The 23 best video lighting brands
Godox, Neewer and Aputure lead our ranking of 23 video lighting brands. Compare what each brand makes, visit its official site, or shop it online.
Video Lighting brands, ranked
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1
Godox
Litemons panels and SL-series COB lights cover budget-to-mid studio video lighting with built-in Bluetooth and wireless control.
Top products: SL60IIBi· Litemons LA200D· Litemons LP400R
Website: godox.com |Brands like Godox
Popularity 10.0/10
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2
Neewer
Entry-level LED panels and RGB light wands sold widely to creators starting out with kits.
Top products: 660PRO RGB· RGB 61· Basics 21in Magnetic RGB Light Wand
Website: neewer.com |Brands like Neewer
Popularity 8.4/10
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3
Aputure
Filmmaker-founded LED maker whose fixtures lean toward cinema-grade colour and build quality at mid prices.
Top products: MC RGBWW Mini
Website: aputure.com |Brands like Aputure
Popularity 6.9/10
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4
YONGNUO
Speedlight flashes make up the core catalogue, with YN-series LED panels added for budget video work.
Website: yongnuousa.net |Brands like YONGNUO
Popularity 6.0/10
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5
Ulanzi
Inexpensive pocket RGB fill lights and Bowens-mount COB heads suited to vloggers and small studios.
Top products: VL120 RGB· VL49 Mini RGB
Website: ulanzi.com |Brands like Ulanzi
Popularity 3.3/10
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6
NANGUANG
Taiwanese maker of compact LED lights and on-camera fill panels with high CRI ratings.
Website: nanguang.cn |Brands like NANGUANG
Popularity 3.1/10
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7
Jinbei
Studio flash specialist that also offers LED panels, mostly bought for studio work rather than field video.
Website: en.jinbei-sh.cn |Brands like Jinbei
Popularity 2.9/10
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8
FalconEyes
Budget studio lighting line with roll-up flexible LED panels and soft lights for video.
Top products: RX-736 Roll Flex
Website: falconeyes.eu |Brands like FalconEyes
Popularity 2.4/10
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9
Viltrox
Lens-focused maker whose RGB panel lights add built-in battery options for run-and-gun shooting.
Top products: RB10 RGB
Website: viltroxstore.com |Brands like Viltrox
Popularity 2.2/10
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10
Bower
Camera lenses and strobes lead the range from Bower, a maker of digital camera and camcorder accessories. The brand has offered photo gear for decades, and its bearing products show the same focus on dependable, long-lasting parts.
Website: bowerusa.com |Brands like Bower
Popularity 1.8/10
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11
Smith-Victor
Long-running American brand whose stands, tripods and entry-level continuous lights suit beginners.
Website: smithvictor.com |Brands like Smith-Victor
Popularity 1.8/10
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12
Westcott
Flex LED mats and Ice Light panels are its signature soft-light tools, popular with working photographers.
Website: fjwestcott.com |Brands like Westcott
Popularity 1.7/10
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13
Kino Flo
Fluorescent tubes that gave film sets their soft, flattering wrap, now mostly in LED form with a green-free spectrum and flicker-free output.
Website: kinoflo.com |Brands like Kino Flo
Popularity 1.4/10
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14
PULUZ
PULUZ builds camera bags, light kits, photo studio setups and light boxes for photographers. It also makes accessories for DJI and Insta360 cameras, including mounts and lighting. Its product line focuses on affordable photography gear for home studios and field...
Website: puluz.com |Brands like PULUZ
Popularity 1.3/10
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15
FloLight
High-CRI soft LED and fluorescent kits suited to film-style stills and video work.
Website: flolight.com |Brands like FloLight
Popularity 1.3/10
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16
ProMaster
Photography equipment is the focus of ProMaster, with lenses, camera bags, strobes, and neutral density filters among its core products. The brand sells gear for both beginners and professional photographers, covering cameras, accessories, and video tools. Its items are priced...
Website: promaster.com |Brands like ProMaster
Popularity 1.3/10
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17
Fotodiox
Since 2004, Fotodiox has been servicing the picture and video sectors as a major manufacturer and marketer of improved, competent, and affordable photography and cinematography equipment. Just a few of the company's many technologies include the WonderPana wide-angle filtration system,...
