LED Video Lights

LED video lights divide by form, and form decides the job. COB (chip-on-board) point lights like the Aputure Amaran 100d S, Godox SL100Bi and SmallRig RC 120B take Bowens-mount modifiers, softboxes, lanterns and fresnels, and behave like studio strobes that never turn off, making them the key-light standard for interviews and product work. Panels like the Neewer 660 kits, GVM 800D RGB and VILTROX L116T spread softer light over a wider area with barn doors and low cost. Tube lights like the Nanlite PavoTube II 6C and light sticks like the Zhiyun Fiveray F100 are accent, background and on-the-move tools with batteries and colour effects built in.

The ten lights below are judged on the numbers that predict pictures: output in lux at 1 metre, colour accuracy (CRI and TLCI in the mid-90s for skin tones you do not have to rescue in grading), colour temperature range, dimming quality at low percentages, fan noise for dialogue work, and control, onboard, app, or DMX. A bright light with poor TLCI is a colour-correction tax on every shoot.