If you’re a videographer or photographer, you know the importance of having good lighting in your shots. Sometimes, the natural lighting just isn’t enough, and that’s where an on camera light comes in handy. But with so many options on the market, it can be overwhelming to decide which one to choose. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 best on camera lights, along with a buying guide to help you make an informed decision. Whether you’re a professional or a hobbyist, finding the best on camera light is essential for capturing the perfect shot.
Editor’s Choice
Last update on 2023-07-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
On Camera Light: A Quick Overview
An on-camera light is a small, portable light that attaches to a camera to provide additional lighting for filming in low-light conditions. On-camera lights are often used in photojournalism, documentary filmmaking, and other types of videography where the lighting conditions are unpredictable or inadequate.
On-camera lights come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from small LED panels to larger light banks that can be mounted on the camera. They can be powered by batteries or electric outlets, and some models offer adjustable brightness and color temperature settings. Whether you’re shooting indoors or outdoors, an on-camera light can help ensure that your footage is well-lit and professional-looking.
Best On Camera Light by Editors Choice
- The Aputure MC is Aputure's first RGBWW film light.HSI color control and a CCT range of 3200K-6500K,CRI and TLCI scores of 96+, and SSI scores of 84 in tungsten...
- Unlike traditional RGB, the Aputure MC isn't just a light that relies on Red, Green, and Blue LEDs. By adding two additional white LEDs one balanced at tungsten...
- As the first RGBWW light to be compatible with the Sidus Link mobile app, the true abilities of both the light and the app are finally unlocked.
- In the MC's FX mode, toggle between any of the MC's nine built-in lighting effects presets to help you out in a pinch. If you need more control over your...
- On top of that, the built-in magnets and footprint roughly the size of a credit card allow this mini RGB light to fit anywhere you could ever need. The MC also...
- 【100 High CRI95+ LED Beads & Soft Light Board】The VIJIM VL100C led video light adopts 100pcs High Quality Color Rendering Index 95+ beads and the Max...
- 【3 Color Mode Adjustable】The camera photo light provide 50 white light beads and 50 warm light beads, color temperature 2500K-6500K. Warm light, Nature...
- 【Built-in 2000mAh Rechargeable Battery】The rechargeable camera light is built-in 2000mAh rechargeable lithium battery, charging time is 3 hours, maximum...
- 【Rich Expandability & Multi-Mount】 4 Cold shoe mounts allow you to attach microphones, fill lights, and other shooting accessories. The photography lights...
- 【After-Sales Service】Our products come with 1-year warranty and 30-day money back guarantee. If the photography light has any problem, please feel free to...
- Soft Lighting: This compact & portable LED panel light delivers soft, continuous, and flicker-free lighting for portrait photography, a must-have for video...
- Slim Video Light: Measuring 7.6” × 5” × 0.8” / 192 × 128 × 21mm, the lightweight led panel light is compact and thin enough to slot into your camera...
- Dual Charging Ports: Built-in 5000mAh rechargeable lithium battery supports up to 1.5 hours of continuous operation with maximum brightness setting. The LCD...
- Customizable Lighting Setup: With a high CRI of 95, dimming control & adjustable color temperature (3200K–5600K), this 116-LED panel light allows you to have...
- Package Contents: Neewer NL-116AI 15W Compact LED Panel Light, Cold Shoe Adapter, Micro-USB Cable, User Manual
- Brightness and color temperature ranges from 3200 to 5600K and can be controlled by a separate dimmer knob.|Equipped with a clear LCD display screen it can show...
- GENTLE AND UNIFORM LIGHTING- RaLeno panel light features edge-lit technology and 4-layer diffusers that create soft, uniform lighting without glare, making it...
- LONG-LASTING BATTERY LIFE- This camera light features a built-in rechargeable battery that lasts up to 90 minutes on full brightness, keeping you illuminated...
- MULTI-FUNCTIONAL MINI STAND- Our newly upgraded video light package adds a mini stand, now you can easily use it for video conferencing as well as handheld...
- ADJUST YOUR LIGHTING WITH EASE - The brightness (0%-100%) and color temperature (3200K-5600K) of the video light can be adjusted to create different lighting...
- TAKE YOUR LIGHTING ON-THE-GO - This portable light is ideal for outdoor use, with a built-in battery and Type-C charging for easy on-the-go use. Plus, it's...
- Dimmable and Color Modes Feature: Brightness dimmer (20%-100%) and variable color temperature (3300K-5600K) to brighten up your videos or pictures. The 4...
