Hi,

I'm looking for some screw-in compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs to displace my incandescent bulbs and cheapo CFL's . Has anyone seen any with a CRI higher than 84 ? Other extras are a bulb in the 5000K to 6500K range that works with a dimmer. They are also probably excellent in cheap DIY softbox applications.

This place offers a good product (dimmable), but I have to buy an entire case:
http://www.goodmart.com/products/213750.htm

Here are single units at higher wattages, but I'm not sure they have the same dimmable properties :
http://www.1000bulbs.com/product.php?product=1086

Here is a 5000k bulb with a CRI of 88 you may be able to find at a local electronics supply which carries Panasonic bulbs-
http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/vModelDetail?storeId=15001&catalogId=13401&itemId=62757&modelNo=EFT28E50&cacheProgram=11002&cachePartner=7000000000000005702&surfModel=EFT28E50&catGroupId=25082&surfCategory=Screw-in%20CFL&displayTab=S

Goodmart also has some higher CRI bulbs -
http://www.goodmart.com/products/629728.htm

IF you're looking for medium screw in, WestCott makes them (the curly type) with 5k+ color balance and 90 cri. They are about 20.00 USD each when purchased in lots of 6 or more. I think Adorama has them.

Thanks, guys. In addition to video applications, I also want to retrofit my house with CFLs. My first attempt with early CFLs in 1998 yielded a horrible look, and none of those available to me at the time were bright enough. I bought a few CFL floodlights from CostCo a couple of months ago, and they look horrible as well as needing a few minutes to reach full brightness.

Thanks, Joe. The Westcott bulbs are good spec-wise, but they are quite pricey. I think that WestCott is reselling the TCP CFL bulbs.

http://www.adorama.com/WESLT27S.html

Try naturallighting.com for a fairly extensive list of CFL bulbs with their CRI and lumens listed on most.

Gints, I downloaded the TCP catalogue and could find only one light with a CRI of 90, the rest were 85.

Hey Joe,

I think the TCP catalog doesn't contain all of their Full Spectrum = FS products.

These are two options with different socket types, with and without ballast:

http://www.naturallighting.com/web/shop.php?crn=650&rn=3187&action=show_detail

http://www.goodmart.com/products/629728.htm

Also check out:
http://www.paralite.com/compact_fluorescent.shtml
http://www.fullspectrumsolutions.com/55w_power_compact_68_prd1.htm
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=367871&is=REG&addedTroughType=search
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=371047&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

Although the color temperature is kinda funny, these bulbs look like the highest quality bet in screw-in CFLs if you're not buying a full case of 12 from a source like goodmart.com

http://www.sunalux.com/s_lightbulbs.cfm
93 CRI, 5550° Kelvin
23W CFL = 90W incandescent
1-800-339-9572
sales@sunalite.com
American Environmental Products
PO Box 11189
6655 Lookout Road
Suite 120
Boulder, CO 80301

Available in 15, 20, 23, 26 & 30 watt
Not for use with dimmer
CF-15 1100 lumens 15W=60W
CF-20 1400 lumens 20W=60-75W
CF-23 1610 lumens 23W=75-100W
CF-26 1820 lumens 26W=100-120W
CF-30 2100 lumens 30W=120-150W

$19.99

And if you need an on-line ordering source for $17 for a 30W Sunwave CFL bulb (shipping extra) , try http://www.clouddome.com/specs/compactbulbs.html

I received the Sunwave CFL bulbs, and overall, I'm not particularly impressed. They still look quite green, no matter how many times I look at them in two different rooms (bathroom or outdoor porch). Not just cooler, but greener. Similar "98 CRI" Philips TL950 T8 bulbs look less green. I bought these screw-in light bulbs so that I could match my martial arts studio without installing additional T8 fluorescent fixtures. I really like the look of my 4700K Solux desk lamp, but it runs too hot.

This particular source shipped me 27W bulbs, not the 30W shown on the site. The box lists a CRI=95 while the supplier site and manufacturer site list CRI=93.

Also, one of the CFL four bulbs kinda blew up out of the box. It burned brightly and buzzed for about two minutes, then died. Another bulb in the same socket is still running.

I am surprised by the variation in appearance of the various 5000-5500K bulbs in their various formats. I will bring a bulb into an electronics store to compare them to some of the other "full spectrum" reading bulbs. This is an industry that needs to mature.

I received the Sunwave CFL bulbs, and overall, I'm not particularly impressed. They still look quite green, no matter how many times I look at them in two different rooms (bathroom or outdoor porch). Not just cooler, but greener. Similar "98 CRI" Philips TL950 T8 bulbs look less green. I bought these screw-in light bulbs so that I could match my martial arts studio without installing additional T8 fluorescent fixtures. I really like the look of my 4700K Solux desk lamp, but it runs too hot.

This particular source shipped me 27W bulbs, not the 30W shown on the site. The box lists a CRI=95 while the supplier site and manufacturer site list CRI=93.

Also, one of the CFL four bulbs kinda blew up out of the box. It burned brightly and buzzed for about two minutes, then died. Another bulb in the same socket is still running.

I am surprised by the variation in appearance of the various 5000-5500K bulbs in their various formats. I will bring a bulb into an electronics store to compare them to some of the other "full spectrum" reading bulbs. This is an industry that needs to mature.

UPDATE: I inspected the glass enclosures of these bulbs, and they glass has that typical greenish tinge. This glass will have to be swapped to match the T8's, which are sitting behind a clear plastic honeycomb diffusor. So, the Sunwave CFL's may be made greener by my equipment.

Here's a bulb with 91 CRI at 5500K.

http://www.budgetlighting.com/store/agora.cgi?p_id=3932&ppinc=search2