Website: fotodioxpro.com |Brands like Fotodiox
Popularity 1.3/10
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18
NiceFoto
Battery-powered wireless studio flash systems replace the long sync cords and heavy battery packs of older lighting setups. NiceFoto also sells LED video lights, softboxes, umbrellas, light stands and background supports for professional and personal photography. The company runs long...
Popularity 1.2/10
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19
Bowens
When we speak about the photo industry and photography companies, the one name that strikes a chord is Bowens. Having a rich heritage of about 90 years, Bowens has grown to be one of the largest photography companies in Europe...
Popularity 1.2/10
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20
Litepanels
Long-standing film and broadcast LED fixture maker, prized for soft, flicker-free panels on sets.
Website: litepanels.com |Brands like Litepanels
Popularity 1.2/10
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21
Vivitar
With its rich heritage of over 80 years, Vivitar has curated some favorable consumer electronics. Their digital still cameras and other accessories are popular among large crowds across the globe. Bestselling STEAM toys that help make learning fun for kids...
Top products: 120 LED Video Conference Lighting Kit
Website: vivitar.com |Brands like Vivitar
Popularity 1.1/10
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22
Limo Studio
LimoStudio expanded into the digital and broadcast professional equipment area as the market and technology altered over the years. The company has worked hard and long to become one of the world's leading technology suppliers for the photo and video...
Popularity 0.9/10
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23
Bescor
Photo and Video Accessories, Power Adapters, Power Cords, Batteries, Motorized Pan Head and LED Lighting for Zoom, Streaming and Videography.
Website: bescor.com |Brands like Bescor
Popularity 0.9/10
Official websites and social accounts
| Brand | Website | X / Twitter | YouTube | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Godox | godox.com | /godoxchina | godox_photo_equipment | @GodoxPhoto | GODOX Global |
| Neewer | neewer.com | /Neewer.Store | neewer | @neewerofficial | – |
| Aputure | aputure.com | /camerahutcambodia | aputure.lighting | @AputureLighting | aputurephoto |
| YONGNUO | yongnuousa.net | – | – | – | – |
| Ulanzi | ulanzi.com | /Ulanzi.Official | ulanzi_official | – | Ulanzi |
| NANGUANG | nanguang.cn | /Nanguang.cn | – | @Nanguang_LED | Nanlite Global |
| Jinbei | en.jinbei-sh.cn | – | – | – | – |
| FalconEyes | falconeyes.eu | /beneleurope | – | @benelbv | Benel BV |
| Viltrox | viltroxstore.com | /viltrox.official | viltrox.official | @ViltroxOfficial | – |
| Bower | bowerusa.com | /BowerUSAOfficial | bower_usa | – | – |
Video Lighting Buying Guide
Good lighting is a crucial element of any video production. Whether you're creating a vlog, a short film, a documentary, or anything in between, you need to have the right lighting to ensure that your footage looks professional and polished. But with so many types of video lighting equipment available, choosing the right one for your needs can be overwhelming. In this buying guide, we'll take a closer look at some of the key factors to consider when selecting video lighting gear, as well as some product recommendations to help you get started.
Types of Video Lighting
There are several different types of video lighting equipment to choose from, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Here are some of the most common types:
Continuous Lighting
Continuous lighting is a type of video lighting that remains on for the entire duration of a shoot, providing a constant source of light. This is typically achieved through the use of fluorescent or LED bulbs, which are energy-efficient and produce minimal heat compared to traditional incandescent bulbs. Continuous lighting is easy to set up and use, and allows you to preview the lighting effect in real-time, making it ideal for beginners.
However, continuous lighting can be less powerful than other types of lighting, which can make it challenging to achieve a brightly-lit scene. Additionally, continuous lighting can be less portable than other types of lighting, as it typically requires a power source and may be bulky and heavy.
Strobe Lighting
Strobe lighting is a type of video lighting that produces short bursts of light at regular intervals. This creates a more powerful and dynamic lighting effect than continuous lighting, and is useful for adding emphasis to certain parts of a scene, such as during action sequences. Strobe lighting is typically achieved through the use of flash tubes or strobe lights, which can be mounted on a stand or camera.
However, strobe lighting can be more complicated to set up and use than continuous lighting, as you may need to experiment with different flash rates and power levels to achieve the desired effect.
