What do you think of this item?

[jpon2]

http://www.pclightingsystems.com/fl/1280dfbuy.html

Would it be useful for portrait photography?

[Wilt]

Daylight color temp from fluorescents...I would take that with a big grain of salt that the color spectrum is continuous enough. "Show me" would be my challenge for a light source as notoriously discontinuous as fluorescent. And I am not sure I inherently trust a company that calls itself 'Pacififc Coast Lighting Systems' yet whose location
(351 Naymut Street , Menasha, WI 54952 ) is 2000 miles away from any Pacific Coast location!

[elwood58]

I can tell you after my experience with Photoflex Soft Box, that it would be worth a try. I do not know this supplier, but there are many who claim to have consistent light temp fluorescent solutions.

I had a blast doing portrait, as well as product, photography using the Soft Box. The issue was the handling and temperature of those 500-1000 watt bulbs. The bulbs had special cases to store them in, and if you had to change one hot, you needed welders gloves.

I am playing with Monolight Strobes for now. If I were going to play with constant light sources, I would try fluorescent.

[Curtis N]

Fluorescent technology has come a long way, but I'd still rather use strobes.