- Battery is Included: AC adapter (Not Included), package comes with battery as standard for more convenient indoor or outdoor use. There is the spring loaded...
- Built-in LCD display: LCD panel shows a clear battery power level, brightness and color temperature readings, let you operate easily and work more effective.
- Multiple Lamps Combined Design. With 2 extending slots on the both sides, this portable, lightweight lamp can be easily linked together to fill light for...
- Max. Brightness illumination 1070LM/1250Lux (1m) can be provided by 162 high quality LED bulbs(High CRI 95+ for better photo color). Lightweight design, light...
- New Upgrade, More Smooth: Upgrade soft light board based on old models, make supplement light softer and lither, not dazzling, perfect for vlogging
- Built-in 2000mAh Lithium Battery: Built-in large-capacity lithium battery, charging time is 2 hours, maximum brightness output up to 120 minutes, minimum...
- Natural Light: 5500K Color Temperature Shows The Beauty of Natural Light, ideal for macro photography product and video shooting
- Essential Light Beads, High Color Rendering Index: A essential of 49 LED beads, CRI up to 95+, to reduce post-grading work
- Cold Shoe Mounts: LED Video Light is Designed with Expandable Connection System via 3 expension joint interface (1 interface on the top, 2 interfaces on the...
- 【120 HIGH CRI95+ LED BEADS】The VIJIM VL120 on camera video light adopts 120pcs High Quality Color Rendering Index 95+ beads and the Max Brightness up to...
- 【COLORFUL SHOOTING EFFECT】Comes with 6 color filters (pink, red, yellow,purple,green,and blue), they can provide softer and colorful lighting; You can...
- 【SOFT LIGHT, PROTECT YOUR EYES】Comes with Silicone Cover makes the lights very soft and not dazzling. And it will protect your eyes. As a multifunctional...
- 【LONG LASTING & FAST CHARGING】Built-in 3100mAh lithium rechargeable battery and USB Type-C charging port, it can be full-charge in about 2h, and offer a...
- 【What you get】1*VL120 video light, 6*Color Filters,1* Type-c charging cable,1*Silicone Cover, 1*Universal base,1*Manual.VIJIM provide 1 year replacement...
- 【COLORFUL LIGHTING EFFECT】RGB LED light panel adopts 80pcs(bi-color) led beads and 70pcs RGB color led beads, illuminance up to 1500Lux(0.5m). RGB full...
- 【HUE & SATURATION & BRIGHTNESS & CCT ADJUSTABLE】Hue adjustable from 0 degree -359 degree; Color saturation adjustable from 0%-100%; Brightness from 0%-100%...
- 【PRODUCT FEATURES】CRI≥97, TLCI≥97, built-in 7.4V 3200mAh rechargeable battery, USB Type-C charging port, it can be fully charge in 2.5 hours, and offer...
- 【ROTATE ARM with COLD SHOE】Our LED panel light equipped with a 360 degree rotate arm with cold shoe allows you can mount any devices with hot shoe adapter...
- 【WHAT YOU GET】 1 x G1s Video Light, 1 x Portable Carrying Bag, 1 x 1/4 Screw, 1 x Type-c Charging Cable, 1 x Manual
- 【5000mAh Battery】Capture stunning footage for longer with the built-in 5000mAh rechargeable battery and USB Type-C charging port, providing up to 180...
- 【Excellent Parameters】Enjoy excellent lighting with 1580Lux, 7W MAX Power, 98+ CRI, 98+ TLCI, 2500-8500K color temperature, 360° Hue adjustment, 100-level...
- 【Design and Materials】Experience the convenience of an all-in-one design and portability with the SmallRig mini LED on-camera video light. The metal frame...
- 【Portable and Easy to Install】Take powerful and portable lighting with you wherever you go with the pocket-sized SmallRig RM120 LED video light panel....
- 【What's in the box】Get everything you need to start capturing amazing footage with the SmallRig RM120 Long-Battery-Life RGB Video Light, including a Dual...
Last update on 2023-07-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Why Do You Need to Buy On Camera Light?
On Camera Lights are becoming increasingly popular among content creators and videographers. They offer a wide range of benefits that can seriously elevate the quality of your content. Here are some key reasons why you should consider investing in one.
