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Top 10 Portable Lighting Options for Photographers and Videographers
- Monique Harmer
- 2 minute read
Best Comparisons on Price and Performance
Portable lighting is essential for photographers and videographers who need reliable, on-the-go lighting for their shoots. Whether you’re working on location, in a studio, or in natural environments, having a portable lighting option can significantly enhance your work. Below are the top 10 portable lighting options, along with a comparison based on performance, price, and key features.
- Type: Battery-powered strobe
- Price: Around $300
- Key Features:
- 200Ws of power
- Interchangeable heads (bare bulb, zoom head)
- 5.5-second recycle time
- Built-in 2.4GHz X wireless system
- Rechargeable lithium-ion battery (up to 500 full-power flashes)
Why It’s Great:
The Godox AD200 Pro is a compact, powerful lighting option with versatile features, ideal for photographers who need portability without sacrificing performance. It delivers enough power for most studio and outdoor shoots while offering great battery life.
- Type: Battery-powered flash
- Price: Around $2,000
- Key Features:
- 250Ws of power
- Compact, lightweight design
- Built-in wireless system (AirTTL)
- Continuous light feature (LED)
- High colour accuracy (colour temperature of 3000K-6500K)
Why It’s Great:
The Profoto B10 is known for its exceptional build quality, reliable performance, and high colour accuracy. Although more expensive than many other portable lights, it’s a top choice for professionals who need a lightweight, high-quality strobe with both flash and continuous light functionality.
- Type: Compact LED light
- Price: Around $90
- Key Features:
- 1,500-lumen brightness
- Adjustable colour temperature (5600K or bi-colour options)
- Waterproof and durable
- 20 levels of brightness adjustment
- Bluetooth app control for settings
Why It’s Great:
The Lume Cube 2.0 is an ultra-portable LED light perfect for both photography and videography. It’s small enough to fit in your pocket and offers powerful, adjustable light, making it ideal for handheld, low-budget setups, or as an additional light source for on-location shoots.
- Type: Portable LED light
- Price: Around $150
- Key Features:
- 3200K to 6500K adjustable colour temperature
- 1280 lux at 0.3 meters
- Built-in rechargeable battery (up to 1.5 hours at full power)
- High CRI (95+) for colour accuracy
- Compact and rugged design
Why It’s Great:
The Aputure Amaran AL-MX provides high-quality lighting in a very compact form. It’s perfect for quick setups, and its adjustability in colour temperature and power makes it versatile for a range of scenarios, from product photography to interviews and vlogs.
- Type: LED panel
- Price: Around $130 (for a two-light kit)
- Key Features:
- 3200K to 5600K adjustable colour temperature
- 660 LED beads for soft, diffused light
- Adjustable brightness (10-100%)
- Includes barn doors for directing light
- Lightweight and portable
Why It’s Great:
The Neewer 660 LED Video Light is one of the best value options for affordable, high-performance LED panels. It’s ideal for video work and provides soft, diffused light with adjustable colour temperature, which is great for portraits, interviews, and on-location shoots.
- Type: Battery-powered strobe
- Price: Around $2,000
- Key Features:
- 1200Ws of power
- Lightweight, portable
- Built-in Skyport wireless system
- Quick recycling time (1.6 seconds)
- Up to 350 full-power flashes on a single battery
Why It’s Great:
The Elinchrom ELB 1200 is known for its superior power and durability. Ideal for high-end portrait, fashion, or event photography, this strobe is a top choice when you need maximum power and portability.
- Type: Battery-powered strobe
- Price: Around $1,000
- Key Features:
- 200Ws of power
- High-speed sync (up to 1/8000s)
- Wireless control (FJ-XR Receiver)
- Compact design and long battery life
Why It’s Great:
The Westcott FJ200 is an excellent alternative to larger studio strobes. It’s compact, powerful, and offers wireless control, making it ideal for photographers who want portable, powerful light on location with easy-to-use features.
- Type: LED Ring Light
- Price: Around $1,000
- Key Features:
- Bi-colour LED with 1,700 lux at 1 meter
- 3150K to 6300K adjustable colour temperature
- High CRI for accurate colour rendition
- Lightweight and battery-powered
- Special effects modes (e.g., lightning, fire)
Why It’s Great:
The Rotolight AEOS 2 offers a versatile, battery-powered option for portrait, beauty, or video work. It’s one of the top LED lights for content creators, providing great features and portability for both photography and video.
- Type: Flexible LED light panel
- Price: Around $350
- Key Features:
- 3200K to 5600K color temperature
- 5 levels of brightness adjustment
- Soft, diffused light for flattering portraits
- Flexible design for easy setup in tight spaces
- Built-in power options (AC and battery)
Why It’s Great:
The FalconEyes RX-18TD is an innovative, flexible LED panel perfect for photographers and videographers needing soft, diffused light in tight spaces. Its flexibility makes it easy to position and transport, making it an excellent option for on-location work.
- Type: LED panel
- Price: Around $1,000
- Key Features:
- Bi-color (3200K to 5600K)
- 6,000 lux at 3 feet
- High CRI (95+)
- Compact and lightweight
- Battery-powered or AC-powered
Why It’s Great:
The Litepanels Astra 6X is a top choice for professional videographers. It offers a high-quality bi-colour LED solution, with excellent colour rendering and consistent output, perfect for interviews, commercials, and film sets.
Conclusion
Each of these lighting solutions offers a unique set of features to suit different types of photography and videography needs. From the Godox AD200 Pro for portable strobe lighting to the Lume Cube 2.0 for ultra-portability, the key is choosing the right light based on your budget, size requirements, and specific lighting needs. For high-end professional work, options like the Profoto B10 and Elinchrom ELB 1200 offer excellent performance. For those on a budget, the Neewer 660 LED Video Light and Aputure Amaran AL-MX are highly recommended due to their affordability and versatility.
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Hi I'm Monique
Personal and business brand photographer and educator, super passionate about empowering business women and men to have a positive self perception, with the right tools and guidance so they can share their gifts with the world.
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