, and it sits on top of my pc tower, and illuminates my whole desk area nicely. Looking at their website, they've got a whole lot of interesting models, including floor lamps and lamps with magnifiers in them.

[Penforhire]

For reading on the couch I've been happy with their least expensive "wing shade" floor lamp for several years now. At my computer desk I have one of their flex-neck wing shade models. Both look like @ss, very cheap plastic appearance and feel, but light quality (good CRI, even lighting) is all that matters to me and they deliver. In perhaps four years of using both I had to replace one bulb.

[Vic333]

LEDs are inherently harsh because of the technology involved. They give a very pure white light (which sounds nice, but is actually a bit jarring to the eye) and are very directional (which, once again, sounds nice, but the end result is that the light does't cover much area and is more likely to cause glaring on the surfaces they do touch).

So, unless there is some nice filter on the light, if you're looking for something soothing to the eye, look for non-LED lights. They will use much more battery life, however.

[haydnfan]

Ignore the post above me. I use a 60 watt equivalent led light with my reading lamp and it is warm with no glare.