Maybe I'll get more responses to this here...

I'm in the market for a new compact UVB lamp and wondering which to get, a few new ones have come on the market recently and I'm wondering which is best.

The only one I have experience of is the Arcadia D3, but there are similar lamps by Exo Terra, Zoo Med, and Lucky Reptile now, all good name brands so presumably all good lamps, but which is best?

Obviously value for money is an issue, and I note that some (Exo Terra I think) recommend replacement every year, instead of 6 months for conventional tubes, do they really last this much longer? I guess this is partially down to the use of a built-in electronic ballast rather than an old-fashioned magnetic one, electronic ballasts extend bulb life considerably but surely not as much as double? And then you'd expect a similar extended life for all of them as they all use electronic ballasts, but not all claim a 12 month lifespan, so I'm confused!

The Exo Terra Sun-Glo ones with their spiral design look particularly good as you can mount them vertically or horizontally, the others are all "folded" and therefore at their most efficient when mounted horizontally.

Anyone have actual experience of any of these bulbs, how did they perform?

And finally of course where is the cheapest place to buy your bulb of choice?