The Qiaya Selfie Ring Light is perfect for casual users and budding content creators with a tight budget who arent looking for top-rate performance. Use the light to prevent shadows appearing under your eyes or nose (caused by overhead lighting), for example. Instead of a switch or dial, the light is controlled using a touch sensitive slider (located on the arm) that you run your finger along. Neewers 20-inch LED Ring Light is the complete package. The only thing missing here is the option to be battery-operated so you can still use it when theres no outlet on hand. This creates a brighter but more diffused glow. While this may be more of a webcam than a ring light, its a nifty 2-in-1 device perfect for those who want to look good jumping on a video call with friends and colleagues. When choosing the best ring light for you, you should consider the size or diameter of the ring, first and foremost. The ring light will shine light evenly around and across your face and upper body to balance exposure and eliminate unwanted shadows. Its designed to be positioned on a desktop using its own stand. The Neewer Dimmable USB LED Video Light Set doesnt output a huge amount of lightjust 1000 lumens. As for the webcam, its 1080p at 30fps and 720p at 60fps video resolution should be more than enough to keep most users happy, and should be an incredible upgrade to whatever is on your laptop. The ring light slips over and straddles your mobile device or computers camera, so the lower part of the donut covers part of your screen. The goal of a ring light is to make you appear as clear and natural as possible when youre on camera. It includes a light stand, filter set and smartphone adapter. In fact, outside of the vlogging and content creating communities, most people cant even imagine needing one. Outer diameter: 10 | Color Temperature (K) Range: 3000K 6000K | Color Render Index (CRI): Not specified | Power: Wall power. Lume Cubes main focus is on designing and selling lighting products for a wide range of videography and photography-related applications. It comes with an adjustable arm that clamps onto a desk. A smaller size ring light (up to 12-inches) will do a decent job surrounding your face and potentially your upper-body with light. The light intensity is dimmable from 100% down to 10%. This makes it easy to toss the case in your bag and take it along on trips. The kit also includes a phone clamp you can use to hold your phone within the setup. But, one of the many things the COVID-19 pandemic has taught is that one cant simply sit in front of a webcam for a work meeting and hope for the best. If you havent owned (or used) a ring light before, choosing one can be a tad tricky. A small, two-button remote control lets you control the light from afar. When you make a purchase through links on this page, we may earn a commission. In fact, this is a definite contender for the best overall ring light title had it not been for the fact that we absolutely love this for outdoor shooters even though its just as impressive to use indoors. Michelle Rae Uy is a freelance tech and travel writer, part-time production editor, and a full-time traveler from Los Angeles, California. There are also two adjustable holders to mount your phone and smaller devices. Still, this is a very capable ring light for beginners and those who just want to look good during video calls. A ring light should be used any time youre standing or sitting directly in front of a camera and the primary subject in the shot is you. Speaking of versatility, youll find that some ring lights are both AC- and battery-powered, making them ideal for outdoor and remote location use by being battery-powered. Most importantly, this light is equipped with 432 LEDs, which makes it significantly brighter despite being the same size. So, if you need to shed light on more than one person, a larger area or on products youre photographing, for example, this larger and more powerful ring light will prove to be rather versatile. You can even throw a DSLR camera on it. Is It Better To Lease Or Buy A Car In Summer 2022? It disperses light across a broader area. John Wick 4 arrives in theaters on March 24, 2023. The light easily adjusts between 100% and 1% brightness and can be powered using the supplied battery pack or an AC adapter. You cant lose the filters (at least not easily), because theyre stored in the back of the ring lights housing when not in use. Outer diameter: 20 | Color Temperature (K) Range: 3,200 5,600K | Color Render Index (CRI): 97+ | Power: DC or NP-F550/970 Li-ion batteries. Need to adjust the color temperature? The difference between a ring light and key light is their shape. The 80-watt-equivilent bulb will run for about four hours on a charge. This 