ALZO 45W Joyous Light® Full Spectrum CFL Light Bulb 5500K, 2800 Lumens, 120V, Pack of 4

I shoot classical guitar videos for my YouTube channel and use softboxes for diffusion. Diffusion materials absorb a lot of photons so a bright light source is essential. Hence, my purchase of this four-pack of Alzo 45 Watt CFLs.I installed the CFLs in a  NEEWER Four-Hold Multi Tricolor Studio Light Bulb Holder . After a few minutes of warmup, these bulbs glow like the afternoon sun! Used side by side with 45 CFLs from other vendors, they're noticeably brighter, even brighter than some of my 65 and 85 CFLs.These are rated at 5500K and, indeed, the bare bulb is close to daylight temperature but lean to the cool side with a blueish-green tint. No biggie as about 30 clicks of magenta in LR and it's all good. Colors are full and vivid. They don't mix well with warmer Kaezi and ProStudio CFLs. However, they match well with 85W Alzo CFLs.I expected an 45 watt CFL to run hot but, strangely enough, runs cooler than the small CFLs I use around the house. The larger size is more efficient at dissipating heat than compact CFLs. After an all day session it cools down within 5 minutes and can be unscrewed and stowed.The only gotcha is the three-inch diameter base makes for a tight fit in my Neewer light head: bulb bases are actually touching. Most CFLs of this rating are narrower and allow a little air space between them in this head.All in all these are excellent CFLs but a bit pricy and large compared to similar CFLs I use.

These are bigger than even my largest 100-watt-replacement CFL's. The base is bigger and the coils themselves are wider and longer. So, these may not fit in some of the places you might be thinking about putting them. We have a goose-neck light with a spring-clip on one end so it can be mounted "anywhere" and it won't fit in that at all, even though a 100-watt-replacement does. They may poke out over the top of small lamp-shade lights, and probably won't work at all with those ones I've seen that have a lamp shade that sort of clips onto the light bulb. You could always get the bulbs and then head to the store with one to pick out a lamp that fits around it :-)The light itself is pure white, not bluish, and it does make all my other CFL's look "yellow". I have tried 2 so far and they both buzz if you are in a completely quiet room, or if you get close enough to hear it (a couple feet). As a desk lamp right next to your head, they would likely be distracting. In an overhead socket (I have one replacing a can-light "flood" overhead - so yes they fit in flood-cans) I really can't hear it, and especially not when I turn on my computer with fans (all very quiet Noctua fans but still audible).The light is stunningly bright, with one easily out-brightening two 100-watt-replacement CFLs.Update 6/2013: I noticed one reviewer mentioned these bulbs not lasting very long. My original review was 10/2010 and it is now nearly 3 years later. All 4 of these bulbs are still working perfectly for me, with 2 of them getting used 9am-5pm Mon-Fri most every work day.Update 1/24/2016: These bulbs are still going. I can't say if they have dimmed over time as I really have no lumen tools to measure that sort of thing. They haven't "blackened" like some typical CFL bulbs. Two have been in our master bath over-the-sinks, so both occasional bathroom trips and longer bath/shower on/off use, but not really much constant-on use. Two have been in a floor-lamp with less frequent use but when used tend to stay on for longer than a bathroom light. I also have two of the ridiculously huge 85W bulbs that make even these look small in comparison. Those 85W are also still working perfectly after many years and were my 9-5 50hr/wk every day work lamps for 6 years, and now used occasionally in my wife's crafting room.

I purchased this set of four 45w CFL Daylight bulbs back in April of 2014. I'm a painter (artistic, not houses) and rely on ALZO 27w bulbs for correct color of light when painting. I need correct color when photographing my paintings, as well, so I researched online, seeking the best way 1) to light my paintings evenly 2) with balanced "daylight" light 3) at the lowest cost possible. I chose four ALZO 45w CFLs and mounted them in well-ventilated DIY reflector/diffuser units. They do an excellent job with one CFL at each corner of the painting, each pointing across toward the opposite corner. Well balanced, even lighting at a very affordable cost.I'm writing this review more than a year after the purchase to COMMEND ALZO FOR ITS EXCEPTIONAL CUSTOMER CARE:I had used the four 45w bulbs for a total of perhaps one hour of ON time. A week ago I switched them on and heard a sound like "cluck" and then only three bulbs were lit. The fourth had suddenly died. I'm aware that a small percentage of faulty CFLs can and do slip through competent quality control systems. This is just an example that, so I wasn't terribly surprised.I called ALZO and spoke with Joseph there (a very experienced photographer who advised my on the purchase of my 27w painting lights as well as my 45w photo/video lights). I explained the situation, Joseph confirmed my original purchase and MAILED ME A REPLACEMENT BULB THAT SAME DAY. The bulb arrived in two days and I am very happy with the outcome.You might find similar bulbs at slightly lower prices, but my research suggests that the ALZO bulbs are of better quality - and I doubt you'll find better customer support than what I experienced this week. I buy only ALZO daylight CFLs, and recommend only ALZO to friends and colleagues.

Returned immediately as 2 of the bulbs did not work. Finish of the bulbs looked shoddy. Definitely stay away.