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2700K sucks!

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!
 
K

Ken

Jan 1, 1970
0
but still looking like something that can be called "white".

Checkout CF bulbs with CRI over 90 (Color Rendering Index).
It's very important.
 
S

Simon Waldman

Jan 1, 1970
0
CC said:
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.

Agreed. Personally I dislike all of the 2700K fluorescents that I've
seen; they all look pink to me.[1]

3000K ones are much nicer... I've yet to try to find the right gel to
filter them to a more dimmed-tungsten-like colour.

-S


[1] So do colour 830 metal halide, but that's another matter. I notice
that a few people are making colour 930 now... I have yet to get my
hands on one of those to try out.
 
S

Simon Waldman

Jan 1, 1970
0
Ken said:
Checkout CF bulbs with CRI over 90 (Color Rendering Index).
It's very important.

I was looking for that this afternoon. From a quick glace, there doesn't
seem to be anything in the Osram or Philips catalogues... does anybody
actually make them?
 
C

CC

Jan 1, 1970
0
Simon said:
I was looking for that this afternoon. From a quick glace, there doesn't
seem to be anything in the Osram or Philips catalogues... does anybody
actually make them?

I haven't been able to find compacts with CRI>90, only about 80-82.
Tubular fluorescents are available with CRI=>90
 
C

CC

Jan 1, 1970
0
Simon said:
CC said:
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.

Agreed. Personally I dislike all of the 2700K fluorescents that I've
seen; they all look pink to me.[1]

3000K ones are much nicer... I've yet to try to find the right gel to
filter them to a more dimmed-tungsten-like colour.

-S


[1] So do colour 830 metal halide, but that's another matter. I notice
that a few people are making colour 930 now... I have yet to get my
hands on one of those to try out.


Do you mean 940? I have ordered an 830 PAR20 35W Philips Master Color
($60 ugh!) and a 940 ED17 50W. Hopefully can test them out next week.

I am hoping the 3000K MH is at least better than the 2700K CF. But I
fear I will regret spending $60 for it. Too bad Philips doesn't yet
have 940 in PAR20.

I expect I will love 940, since I have settled on 4100K fluorescent to
be a nice neutral white. It's strange, I don't seem to feel "cool
white" is very cool anymore. I even notice how pink it seems after
looking at 5000K for a while.


Good day!
 
S

Simon Waldman

Jan 1, 1970
0
CC said:
I haven't been able to find compacts with CRI>90, only about 80-82.
Tubular fluorescents are available with CRI=>90

That's pretty much my experience. Actually in teh new Philips catalogue
that I got last week, there are some linear fluoros with CRI of 98.
(although substantially dimmer than more normal tubes). I think the
range was called Graphica Pro, or some such.
 
S

Simon Waldman

Jan 1, 1970
0
CC said:
[1] So do colour 830 metal halide, but that's another matter. I notice
that a few people are making colour 930 now... I have yet to get my
hands on one of those to try out.



Do you mean 940? I have ordered an 830 PAR20 35W Philips Master Color
($60 ugh!) and a 940 ED17 50W. Hopefully can test them out next week.

No, I mean 930 :)
For a while now it's been a choice between 830 and 942, but 930s have
started to appear in the latest catalogues.

Osram call theirs "shoplight", and I think it's only available in 70W at
present. It's not as bright as the 830.

Philips... erm, can't remember what it's called, I *think* it's
MaterColour Elite.

All these are UK names, in case they differ across the pond.
 
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