12-inch ring light system is rather versatile. Plus, it comes with a rubber-padded clamp and Elgatos robust and highly expandable Master Mount S stand. markertek ultimate pole tip tech neutrik angle plug inch phone right gold box plugs Still, for something thats under $40, it already offers a whole lot for a low price. It uses three AA batteries and throws a beam of soft light thats great for illuminating your face. You can switch up the lighting on the fly thanks to the simple control knobs. Shooting primarily with smaller devices such as smartphones and action cams? So, if you want to brighten up a larger area (as well as most of your body), you'll want to use a ring light with a larger diameter. It can run on wired power for the brightest operation, but if you need ring lighting on the go, you can also run the light on included batteries at 10 watts. If that sounds ideal for you, you cannot go wrong with the Qiaya Clip Selfie Ring Light, which is probably the best clip ring light on the market. To keep with that portable nature, its surprisingly lightweight and comes with its own carrying case. The best ring lights are among some of the most overlooked peripherals. If youre a vlogger who broadcasts from your smartphone, this super-lightweight kit (the ring light weighs about five ounces) is perfect for adding just the right amount of extra light from the convenience of a tabletop. Thanks to the lights brightness (despite the relatively small diameter of the circular LED fixture itself), it has the ability to light up your entire work area. Follow her on Instagram @straywithRae. B&H Promo Codes | 10% Off In July 2022 | Forbes, PwC Cloud and Digital Transformation BrandVoice, How To Earn Cash Rewards For Everyday Spending. The same ring light can also be used when taking portraits or shooting video. If you buy something through this post, IGN may get a share of the sale. Luckily, instead of having to use expensive studio lighting, there are a wide range of low cost ring lights and key lights thatll shine a steady and even array of light onto your face and upper-bodyand in some cases, your surroundings as well. If you dont want to use the light on its mounting bar, it can also be mounted to a cameras hotshoe or slid onto a shotgun microphone. The 3.5-inch diameter ring is small and portable. The series of original shorts following Baby Groots glory days growing up, and getting into trouble among the stars premieres on August 10 exclusively on Disney+. The mount for attaching the light to the back of your monitor is included. The positioning of the light and camera, as well as the lights distance from the subject, will also help determine the ring lights impact. Use the adapter to mount your smartphone in the center of the light for straight-on vlogging, selfies or when engaged in video calls. Not everyone needs a pro-level ring light. Its fully dimmable from 100% down to 1%. It has a built-in diffuser, a backlit display so you can visually see the settings youre on, and can run on battery power two batteries are even included that lets you utilize it for about an hour at full power without being connected to a power outlet. It has a built-in rechargeable battery, three different light settings, and good clamping power to keep it in place. Luckily, Kodak has come up with a more portable solution. The dimensions of the light are small (3 x 1 x 6 inches), so its easy to transport with your laptop computer. The best ring lights and key lights can amp up your video quality and make you look great during video calls or virtual meetings. That said, the Lume Cube Video Conference Lighting Kit is designed to light up your face and upper body when youre participating in a video call or virtual meeting, or sitting in front of your computer while hosting a live stream, for example. However, not a lot of light will reach the areas surrounding you. The lights come with their own tabletop stands. And, the stand can go high. Both a smartphone mount and camera mount are included, as is a 6.5-foot tripod stand and carry case. This circular light is a larger version of the Lume Cube Video Conferencing Kit. Obviously, the larger the ring light (in terms of its diameter) the wider area the light will cover. All products and services featured are independently selected by Forbes Vetted contributors and editors. This is a smaller, scaled down (less bright) version of the Elgato Key Light. At well under $50, this is definitely in the economy class of ring lights, but dont let that price fool you. Theyre also useful if youre positioned in front of another light source (such as a window) and that other light source is behind you and shining directly into your camera or webcam. You can adjust between 10 different brightness