To improve the quality of our videos
An On Camera Light can greatly improve the quality of our videos by providing additional light to the subject being filmed. Poor lighting can result in grainy, dark or unclear visuals and can ruin the entire video. The on-camera light can provide additional fill light to brighten shadows and add visual depth to the images. It can be especially useful in low-light situations when even high ISO values may fail to provide enough light to get quality footage. Additionally, it can enhance the color accuracy and contrast, making the final product more visually appealing and engaging to the audience. When shooting a video for professional or public purposes, having an on-camera light can make a significant difference in determining the quality of the final product.
To ensure proper lighting in low light environments
When shooting in low light environments, it is important to have enough light to properly expose the image and avoid noisy or grainy footage. Using an on camera light can provide additional light to the scene without having to rely solely on available light sources. This can be especially important when filming events or interviews where the lighting conditions may be unpredictable or change quickly.
The on camera light can also provide a directional light source, allowing the filmmaker to creatively control the light and create specific moods or effects. For example, adding a backlight can create separation between the subject and background, or using a softbox can create a more flattering and natural looking light on the subject’s face. Overall, having an on camera light can greatly improve the quality of footage in low light environments and give the filmmaker greater creative control over the lighting.
To create a professional and polished appearance in our content
When appearing on camera, lighting is a crucial component to creating a professional and polished appearance. Without sufficient lighting, our faces might appear shadowy, dull, or even distorted. Shadows under our eyes or on our faces can be particularly unflattering and distracting, detracting from the content we are trying to convey.
On camera lights can help alleviate these issues, providing adequate illumination to highlight our features, minimize shadows, and create a clear and crisp visual experience for our viewers. Whether we are filming interviews, vlogs, or other types of content, the right lighting can make a significant difference in the quality and impact of our videos. By investing in on camera lights, we can improve the overall production value of our content and present ourselves in the most favourable light possible.
How to Choose the Best On Camera Light?
When it comes to on-camera lights, there are several factors to consider that can make all the difference in your video production. Here are some key considerations to keep in mind when looking for the best on-camera light for your needs.
Brightness
Brightness is a key factor to consider when buying an on-camera light. This is because the light output of the device can greatly impact the quality and clarity of your footage. If your light is too dim, your footage will be underexposed and difficult to see, while if it’s too bright, it can wash out your subject and details.
Additionally, having a bright on-camera light can be very useful in low-light scenarios, such as filming inside a dark room or during nighttime shoots. With a brighter light source, you can ensure that your footage is well lit and of a higher quality, making it easier to edit and use in your final project. In summary, considering brightness before investing in an on-camera light is essential to ensure that you are able to capture the best footage possible.
Color temperature
Color temperature refers to the color of light that an on-camera light produces. It is measured in Kelvin (K) and can range from cool blue tones to warmer orange tones. It is important to consider color temperature when buying an on-camera light because it can greatly affect the quality and mood of the footage you are shooting. For example, if you are shooting in a room with warm ambient lighting and you use a cool toned on-camera light, it can create a very jarring and unnatural effect on the subject and background. By matching the color temperature of your on-camera light to the ambient lighting, you can create a more cohesive and visually appealing final product.
Additionally, different color temperatures can be used to evoke certain emotions or moods. For example, warm toned lighting can create a cozy and intimate feeling, while cooler toned lighting can create a more scientific or futuristic atmosphere. By understanding the impact that color temperature can have on the final product of your footage, you can better plan and execute your shots to achieve the desired mood or effect.
Power source
When purchasing an on-camera light, it is crucial to consider the power source. On-camera lights can either be battery-powered or powered by an AC adapter. Battery-powered lights are portable and offer a degree of maneuverability. Conversely, on-camera lights that are powered by an AC adapter are more reliable and long-lasting.
The power source will determine how long the on-camera light will last before needing a refill or recharge. The battery-powered on-camera lights offer a great advantage since they are portable and can be used anywhere. However, the consumer must have an extra battery pack or battery charger to maintain consistent use. Also, the battery-powered on-camera lights have a limited life span since the battery’s life will depreciate over time. Ultimately, it all depends on usage and portability needs, but the power source must be considered before buying.
Size and weight
Size and weight are important considerations when purchasing an on-camera light. A bulky and heavy light can negatively impact the balance of the camera, making it difficult to handle and increasing the risk of accidental drops. Additionally, a large light can be cumbersome and cumbersome to store when traveling, taking up valuable space and potentially adding weight to an already heavy camera bag.
