Cumbersome analog-era gentle packing containers for reviewing and figuring out pictures from a strip of movie negatives or a handful of slides are a factor of the previous. We now have pc tablet-slim LED-powered gentle panels and packing containers. In addition to being rather a lot lighter and extra moveable than prior iterations, choices such because the Kaiser Slimlite Plano we’re taking part in with right here, at simply 8mm ‘thick’, have the additional benefit of remaining comfortably cool to the contact. Such gentle panels will also be used for precisely tracing round pictures in addition to, at a push, offering an extra gentle supply for harried photographers. Its producer suggests it might even be used as a background gentle for macro pictures.
At present, Kaiser offers three different-sized iterations of the Slimlite Plano, an identical save for incrementally growing dimensions. This permits the person to decide on the most effective match for measurement and price range from the vary. So, with out additional ado, let’s shed some further gentle on our evaluate topic…
(Picture credit score: Gavin Stoker / Digital Digital camera World)
Kaiser Slimlite Plano: Specs
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Gentle supply
LED
Lively space
22 x 16 cm or 8.7 x 6.3 in
Development
Acrylic panel
Interface
Micro USB
Weight
570g
Dimensions
29 x 20 x 0.8 cm or 11.4 x 7.9 x 0.3 in
Kaiser Slimlite Plano: Options
At its most elementary, it is a 5000 kelvin, daylight-balanced LED gentle panel. Offering delicate, even gentle, the Kaiser Slimlite Plano in its most compact 2453 mannequin iteration is total only a fraction smaller than a sheet of A4 or US letter-sized paper. Which means the precise illuminated space of this particular lightbox is extra compact nonetheless at 22x16cm or 8.7×6.3 inches.
Fortunately, on a sensible degree that gives us with sufficient area to look at a strip of 35mm negatives. But energy customers may also need to try the bodily bigger Kaiser 2454 and 2455 options, which boast central illuminated areas of 32×22.8cm (12.6×8-inches) or 42.9×30.9cm (16.9×12.2-inches) respectively.
Dimension apart, the core options of every of those Kaiser choices are the identical. This implies simply the one exhausting copy guide offered out of the field in German, English, Spanish, and Italian does for all three fashions talked about.
(Picture credit score: Gavin Stoker / Digital Digital camera World)
Dimension aside, a key characteristic that differentiates the Kaiser from extra budget-priced however in any other case outwardly similar-looking LED gentle panels is that it contains a built-in lithium-ion rechargeable battery. With USB charging supplied, this implies it’s a unit we will probably take anyplace with us. Even when we’re simply utilizing it balanced on our lap in entrance of the TV.
Moreover, peak and width measurements are offered alongside all 4 black edges that body the central illuminated portion of the unit. Whether or not we’re utilizing it in panorama or portrait side ratio, scales are proven in centimeters and inches.
Kaiser Slimlite Plano: Design & Dealing with
With a shiny black bezel surrounding a central illuminated space, this German-made system appears pretty stylish in look. The Kaiser Slimlite Plano LED lightbox manages the feat of being manageably light-weight at 570g, in its 2453 mannequin iteration, with out its construct feeling insubstantial with it. This weight rises to 1.69 kg for the choice of the biggest 2455 show, which makes the latter much less of an choice than the 2453 for going by means of pictures with it perched on our lap.
Usefully a two-metre USB cable is offered out of the field. Our evaluate pattern additionally got here with a non-UK-compatible two-pin plug that may serve our European associates higher. That mentioned, the dearth of a suitable plug wasn’t a difficulty in any respect, as most of us will already personal a suitably USB-enabled mains plug for charging our smartphone or pill.
(Picture credit score: Gavin Stoker / Digital Digital camera World)
Relying on how we want to use it, there’s a guide change on the facet of the Kaiser Slimlite Plano for swapping between both USB-powered or battery-powered operation as required.
Whereas we’re informed a totally charged battery will final for round 5 hours at full energy when the Kaiser Slimlite Plano is used independently of mains or supplementary energy, charging time is a really leisurely 5 to 6 hours, which suggests attainable room for enchancment.
Kaiser Slimlite Plano: Efficiency
Operation of the Kaiser Slimlite Plano lightbox is as simple because it goes. To get began from scratch, we merely plug the provided USB cable into the system and the opposite finish right into a suitably outfitted mains plug. We observe this up with a press of the touch-sensitive energy button set into the black bezel that frames the central rectangular illuminated space.
(Picture credit score: Gavin Stoker / Digital Digital camera World)
As with competing fashions from the likes of Chinese language producer Huion, the brightness offered by the Kaiser Slimlite Plano is manually dimmable, as desired.
As soon as the system has been switched on, and most brightness reached, a second contact of the on/off button will easily and step by step dim the show the longer we hold our finger in place. Thus, we will shortly arrive at a degree of depth that fits the prevailing circumstances we’re utilizing it in, or which feels most comfy to our eyes. An additional faucet of the identical button deactivates the system totally.
As we are saying, the operation may be very intuitive and easy and doesn’t require a deep dive into the equally sparse printed guide. It does the job as supposed with the minimal quantity of fuss, which is simply how we prefer it.
Kaiser Slimlite Plano: Verdict
The flat profile, 8mm slim Kaiser Slimite Plano lightbox is definitely extra of an LED panel than a ‘field’ per se – and in that respect is all the higher and extra moveable for it. The unit is available in a flexible alternative of three differing sizes, on the time of writing, that ought to go well with everybody from informal customers by means of to energy customers. Every presents an incremental step up in weight, measurement, and, inevitably, value with it.
Operation is Plug’n’Play simplicity itself, with its delicate, even, and dimmable gentle leaving us free to focus on inspecting our negatives, transparencies, or slides moderately than being distracted by any extraneous capabilities on the unit. Whereas at first, the Kaiser could seem a little bit dear subsequent to similar-looking budget-priced options, the inclusion of a lithium-ion rechargeable battery helps raise it considerably above purely mains-powered options.
(Picture credit score: Gavin Stoker / Digital Digital camera World)
Options
Marginally bigger options to the Kaiser Slimlite Plano lightbox in its 2453 iteration embody the Huion L4S, which has an illuminated space nearer to the scale of a sheet of A4/ US letter. Nonetheless, that rival doesn’t characteristic a built-in battery, which can be a bonus within the Kaiser’s favor if we’re looking for an LED gentle pad that’s as moveable as it’s sensible. The Huion does have a barely slimmer profile total at round 5mm ‘thick’, in contrast with this Kaiser’s nonetheless very slender 8mm depth.
The Chinese language-made Huion various is nonetheless additionally a good quantity cheaper ought to we be on the lookout for an reasonably priced choice that, whereas frill-free, nonetheless however does the job supposed. So it actually relies on whether or not the Kaiser’s built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery makes all of the distinction to you personally.
