The iPhone boasts one of the top cameras in the industry, and its integrated flash suffices for most daily photography requirements. However, it offers limited coverage and lacks adjustability. For greater creative flexibility, you want an iPhone camera light that is adjustable. In this article, we will recommend three COLBOR lights for your iPhone content creation according to the budget.
COLBOR PL8R: Low-budget and user-friendly option for beginners, under $100
The COLBOR PL8R is a versatile RGB video light, perfect for enhancing iPhone camera capabilities. This light for iPhone camera boasts a 5000mAh battery, magnetic back, and 13 preset lighting modes for creative filming. With 0-360° adjustable hue and 2500-9000K color temperature, it caters to various lighting needs. The light can be controlled via an app for precision, and its HD display ensures accurate settings. Whether for vlogging or photography, the PL8R is a compact, powerful tool for content creators on the go.
Features
- Color Temperature Range: 2500K to 9000K, providing a wide spectrum for various lighting conditions.
- Brightness and HSI: Fully customizable settings for precise control over lighting effects.
- Even Light Distribution: Ensures consistent lighting across the subject.
- Colbor Studio App Control: Allows for remote and intelligent operation of the light.
- Magnetic Design: Offers flexible options for iPhone camera light attachment to fit different shooting environments.
- Multiple Lighting Effects: A variety of pre-set modes and effects to enhance creative filming.
- Integrated Battery: Provides up to 125 minutes of runtime at full brightness.
- Power Bank Functionality: Can serve as a power bank to charge devices, adding to its versatility.
Pros
- Portable enough to carry around in the daily bag
- Really simple to operate
- Full-color lighting options
Cons
- Not powerful enough to work as the key light
COLBOR W100: LED light for iPhone camera for mid-budget, under $200
The COLBOR W100 is a compact, powerful LED video light designed for iPhone videography and photography. It delivers 100W of power in a portable size, offering a 2700K to 6500K color temperature range with a high CRI of 97+ for natural colors. The iPhone camera light features a Φ31mm flat and wide light source for uniform illumination and can be powered by a COLBOR power grip, DC adapter, or PD Type-C fast charging. Its Mount-attached design allows for easy accessory integration, making it an ideal lighting solution for mobile content creators.
Features
- Power Output: 100W, providing strong illumination for video and photography.
- Color Temperature: Ranges from 2700K to 6500K, offering versatility in lighting conditions.
- High CRI: A high Color Rendering Index of 97+, ensuring natural color reproduction.
- Large Light Bead: Equipped with a large Φ31mm light bead for wide and uniform illumination.
- Advanced Diffuse Transmission: Reduces glare and provides a uniform beam of light.
- Portable Design: Weighs only 345g and measures 157×93×43mm, making it highly portable.
- Flexible Powering Options: Can be powered by a COLBOR power grip, DC adapter, or PD Type-C fast charging.
- Mount-attached Design: Allows for easy integration with iPhone camera light accessory, enhancing its utility.
Pros
- Portable design for mobile content creation
- Powerful light
Cons
- Requires mount adapter to work with your already-have Bowens-mount modifiers
COLBOR CL220: Professional iPhone camera light for higher budget, under $350
The COLBOR CL220 is a high-performance LED light, ideal for iPhone camera users seeking professional-grade lighting. It offers a 220W output, adjustable color temperature from 2700K to 6500K, and maintains consistent illumination1. Its ultra-bright 52700 lux at 1m with a CRI ≥96 ensures true color capture. Its aluminum alloy construction makes it durable yet lightweight, and its optimal heat sink solutions keep it cool during extended use. The CL220 is a robust, versatile lighting tool for photographers and videographers looking to elevate their mobile content creation.
Features
- 220W Constant Output: Delivers powerful and steady illumination suitable for various creative needs.
- Color Temperature Range: Expands from 2700K to 6500K, allowing for warm to cold lighting adjustments.
- Ultra Bright Illumination: Offers 52700 lux at 1m with a standard reflector, providing strong light for clear captures.
- High Color Accuracy: With a CRI ≥96, it ensures true color reproduction for high-quality images and videos.
- Lightweight Aluminum Alloy Construction: Durable and portable, making it easy to handle and transport.
