Seeing True Color with the Ott Flex-Arm Plus Lamp
Written: Sep 05 '04 (Updated Sep 08 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: View colors as if in sunlight – bulb lasts 10,000 hours, reduces eye strain
Cons: Expensive product – buy it on sale
The Bottom Line: Viewing the Bottom Line with this Ott light is scary. I can see every blemish and dirt smudge ... and it’s wearing one black sock and a blue one.
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| dlstewart's Full Review: Ottlite Flex Arm |
Temptation led me into AC Moore with a 50% off coupon. I had always wanted an Ott light. With 50% off the expensive price, I had no reason not to indulge. A birthday gift to me! The Ott Flex-Arm Plus Lamp is versatile, too, which made it an even better buy.
Description
The Ott Flex-Arm Plus Lamp is designed to either clamp to a flat surface (such as the edge of a table, shelf, or in my case, the edge of a heavy-duty piece of plywood serving as a table-top) ... or this Ott light can fit into a weighted base to serve as a desk-top lamp. Its 18 watt bulb is equal to 130 watts of incandescent light – and the bulb lasts for 10,000 hours!
The Flex-Arm light is in the shape of the number "7". The arm stands about 25" tall and has two flexible gussets that allow the light to be bent near the bottom as well as at the top. The lamp itself is a light gray color, and the gussets are a medium gray. At the top of the arm is the working portion of the light, which is oval. This measures about 13".
A decorative grass-green stripe around the oval is illuminated when the light is turned on. The top of the light is flat with tapered edges giving it a contoured appearance. A black on/off rocker switch is located on the underside of the light head near where it attaches to the arm. An open area on the underside of the light is where the lightbulb is inserted. This open area measures 9". A black electrical cord 9 1/2 feet long extends from the bottom of the arm, and ends at a transformer that measures 1 1/2" wide x 2 1/4" long x 2" deep. The transformer has a polarized plug, where one prong on the plug is wider than the other prong.
The light bulb is easy to insert. A small plastic panel flips open allowing full access to the recessed bulb area. The long lightbulb resembles two long tubes rounded at the ends and held together by the part of the lightbulb that plugs into the lamp. A silver metal clamp is affixed inside the lampshade and anchors the end of the lightbulb not plugged into the socket. Simply snap the bulb into the metal clamp, then slide the lightbulb until it clicks into position. Close the small plastic panel. Ta da ... done.
The clamp is made from sturdy plastic with a 2" opening. The plastic screw portion of the clamp is large. No tools are necessary. Just strongly hand-tighten the turning nob to snug the camp against the flat mounting surface. The Ott light has a dowel at the base of the arm that fits into a hole in the top of the clamp. Since the arm sits in the hole, the light has 360-degree swiveling ability.
Another option is to house the light in the weighted base. The base measures 10" long x 7 1/2" wide and is 2 1/2" tall. A plastic adapter fits over the dowel so that the lamp’s arm slides into the base. A metal washer and screw are included with a small metal wrench. The washer and screw are attached from underneath the base.
Here is a link to the Ott web site to view a photo of this lamp: http://www.ottlite.com/productdetail.asp?product_id=31
What makes an Ott light special?
Ott lights bring the effects of natural sunlight indoors without the heat or glare. It allows the user to see colors more clearly and also reveals more detail than traditional lighting allows. Ott lights are easier on the eyes, too, as well as being more energy efficient. The carton that my Ott light came in says that the illuminating quality of these lights is constructed from a blend of rare earth phosphors. Sounds fancy ... but it obviously works.
My Experiences
I use this Ott Light in my computer area. And what a difference it makes!
The box includes: the lamp, clamp, weighted base (and metal screw, two washers, and small wrench for base assembly),18 watt light bulb, and instructions on assembly and use.
It took only minutes to assemble. The instructions for installing the lightbulb were the hardest part to decipher – despite the fact that they had enough instructions and diagrams to build a space shuttle. Once I stopped reading the instructions and studied the lamp, it was easy to insert the bulb.
I have a wooden cart/table next to my computer work station. I had placed a large piece of heavy-duty plywood on the table-top to extend the surface area a bit to fit my printer, scanner, UPS battery back-up and telephone. The Ott light clamps to the edge of the 1/2" thick plywood. I can bend the light from the base or near the light head to customize the angle. Since the light is sitting in the clamp, I can also turn the light 360-degrees to illuminate any part of my work area.
