[nickcarraway]

Can anyone ell me if CFLs are available that emit natural spectrum, light?

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Can anyone ell me if CFLs are available that emit natural spectrum, light?

I'd like to get me some that emit a supernatural spectrum. Incandescents are "warmer" because they directly emulate the sun's blackbody radiation. Fluorescents fluoresce, in a number of narrow spectral lines. You can put coating on the glass that broadened the spectrum somewhat, it ain't nothing like the real thing.

[Pontiac]

Can anyone ell me if CFLs are available that emit natural spectrum, light?

That would be No.

You need a filter for your camera lens to get a natural looking photograph under fluorescent light. Being just a unranked amateur don’t take what I say here as gospel. I do believe that they make a greenish tint to your pictures unfiltered.

I am sure some more schooled photographer will come along soon and correct and chastise me.

I think they also generate more ultraviolet light which damages fabrics.

[Stalwart]

Two options:

Select “Warm White” CFLs.

Try GE brand “Reveal” CFL.

The Reveal CFL is costly, and I haven’t tried it, but I’ve used incandescent Reveals for many years, with good results.

[cynwoody]

Can anyone ell me if CFLs are available that emit natural spectrum, light?

CFLs are available with different color temperatures, e.g., daylight vs tungsten. Tungsten (2800° K) is intended to match traditional incandescent lighting, whereas daylight (5000° K) is closer to natural light or regular fluorescent lighting.

But there is another problem with CFLs: Unlike the smooth approximate black-body spectrum of an incandescent lamp, their spectrum is peaky. Here's a chart from the Wikipedia comparing the spectra of examples of the two types of lighting:

That's why, even a CFL of the proper nominal color temperature cannot properly replace an incandescent.

[Clinging Bitterly]

The charged gas in fluorescent lamps emits light in the UV spectrum. That light irradiates the phosphor coating inside the envelope which emits the “white” light (the same is true of white LEDs).

Different combinations of gas, coating, and voltage produce different color temperatures of visible light output. The cheapest lamps are made of the cheapest stuff. With them, some people sense the brightness but somehow can't see anything, and it is because of the quality of the light.

You have to spend more to get the more pleasing and useful light.

Another thing - don't put fluorescent light sources where you can see them directly while working, etc. The direct UV radiation will affect your vision and it might be harmful in the long term.