Ring Lighting
Ring lighting is a type of video lighting that surrounds the camera lens and produces an even, circular light. This is useful for reducing shadows and providing a flattering light for close-up shots, such as during makeup tutorials or product reviews. Ring lighting is typically achieved through the use of LED lights, which are mounted on a ring that fits around the camera lens.
However, ring lighting can be less versatile than other types of video lighting, as it is primarily designed for close-up shots and may not be powerful enough for larger scenes.
Softbox Lighting
Softbox lighting is a type of video lighting that produces a diffused, even light that is similar to natural daylight. This is achieved through the use of a softbox, which is a rectangular or octagonal-shaped box that contains a light bulb and a diffuser panel. Softbox lighting is ideal for creating a soft, flattering lighting effect for portraits, interviews, and other types of video content.
However, softbox lighting can be more complex to set up and use than other types of lighting, as it typically requires assembling the softbox and positioning it in the right location. Softbox lighting can also be less powerful than other types of lighting, which may make it challenging to achieve a brightly-lit scene.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Video Lighting
When selecting video lighting equipment, there are several factors to consider in order to ensure that you choose the right gear for your needs. Here are some of the most important factors to keep in mind:
- Budget: Video lighting equipment can be expensive, so it's important to determine your budget before making any purchases. Consider how much you're willing to spend and prioritize the equipment that is most important for your needs.
- Intended use: Consider the type of video content you'll be producing, as well as the locations where you'll be shooting. This can help you determine the size, portability, and power requirements of your lighting equipment.
- Compatibility: Check to make sure that your video lighting equipment is compatible with your camera and any other gear you'll be using, such as tripods or light stands.
- Lighting quality: Look for lighting equipment that produces high-quality light that is suitable for your needs. Consider factors such as color temperature, brightness, and CRI (color rendering index) when evaluating different products.
- Ease of use: Some types of video lighting, such as continuous lighting, are easier to set up and use than others. Consider how much time and effort you're willing to put into setting up and adjusting your lighting gear.
- Portability: If you'll be shooting on location or need to transport your equipment frequently, consider the weight and size of your lighting gear. Look for compact and lightweight options that are easy to pack and transport.
Product Recommendations
Now that you know more about the different types of video lighting and the factors to consider when selecting gear, here are some product recommendations to help you get started:
1. Neewer 660 LED Video Light
The Neewer 660 LED Video Light is a continuous lighting option that is ideal for beginners or anyone who needs a portable, affordable lighting solution. With a color temperature of 3200K-5600K and an adjustable brightness range from 0-100%, this light is suitable for a variety of shooting environments and lighting scenarios. It also comes with a remote control for easy adjustments and a battery level indicator, so you'll know when it's time to recharge.
2. Godox AD200 Pro Strobe Light
The Godox AD200 Pro Strobe Light is a powerful and versatile lighting option that is suitable for a wide range of video productions. With a guide number of 60m and a flash duration of up to 1/8000s, this light is capable of freezing motion and capturing fast-paced action sequences. It also features a removable lithium-ion battery and a lightweight, portable design, making it easy to transport to different locations.
3. Diva Ring Light Nova 18"
The Diva Ring Light Nova 18" is a ring lighting option that is ideal for anyone who needs a flattering, even light for close-up shots, such as during makeup tutorials or product reviews. With a color temperature of 5400K and a dimmable brightness range, this light provides a professional-looking light that is easy to set up and use. It also comes with a mounting bracket and light stand, making it a complete lighting kit in one package.
4. Westcott Flex Bi-Color LED Mat
The Westcott Flex Bi-Color LED Mat is a flexible lighting option that is ideal for shooting in tight spaces or on location. This mat is thin and lightweight, making it easy to shape and bend to fit your desired lighting setup. It also features a bi-color temperature range of 2800K-6000K and a high CRI rating for accurate color reproduction. The Westcott Flex is powered by an AC adapter or D-Tap battery, making it versatile and portable for on-the-go shooting.
Conclusion
Choosing the right video lighting equipment can be challenging, but by considering factors such as your budget, intended use, and lighting quality, you can select gear that meets your needs and produces professional-looking footage. Whether you're just starting out or are looking to upgrade your existing lighting setup, there are plenty of options available that can help you achieve your creative vision.
