C
CC
- Jan 1, 1970
- 0
Hi:
I have collected an assortment of compact fluorescent bulbs with color
temps of 2700K, 3500K, 4100K, 5000K, and 6400K.
The one found most frequently (almost exclusively in fact) in stores are
the "warm white" 2700K bulbs. I have reached the conclusion that the
light from these is just plain ugly yellow-pink. It's just nowhere near
white.
I have been using Sylvania 3500K CF bulbs for a while. I was overjoyed
the first time I found them for sale in Lowes. They are really nice,
and have me completely hooked. They seemed soooo much whiter than the
warm white lamps when I first tried them.
I was often curious about "full spectrum" lamps and also ran into a
6400K lamp at Lowes once, which seemed really wierd, almost blue-violet
by comparison to typical color temp lamps. But no compact fluorescents
in 6400K were available in ballasted medium base screw-ins. Just some
special table lamp fixture, that would require one to search the ends of
the Earth to replace the unique bulb.
But having discovered the bounty of bulbs available on the net, I have
finally collected the full range of color temps!
Now I am convinced that 4100K cool white is my preferred light for
working, and 3500K by comparison seems like a nice slightly warmer white
light for a comfortable ambience in the living room and dining room, but
still looking like something that can be called "white".
5000K I still can't get used to. I am testing it out over my workbench,
but it seems almost too "green". Once I get used to it, I will see how
6400K feels for an extended time.
Even 4100K looks a little warm after staring at 5000K for a while. It's
amazing how the eyes get used to one light, and the colors all become so
relative. I'm tempted to build a board with 5 sockets, and line all the
bulbs up together for a color temp comparison/demonstration.
But 2700K always looks yellow and ugly to my eyes now. I don't know how
I ever survived to this day surrounded by so many ugly incandescent and
now 2700K CF lamps. Even halogen lamps look too yellow to my eyes these
days!
I can't wait to experiment with my 4000K metal halide lamps on their
way! I also ordered a 3000K MH lamp. I wonder how 3000K MH will look
compared to 2700K and 3500K CF lamps? I will have to wait to answer
that one. I suspect the MH will not look like the yellow halogen color,
but maybe seem a bit pinker than the 4000K.
It just boggles my mind that consumers don't demand more of the higher
color temp bulbs. Is it just their ignorance that they don't know any
better? I wouldn't think so since they have seen cool-white tubular
fluorescents for decades. My dad knew all about this being in the
commercial art business. His Dazor dual tubular fluorescent desk lamps
had the usual warm-white + cool white bulb combination. So why don't
the consumers ask "hey, where are all the cool-white CF bulbs on the
store shelves?" I find this market situation very bizarre. Thank
goodness for the net.
Good day!
I have collected an assortment of compact fluorescent bulbs with color
temps of 2700K, 3500K, 4100K, 5000K, and 6400K.
The one found most frequently (almost exclusively in fact) in stores are
the "warm white" 2700K bulbs. I have reached the conclusion that the
light from these is just plain ugly yellow-pink. It's just nowhere near
white.
I have been using Sylvania 3500K CF bulbs for a while. I was overjoyed
the first time I found them for sale in Lowes. They are really nice,
and have me completely hooked. They seemed soooo much whiter than the
warm white lamps when I first tried them.
I was often curious about "full spectrum" lamps and also ran into a
6400K lamp at Lowes once, which seemed really wierd, almost blue-violet
by comparison to typical color temp lamps. But no compact fluorescents
in 6400K were available in ballasted medium base screw-ins. Just some
special table lamp fixture, that would require one to search the ends of
the Earth to replace the unique bulb.
But having discovered the bounty of bulbs available on the net, I have
finally collected the full range of color temps!
Now I am convinced that 4100K cool white is my preferred light for
working, and 3500K by comparison seems like a nice slightly warmer white
light for a comfortable ambience in the living room and dining room, but
still looking like something that can be called "white".
5000K I still can't get used to. I am testing it out over my workbench,
but it seems almost too "green". Once I get used to it, I will see how
6400K feels for an extended time.
Even 4100K looks a little warm after staring at 5000K for a while. It's
amazing how the eyes get used to one light, and the colors all become so
relative. I'm tempted to build a board with 5 sockets, and line all the
bulbs up together for a color temp comparison/demonstration.
But 2700K always looks yellow and ugly to my eyes now. I don't know how
I ever survived to this day surrounded by so many ugly incandescent and
now 2700K CF lamps. Even halogen lamps look too yellow to my eyes these
days!
I can't wait to experiment with my 4000K metal halide lamps on their
way! I also ordered a 3000K MH lamp. I wonder how 3000K MH will look
compared to 2700K and 3500K CF lamps? I will have to wait to answer
that one. I suspect the MH will not look like the yellow halogen color,
but maybe seem a bit pinker than the 4000K.
It just boggles my mind that consumers don't demand more of the higher
color temp bulbs. Is it just their ignorance that they don't know any
better? I wouldn't think so since they have seen cool-white tubular
fluorescents for decades. My dad knew all about this being in the
commercial art business. His Dazor dual tubular fluorescent desk lamps
had the usual warm-white + cool white bulb combination. So why don't
the consumers ask "hey, where are all the cool-white CF bulbs on the
store shelves?" I find this market situation very bizarre. Thank
goodness for the net.
Good day!