Editor's Choice 2006: Lighting

While fluorescent photo lights are cool-burning and efficient, they're often underpowered-usually adequate only for small product work or simple headshots. Larger still lifes and portraits demand more illumination. And you get more from the digitLITE 600 because it packs six 24-watt daylight-balanced fluorescent tubes, the equivalent of 600 watts of tungsten light, into a single 18.5x19.5x2.6-inch unit. The front panel produces a soft, even light that's suitable for different kinds of subjects at greater distances than fluorescent ordinarily permits. An electronic ballast lets you dim the light as needed for closer subjects or ratio control with multiple units; the panel has a swivel mount that fits 5/8-inch lightstands. About $375.