Choosing a small and lightweight on-camera light can make it easier to handle the camera and provide greater flexibility when filming on location. It is also more convenient for travel, allowing you to bring more equipment without exceeding luggage weight restrictions. Therefore, it is important to consider the size and weight of an on-camera light when making a purchase.
Compatibility with camera
When buying an on-camera light, considering compatibility with your camera is crucial because not all lights will fit every camera model. Some lights are designed specifically for certain camera models, while others come with adjustable mounts to fit different cameras. If you purchase a light that is not compatible with your camera, it may not fit properly, which can potentially cause damage to your equipment and make it difficult to capture the best lighting.
Furthermore, a compatible on-camera light will work seamlessly with your camera, allowing you to operate both devices efficiently. With a compatible light, you can easily adjust settings and make changes to your lighting while still being able to access all of your camera’s features. Being able to work with a compatible set of tools makes shooting easier and more efficient, which ultimately leads to better results in your final product. Therefore, it is essential to consider compatibility when purchasing an on-camera light.
Mounting options
Before buying an on-camera light, it is important to consider mounting options as it can greatly affect the usability of the light. The mount determines how stable the light will be, how securely it will attach to the camera or other equipment and what angles the light will be able to cover. For example, if the mount is not sturdy enough or does not fit properly, the light may wobble and become ineffective. If the mount does not allow for adjustment of the light’s position or angle, it may not be adaptable to different shooting situations. Therefore, it is important to carefully consider mounting options to ensure that the on-camera light will meet your specific needs and work well with your equipment.
In addition to functionality, mounting options can also affect the portability and convenience of the on-camera light. Certain types of mounts, such as shoe mounts, may be more compact and easier to carry while others, such as articulating arms, may provide more flexibility but be bulkier to transport. Therefore, it is important to consider the balance between stability and convenience to find the right mounting option for your needs. By carefully considering mounting options before purchasing an on-camera light, you can ensure that you are getting a light that will work well with your camera or equipment and that is convenient to use in a variety of shooting situations.
FAQs
What types of on-camera lights are available and which one should I choose?
There are several types of on-camera lights available, including LED lights, tungsten lights, fluorescent lights, and HMI lights. LED lights are becoming more popular because they consume less power and generate less heat than other types of lights. They are also lightweight and easy to transport, making them a good choice for filming on the go. Tungsten lights are known for their warm, natural light, but they can be heavy and generate a lot of heat. Fluorescent lights are energy-efficient and produce consistent light, but they can be bulky and difficult to transport. HMI lights are bright and efficient, but they can be expensive and require a lot of power.
When choosing an on-camera light, consider your specific needs and budget. LED lights may be a good option for those filming on a budget or in remote locations, while tungsten lights may be better for those looking for high-quality, natural light. Fluorescent lights are great for creating soft, even light, while HMI lights are ideal for outdoor filming and high-speed photography. Ultimately, it’s important to consider the brightness, color temperature, and power consumption of each option before making a decision.
How bright should the on-camera light be for different shooting environments?
The brightness of the on-camera light should be adjusted based on the shooting environment. In well-lit areas, a lower brightness setting can be used to provide a subtle fill light without overpowering the existing ambient light. In darker areas, a higher brightness setting may be necessary to provide enough illumination for the subject.
It is important to note that the brightness of the on-camera light should also be adjusted based on the desired effect. A subtle fill light may be preferred for a natural look, while a brighter light may be used for a more dramatic effect. Ultimately, the brightness of the on-camera light should be adjusted to best suit the needs of the particular shot and desired outcome.
Can I use a diffuser or color filter with my on-camera light?
Yes, you can use a diffuser or color filter with your on-camera light. A diffuser can help soften and spread the light, reducing harsh shadows and creating a more flattering look. Color filters can be used to change the color temperature of the light or add a creative effect to your footage. However, it’s important to choose filters that are compatible with your specific on-camera light and to use them carefully to avoid unwanted effects.
Verdict
Choosing the best on-camera light requires some knowledge and research. The list of our top 10 best on camera lights and the buying guide should give you a better insight into what to look for when buying one. Remember to consider the light’s output, color temperature, diffusion, mounting options, and power source. Ultimately, the best on-camera light for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences.
In conclusion, investing in a high-quality on-camera light can significantly enhance your photography and videography skills. Whether you’re a professional or amateur photographer, adding the right on-camera light to your gear collection can make all the difference. With the above information, you can make an informed decision and choose the best on-camera light to suit your needs and budget.