levels for a plethora of lighting scenarios, as well as a 360-degree rotation for all sorts of lighting angles. The StillCool 10" Selfie Ring Light might just be perfect for you, especially if you want a ring light thats decently sized and still highly capable. Itll give you around 90 minutes of illumination before needing to be plugged back in again. Outer diameter: 17 | Color Temperature (K) Range: 2,900 7,000 K | Color Render Index (CRI): > 94 | Power: Wall power, Elgatos ring light is, for lack of a better word, elegant. This is a great addition to your beginner photography set, especially if you plan on doing a lot of macro and portrait photos. Thats where the best ring lights come in. Outer diameter: 6 | Color Temperature (K) Range: 5,600 K | Color Render Index (CRI): Not specified | Power: 4x AA batteries. If youre a YouTuber or social media influencer, the right lighting will help to increase audience engagement and generally enhance your overall production quality. This ring light has everything to make you look good on camera wherever you go. Go for gold and purchase the whole affordable expandable system that includes a heavy base, a solid arm, and a flexible arm, as well as the longer Master Mount L so that youll never feel the need to upgrade to another lighting system again. Outer diameter: 10 | Color Temperature (K) Range: 3,000 6,000K | Color Render Index (CRI): Not specified | Power: Wall or USB. Use this as a low-cost standalone lighting kit or as an accessory to another key light or ring light. It's large enough to nicely light up someones face and upper body using a full-spectrum, bi-color light that offers a 3200K to 5600K adjustable temperature. Youll discover that this light kit is exceptionally well madewith a sturdy desk clamp and an arm that provides for endless positioning possibilities. Outer diameter: 10" | Color Temperature (K) Range: 3500K - 5500K | Color Render Index (CRI): > 92 | Power: USB plug. Mount the light to a desktop stand and use it while vlogging or streaming, or use it in conjunction with any camera for continuous lighting or as a sync flash (up to 1/8000 of a second). Every multifaceted content creator on the budget needs something extremely versatile yet also incredibly affordable. Its a vital tool for those looking to up their macro and modeling photography game. Outer diameter: 2.7 | Color Temperature (K) Range: 5,600K | Color Render Index (CRI): not specified | Power: USB 2.0. For example, theyre able to produce an attractive glow from as close as 18 inches or as far as about five feet. Youre able to easily adjust the lights brightness and temperature to complement your skin tone. The higher the CRI, the more natural the light is and the more vivid it will make the colors look. Theres no need to install color or neutral density filters; just dial in the setting you need. Due to the size of the ring light, its better suited for video production or portrait photography, but it works perfectly fine as a primary light source for video calls or virtual meetings. Despite being only 10-inches in diameter its plenty bright and offers three lighting modes white, yellow, and warm white. To accomplish this, consider grabbing one of these 12 best ring lights. Its stand is solid and has four different levels. That means you can toggle the ring light setting without needing to physically touch it. Keep in mind, these unwanted glares can often be avoided be dimming the light, altering its temperature, or repositioning the light. All Rights Reserved, This is a BETA experience. Although it has a circular design, this light serves more as a key light (as opposed to a ring light) that attaches to a computers monitor. Most ring lights are big, hulking devices that are a pain to break down and take along with you. Meanwhile, the smartphone or laptops camera lens pokes through the middle of the ring. The Elgato Key Light is app-controlled from your smartphone or computer. The lights come with four color filters. Its operation is just as elegant. If you tend to sweat a lot on camera, this will become more obvious if the light bounces off your sweat. You can adjust the color temperature (2900K to 7000K) and brightness without turning away from your streaming camera. Its worth it, however, especially if you need extra versatility for different shooting scenarios. A simple ring light can make a dramatic difference in your video or streaming production. Outer diameter: 9 | Color Temperature (K) Range: 3,500 6,000K | Color Render Index (CRI): >90 | Power: Wall power or USB. Again, theyll probably cost more, so if youre shooting everything indoors, you should just go for an AC-powered option. The size of the ring light you need will be based on how much of your face, body