A melt polymerized polycarbonate comprising repeat units in the polycarbonate derived from the melt polymerization of monomers (II) and/or (III), monomer (IV), and optionally monomer (VIII), wherein monomers (II) and (III) are diaryl dihydroxy compounds, monomer (IV) is a sterically hindered dihydroxy compound, and monomer (VIII) is a non-sterically hindered dihydroxy diaryl compound; wherein the mole ratio of repeat units in the polycarbonate derived from monomers [(II)+(III)]:(IV):(VIII) is 15-70:1-85:0-50, the sum of the mole percent of repeat units in the polycarbonate derived from monomers [(II)+(III)]+(IV) is greater than or equal to 50 mole %, and the sum of the mole percent of units in the polycarbonate derived from monomers [(II)+(III)]+(IV)+(VIII) is 100 mole %; and wherein the polycarbonate has an L* value that is at least 1 L* unit value higher than the same polycarbonate in which monomer (IV) is replaced by bisphenol A.