- Optimal Heat Sink Solutions: Features intelligent cooling systems to maintain optimal operating temperatures.
- Quiet Operation: Designed to run quietly at 28dB, minimizing noise during shoots.
- Accessory Compatibility: Supports BOWENS adaptability and NATO compatibility for expanded lighting setups.
Pros
- Powerful 220W output
- Ideal for professional lighting setup
Cons
- Not so convenient for outdoor iPhone recording
FAQs
Why lighting matters when using iPhone camera for content creation?
There are 3 aspects that make clear why spending time and money on iPhone camera light is a wise move for improving your iPhone content creation.
Video quality depends on the capture and storage of light
A camera is designed to gather, store, process, and transmit information, primarily in the form of light. By illuminating your iPhone footage, you provide the phone's camera technology with additional information to work with. This is beneficial not only in terms of the light reaching its sensor but also in capturing the relationships between various elements in the recorded video images. This contributes to producing enhanced detail and depth, which is advantageous for captivating and maintaining viewers' attention.
Good lighting for iPhone camera attracts and retains viewers
The goal of your iPhone recording is to effectively convey a message in a clear and captivating manner. Over the past several decades, recorded video has surged in popularity for a reason: people are drawn to the human faces on screen and desire to feel as though they are close to the individuals they are watching. Lighting techniques and technology have advanced to assist in creating this illusion. Effective lighting works to pull the audience closer to you, which is what content creators strive for to attract and retain viewers.
Bad or flat lighting makes iPhone footage look unprofessional
Typical, bad lighting will distract the viewers. This kind of iPhone camera light leads to undesirable footage that is excessively dim, overly bright, or marked by unflattering shadows. Flat lighting arises when there is technically sufficient light for capturing a good image with your camera, but lacks definition and depth in the resulting image. You want your iPhone content creation look professional, requiring the creation of an even and consistent lighting source that presents you in the most favorable light possible.
Is natural light beneficial for video recording?
Overall, natural light can serve as a favorable choice for video production due to its ability to enhance appearance and generate a genuine and natural ambiance.
Nonetheless, there are some downsides. For instance, overly intense or harsh natural light may result in unflattering shadows or highlights. Furthermore, its unpredictability and variability compared to artificial light can pose challenges in achieving consistent outcomes.
iPhone camera lighting tips on how to find great natural lighting
When considering potential shots, it's essential to seek out favorable lighting by asking specific questions:
- What is the color temperature of light in this scene? Should I adjust the white balance to achieve a warmer or cooler tone, or maintain a neutral white?
- Are the shadows harsh or soft in this environment? Can I modify them by stepping into or out of shaded areas, or by using flash to fill in shadows?
- From which direction is the light originating? Should I reposition myself to alter the lighting direction and enhance shadow dynamics?
Recognizing optimal lighting requires practice and time. However, with an understanding of what to observe, you could get a jump start in identifying scenes with the best lighting for iPhone camera. Moreover, grasping lighting concepts aids in planning your shots; for instance, opting for a particular photo on a cloudy day to capitalize on soft light.
How do I set up iPhone camera lighting for video recording?
Here are 4 steps to follow:
Select the proper light source for your iPhone recording
Various types of lights are available for iPhone lighting, each with unique pros and cons. A ring light for iPhone camera provides even, adjustable illumination for photography and videography, enhancing the quality of selfies and videos. On the other hand, LED bulbs offer a cost-effective alternative, gaining popularity for their energy efficiency and extended lifespan.
Decide where to position your iPhone camera light
When arranging video lighting, it is important to decide where to position the light source. This is based on the specific effect you wish to achieve. For instance, if you aim to produce a gentle and uniform illumination on your subject, you should position the light further away. Conversely, if you seek to create more striking lighting, you should position the light closer to the subject.
Adjust its height to ensure it points to the subject properly
It is essential to modify the light's height to ensure it is directed correctly. This can be achieved by utilizing the adjustable stand included with most lights or by employing clamps to secure the light to a nearby surface.
Explore various angles and distances
After positioning and adjusting the height of your light, it's crucial to experiment with different angles and distances to determine the most effective setup for your scene. Try altering the light's proximity to the subject and its position from side to side to achieve diverse shadow effects.