When the Lights Go Out

[rexxar]

Am I the only one who prefers cool fluorescent lighting to incandescent? It just looks kind of weird to me when everything is lit up in yellow light. Fluorescent lamps are closer to daylight.

No, I rather like cool light. My ceiling fixtures all had incandescents in them when we moved in, and everything looks all yellow and washed out. I'll probably replace them with LEDs when the bulbs finally die.

[IanB]

Am I the only one who prefers cool fluorescent lighting to incandescent? It just looks kind of weird to me when everything is lit up in yellow light. Fluorescent lamps are closer to daylight.

I don't know, but count me out. I really like the warm yellow light of dimmed incandescent bulbs. It's reminiscent of firelight. I think it's restful on the eyes because the light has an even coverage of the whole spectrum like sunlight. I find fluorescent and LED lighting to be very tiring. I just look at a fluorescent light and think, "ugh, why is it a funny color?"

(Also, I think there is no difference in light quality between fluorescent and LED lights. They each use fluorescent dyes in various mixtures to produce visible light.)

[c4757p]

(Also, I think there is no difference in light quality between fluorescent and LED lights. They each use fluorescent dyes in various mixtures to produce visible light.)

Agreed, they look identical.

[ElectroIrradiator]

Am I the only one who prefers cool fluorescent lighting to incandescent? It just looks kind of weird to me when everything is lit up in yellow light. Fluorescent lamps are closer to daylight.

I prefer anything, which emits a continuous spectrum. Something both fluorescent and LED lightbulbs have a hard time replicating. I will probably move to daylight balanced Xenon lamps soon-ish (not getting younger here, need ever more candle power for working on small items).

[steve30]

Am I the only one who prefers cool fluorescent lighting to incandescent? It just looks kind of weird to me when everything is lit up in yellow light. Fluorescent lamps are closer to daylight.

c4757p: I like daylight fluorescent lamps. For the last year, in my combined bedroom/lab I've been using Osram Lumilux De Luxe tubes (CRI >90, 5400k). They do the job pretty well. I have blue carpet and blue walls, and anything under 5000k makes the blue colours look like a muddy yellow. Even my 4000k tubes do that. 4000k looks nice in other areas though.

I do quite like tungsten lamps, especially if one wants a small 'cosy' light. In fact, my small desk lamp has a Philips halogen lamp which was replaced about 13 years ago and is still working well after many, many hours of use .

Main issue I have with conventional 'light bulbs' is glare, which I why I switched to fluorescent tubes round the side of the room. I do have some nice daylight CFLs (6000k) (from Androv Medical), but don't use them in here any more because of the glare.