In order to produce your best-quality videos, both cameras need light. If the light is too dark or too bright, it can greatly affect the quality of your video calls. Let’s look at nicely-themed and inexpensive lighting options so you can produce better videos in your home office.
What to Look for in a Webcam Light
The easiest light panels to find are those with powerful lights. They are especially great if you have multiple ones and need to balance each other out from different angles or if you have limited space. Meanwhile, ring lights tend to be less powerful and designed to evenly light up your face by themselves.
Some light panels also come with lighting settings that allow you to adjust the brightness or color temperature. Depending on how much light is already in your room and the type of webcam you have, you might need more or less light. An option for changing the color temperature is appreciated so you can adjust the light from cooler, white light to warmer, orange-y yellow.
The best mount choice depends on what will fit your needs while staying mobile. Find a tripod that is small enough to easily transport but large enough to support heavy weight, or a suction cup arm, which is highly versatile but can be bothersome when it comes time for removal.
Best for Most People: UBeesize 10-Inch Ring Light
Ring lights are great, simple lighting solutions that evenly distribute light on your entire face.
There’s a 10-inch model from UBeesize that would be a perfect fit for a desk setup. It includes a tripod, so you can place it on the ground or against the wall behind your monitors.
There’s even an included mount for your phone (great if you’re using it for video chats). And with its 33 levels of brightness, there’s no doubt you’ll find the right setting to use at any time. For power, this lamp plugs into your computer with a USB cord, so there is no need to worry about batteries.
Budget Alternative: Whellen Selfie Ring Light
If you want to save money on your lighting rig and prefer something simple, then this ring light from Whellen should be just the ticket.
It’s a great deal, highly affordable and you’ll get all the brightness you need for your setup with just two AA batteries.
A Premium Option: Elgato Ring Light
What do you do when there’s no natural light in your shot? There’s a solution for that: the Elgato LED light arm. This gorgeous accessory features a powered clamp that effortlessly mounts onto any desk, with gear rings and adjustable clamps for varying scope of use (from camera to keyboard).
The LED light also has customizable modes and settings, with 2-Hour backup batteries. Plus, its battery is large enough to power your DSLR camera. All you need is to plug it into AC wall power and download Elgato’s software for a full view of this beast of a tool’s features.
Professional Solution: Neewer Portable Photography Lighting Kit
When you’re looking for a lighting kit that’s easy to adjust and functional, Neewer is the name you can trust. This LED lamp set has all the features you need, including adjustable height and angle, remote control, built-in filters, and more.
The two different colors and light strengths give your set really broad appeal. When you want to get great quality without breaking the bank, choose Neewer.
A Nice Lamp: TaoTronics LED Desk Lamp
If you’re looking for a sleek and minimalist desk lamp, TaoTonics offers LED lamps with five different brightness settings that provide more light without being an eyesore. There are also dual USB ports, a wireless phone charger, and home plug in the base. TaoTonics also includes a timer mode to dim the lamp automatically.
Versatile: Jelly Comb LED Light
If you work at a computer a lot, a more elaborate lighting rig isn’t always worth it. The Jelly Comb LED light features a powerful LED bulb with customizable settings and mounts for both your desk or monitor. It has an internal battery that can be charged via USB power.
All-in-One: Razer Kiyo Webcam
If you’re picking up a digital camera with lights built-in, let’s take a look at some worthy contenders. The Logitech C922 HD Webcam from Razer presents itself with a sleek black design and 1080p video recording capabilities.
It also features built-in lighting that adjusts via Razer Synapse, so the quality of your videos won’t suffer.
In addition to the low price tag, this webcam comes with remote-controlled focus and its own tripod that folds down for easy storage.
If you prefer a more elegant solution than a ring light, we have more options to choose from. A simple lamp or table view can make all of the difference in providing professional quality lighting without sacrificing convenience.