and surroundings you want the ring light to brighten up. Powered by six AA batteries, it runs for about two hours. While the ESDDI 18-inch ring light is similar in some ways to the Neewer modeltheyre both 18-inch LED lights with phone mounts and light standstheyre also quite different. This kit is ready to go right out of the box. Using a ring light or key light is particularly important if the preexisting overhead lights create shadows across your face. Weve gathered the best ones for you right here, from a webcam with its own mini ring light to a premium ring light with all the trimmings you could ever dream of. Both come in a wide range of sizes and can be used for making yourself look great when youre in front of a camera. Outer diameter: 3.3 | Color Temperature (K) Range: Not specified | Color Render Index (CRI): Not specified | Power: USB. That said, you can arrange this pair of lights to serve as a direct key light on either side of your streaming camera. The tripod is also made from sturdy aluminum alloy that remains lightweight for maximum portability. If youre more of a minimalist, you can keep things simple and uncomplicated with the Razer Kiyo. Keep in mind that if youre looking for something with a wider color temperature range, you might have to spend a bit more. Whats more surprising here is that its powerful enough to light up your selfies in a dark room. Ideal for everything from game streaming and video conferencing to full-on photoshoots. The kit comes with the light, ball head mount, power supply, telescopic pole and base. Another feature we love about this ring light is its touch operation for adjusting brightness and color temperature, as well as toggling on and off. This Neewer 18-inch ring light kit has a reflective layer of silver behind the 240 LEDs. These light halos are designed to make any subject look good in front of the camera by illuminating it softly and evenly and yes, that includes any human whos just stumbled out of bed mere minutes before a Zoom meeting or a hardcore game streamer who may or may not have skipped a shower. The 6.5-foot stand is easily adjustable yet robust at the same time, allowing you to mount both the ring light and up to a 10-pound camera. Of course, that flicker-free operation, adjustable temperature range 3200-5600K, and 97 CRI keep that light as bright and natural as you need it to be. While the aforementioned buttons adjust the ring lights brightness and color temperature, it also comes with its own app that allows you to make those adjustments from your smartphone or computer. With a height range of 17.5 to 61 inches, the tripod will let you shoot all sorts of subjects from different angles. The Whellen Selfie Ring Light is designed specifically for delivering illumination to videos made from your smartphone or laptop computer. Plus, there is the attached adjustable phone holder for added convenience. The brightness, intensity and temperature (color) of the light will also impact how you look on camera. You probably already know that you cant just get the first one that pops up in your Amazon search, but did you know there are other considerations beyond quality and price? Speaking of power, the lights plug into USB ports. This kit lets you mount practically every smartphone or portable camera kit up to 1kg, has 360-degree rotation for every lighting angle possible, and a color temperature range of 3000K to 6000 K. It even has a Bluetooth remote so you can easily operate that shutter without needing to go back and forth, and a tripod with a height range of 15.7 inches to 50 inches. The Yongnuo YN-14EX supports exposure compensation, rear-curtain sync, and FE lock to start, and yields just as good results as its pricier rivals for less. When turned on, itll light up a single person as theyre sitting at their desk and engaged in a video call or virtual meeting, for example. The ring light itself is just as simplistic and easy to handle, with just a dial around it to adjust the brightness. You can keep everything organized and safely tucked away as this storage solution has slots to hold all the different components of the light. Yes, adding a light source that directly shines on your face and upper body will help to eliminate unwanted shadows and make it easier for people to focus on you. You may opt-out by. In fact, the package includes the light, mini-tripod and a mounting bar that holds both the light and smartphone. Meanwhile, its small collection of accessories that comes included makes it an even better value for your money. For your money, youre getting not only the ring light itself but also a convenient-to-use tripod allowing you to carefully mount it in just the right spot to get the best lighting for all your on-camera needs.