When turning on the light, allow two seconds for it to snap on. I remember when I first turned this light on, I saw every spec of dust hiding on my keyboard. I was amazed at how messy the keyboard looked and immediately vowed to clean it. The next thing I noticed were that the monitor colors looked different. The colors were deeper with more shade variations and no longer looked flat and lifeless.
One of the things I use my computer for is web site design work. I scan a lot of photographs for clients. With this Ott light, I see true colors. This is also helpful when I design quilt block clipart that I post for free on my web site. Creating the clipart is fun ... and it’s even nicer seeing how wonderful the clipart looks when viewed with the Ott light. It makes a difference in color selection during the design process, too. It’s an eye-opener viewing colors using an Ott light.
I’ve been quilting for over 20 years and love it. My sewing area is positioned in front of a sunny window, so most of the time my projects are well illuminated. But now if I am selecting fabrics and threads at night, I can compare the colors beneath the Ott light so that I know how they will look in sunlight. It’s amazing how different colors look beneath a conventional house light compared to the Ott light. The Ott-viewed colors are more vibrant and the patterns detailed. I also notice a big difference in blue and red shades when viewing them with the Ott light – sharper, clearer, truer color.
I like that this light comes with both the clamp and base. At some point I may decide to place the base in my sewing area. Then I could move the light between the computer area where it is clamped and the sewing area where the base would be located. Should I decide to indulge in midnight sewing sprees, the Ott light would come in handy!
An extra benefit of using the Ott light is that I’ve noticed my mood lightens and I feel as if I have more energy. I’m not a person who suffers severe seasonal mood swings with the absence of sunlight, though I know several people who do, and it’s difficult for them to function without sunlight. The Ott light does not replace sunlight, but I do notice increased energy and alertness when I sit beneath the Ott light as compared to a conventional house light.
Note that the lightbulb does become hot to the touch. It is not super-hot like a halogen lightbulb, but it does hurt to touch it. See what I go through to present a thorough review!
The electronic starter turns on this light with perhaps a two-second pause before the light snaps on. This light does not flicker. It casts a steady flood of light over my work area, and my eyes actually feel less stressed even after doing hours of computer work.
Purchasing
This Ott light normally retails for $169.99. AC Moore sells it for $159.99. With my 50% off coupon, the light cost me $79.99. Still expensive, but very much worth it! The Ott Flex-Arm Plus Lamp can also be purchased from Joann.com for $169.99; however, Joann Fabric’s brick and mortar stores often offer 40% off coupons to those on their mailing list (sometimes the website also offers extra savings).
Replacement light bulbs are pricey ... but with each lightbulb lasting 10,000 hours, you won’t need to replace it often. Joann Fabrics sells the bulb for $29.99 each, though their frequent 40% off store coupon reduces the price to $17.99.
A 3x optical magnifying attachment that clamps to the light can be purchased separately for $109.99. The lens swivels and the shaft bends for angling the magnifier during close work. I don’t own this, but it’s nice knowing the magnifier is an option.
Summary
This Ott light is a great investment. Not only do I see colors more clearly and as they truly are, but my eyes are more relaxed. I even feel better sitting in the “rays” of my pseudo-sun. My work area is well illuminated, which makes it easier to work at the computer. Maybe it’s too well lighted. I can see every spec of dust around me. It’s time to clean!
I hope you have found this review useful.
Enjoy your day,
Dawn
http://dlstewart.com
Additional Information
Model # OLFX18TC
Replacement Bulb # OLPL18TC
18 watt / 5000K / 82 CRI / 975 Lumens
Ott-Lite Technology
1214 West Cass Street
Tampa, FL 33606
Toll-free Customer Service Phone: 800-842-8848
One-year Warranty
Please read my other reviews:
Belkin Emergency UPS Battery Backup
HP LaserJet 2200dse Printer
Hewlett Packard LaserJet 1000 Printer
Gateway 500X Computer
Logitech Mouseman Dual Optical Mouse
Dazzle Multimedia 6-in-1 Card Reader
Concord Eye-Q Digital Camera
Quilt Pro Software
Quilter’s Dream Sewing Table
Horn of America Sewing Chair
Janome Jem Sewing Machine
Joann .com Fabric & Craft Store
If you would like to check out my quilt block clipart designs, please visit: http://dlstewart.com/clipart.htm
Copyright 2004 Dawn L. Stewart
Recommended:
Yes
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