Here is a list of some of the lights you probably won't find in your local stores. These are advanced lighting products that I personally use and recommend. They will change the way you see....literally.
The graph below shows how the Vita-Lite with the blue filled in part of the graph most closely follows the spectrum of the dashed line representing sunlight at noon in mid-summer. Now regarding the different fluorescent lamps available some things seem important to pass along. Standard fluorescent lamps such as the "cool" and "warm" formulations have problems in common with incandescent lights. These have their place were economy is an issue and where high quality color rendition doesn't matter. They have spectrums that are incomplete and distort the colors you see. In addition for people in the northern US they are worse than useless in preventing Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) during the winter months. SAD is a depression that occurs with the short days and seems related to not only full spectrum sunlight but specifically parts of the Ultraviolet Spectrum. Rare Earth Phosphors improved the color rendering over the standard phosphors in low cost fluorescents but comments regarding the Design 50, Chroma 50 and Colortone 50 indicate they are producing 20 to 30% less light than the better rare earth lamps. So it's evident that there are significant differences between the manufacturers products. The Ott lights are actually manufactured by Philips but include a lead foil strip to stop any emitted radiation.
The Daylight Company My wife and I just bought their lamp that combines a very heavy
base with casters, a Daylight bulb, a magnifying glass, and a heavy duty clip. But what is way cool is all of these things are mounted on long gooseneck extensions. This is an incredibly well designed product and is unique in the fixtures produced for lights. It is expensive but it is the most useful task light for low vision, needlework, or fine work where acute vision is necessary. Ours is black. This picture is the brass one.
Lights by H & H This company produces the CRI, this means Color Rendition Index, fluorescent made with a rating of 93. Sunlight, high noon, midsummer, is the standard with a CRI of 100. Laboratories, surgical and dental offices had a real problem when the Duro-Test company, maker of the Vita-Light, folded recently. You can read about this on the included link above. Apparently these medically oriented businesses appealed to H & H to produce a full spectrum fluorescent and the result was superior to the Vita-lite. Precision surgery requires the absolute best lighting that can be had. So, besides the spot lights used, the overall lighting can be an issue and they used to use the Vita-lite which had a CRI of 91.
True Sun They produce a lamp that exactly matches the Vita-Light specs with added UVA and at only about 60% of Vita-Lights cost.
The LED Light.com The widest source for the most efficient lights ever invented. The light emitting diode (LED) will change history.
Full-Spectrum Lighting Effects on Performance, Mood, and Health The information here should convince you that for your inside home lighting the full spectrum fluorescents are the way to go. Especially if you live in parts of the country with long winter nights and months of "gray days". You should read this.
Phone-Soft Internet Directory: Lighting Links This is an enormous list of retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers of lamps for every use.
TeckTite Rugged powerful light emitting diode lights for every environmental challenge.
PhotonLight.com All of our keyrings have one of these on them.
SureFire.com The most rugged and
powerful flashlights made. These are the ones the cops, firefighters, 9-11 rescuers, and so forth use. Some are specifically designed to temporarily blind attackers! Very unusual construction. Here's a guy in the real world: "The operator on the cover is carrying a SureFire Model 650-05T tactical light with a momentary tape switch and optional disable switch to prevent accidental illumination. SureFire lights are so dazzling, so bright, so intense that they are used in a combative environment to disorient an adversary. The searing power of a SureFire temporarily blinds an opponent, an obvious tactical advantage. Furthermore, SureFire WeaponsLights accept infrared filters, allowing Special Forces operators to utilize their SureFires while wearing night vision devices. The same SureFire tactical lights issued to Operational Group Delta and other Special Forces are available here, at www.SureFire.com."
Peak Beam Systems, Inc., makers of Maxabeam High Intensity Xenon Searchlights. Used in many movies.
LightForum.com Check out the link on commercial and industrial daylighting using fiber-optics and Fresnel lenses. A great resource on information to light your home & business. Hmmm....
Farlight.com Solar fiber-optic remote lighting and LED's for street crosswalks. New directions in lighting for commercial applications.
Verilux Another maker of full spectrum lamps.
FULL SPECTRUM SOLUTIONS A retailer of full spectrum lamps.
Birds and Lighting This site has an excellent comparison of the various lamps that produce full spectrum light. He is oriented to avicultural applications but the information is sound. He recommends the Philips TL950 fluorescent as a best buy.
- Inspirations of Light Wonderful lampshades to ponder.
Lotton Glass I was scanning through E-bay checking out art nouveau lamps and suddenly I was stopped cold. The beauty of the lamp was
such that I checked it out and found out these are living, not historic, glass artists: Charles and Daniel Lotton. If you've got the budget and a place for a lamp of stunning beauty or other glass objects of art you must check out their website! Expensive but worth it.
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