Abstract: A low pressure metal or metal halide vapor lamp for photocopying applications. In a preferred embodiment, the metal vapor comprises sodium. The low pressure sodium vapor lamp, having a preferred lamp aperture geometry, is operated in a continuous mode and provides illumination of increased brightness and of a color (yellow) which is optimum for providing a copy which is an accurate representation of the original. In order to decrease the warmup time of the lamp and achieve operating temperatures relatively quickly, an auxiliary heater is formed on the lamp. A two pin end cap may be used for electrical connections, one pin carrying filament power and the other carrying auxiliary heater power.