Best LED lights for video for content creators

The best LED lights for video are an excellent addition to high-quality video cameras because they allow you to adjust exposure levels in a scene while maintaining greater clarity in shadows and highlights. You may also use them to create effects, such as utilizing changing hues to induce different emotions or even simulating things like a flickering TV. They help content creators tell the story. In this post, we will recommend some popular LED video lighting picks at COLBOR and talk about commonly asked questions.

What are the best LED lights for video: 4 picks to improve video quality

COLBOR provides LED studio lights for video at various power outputs and pocket LED lights. You can choose among COLBOR CL60, CL60R, CL220, and PL8B and decide the one that most suits your video creation. You can check the comparison table first to have a overall understanding.

LED video lights	COLBOR CL60	COLBOR CL60R	COLBOR CL220	COLBOR PL8B
Illumination	2,843Lux (at 1m 5600K, No Reflector); 19,665Lux (at 1m 5600K, With Reflector)	2,082Lux (at 1m 5600K, No Reflector); 22,655Lux (at 1m 5600K, With Reflector)	9,430Lux (at 1m 5600K, No Reflector); 52,700Lux (at 1m 5600K, With Reflector)	/
Color Temperature	2700K-6500K (±200)	2700K-6500K(±200)	2700K-6500K(±200)	2500K-9000K
CRI	97+	97+	97+	98+
Rated Power	80W (Max)	80W (Max)	250W (Max)	8W
Cooling Mode	Active: Smart/Quiet	Active: Smart/Quiet	Active: Smart/Quiet/Performance	Passive
Dimension	140x80x90mm	140x80x90mm	212x128x219mm (Light Base Included)	125x75x17
Weight	Light: 550g; Light Base: 160g	Light: 600g; Light Base: 160g	1570g (Light Base Included)	187g
Price	$149	$159; regular: $199	$329	$49

Note: The price is from B&H store.

COLBOR CL60 Best portable LED light for video to offer constant and flicker-free illumination

The COLBOR CL60 is likely one of the best studio light for video for content creators who travel about a lot, don't have a lot of room, or simply want a basic yet very useful lighting source. The 65W output is bright enough for most close-to-mid-distance scenarios, such as chatting to the camera or filming in a studio, and the Hummingbird-Intelligence Cooling System keeps it cool. Improved adaptability is provided by multiple power supplies such as power adapter, V-mount battery, power bank, and NP-F battery. Bowens mount adapter is supplied for using the CL60 with most of the standard modifiers, giving you more flexibility in LED video lighting.

Key features

• Adjustable color temperature from 2700K to 6500K
• 97+ CRI
• 19,665 lux at 1m when setting at 5600K and using with reflector
• 10 lighting effects
• On-board, mobile app, and remote control
• Quiet cooling fan
• Bowens-mount compatibility
• PowerCube design for combining several CL60 LED lights for video to get higher output

Reasons to buy

• Powerful illumination for its size
• Portable
• Effective cooling fan and runs quietly

Reasons to avoid

• Not ideal for large-scene video making
• No RGB colors
• Cost more when you want to combine two or more of them together

CL60 review video

Video by Patrick Levar

COLBOR CL60R Best RGB LED light for video in creative video production

The COLBOR CL60R RGB LED light for video is a great addition to your LED video light kit. We know that video’s ambiance is one of the factors to consider for making a purchase. The CL60R features completely adjustable color hue, saturation, and brightness, giving you complete control over video creation.

It has 13 lighting effects and a CRI of 97+, guaranteeing that you have the best quality illumination for every filming scenario. Its small size enables simple transport of numerous lights in a single carrier. While not perfect as a key light, you can't go wrong with this LED light for video when it comes to adding character and uniqueness to your production background.

Key features

• 3,600,000 color options
• Magenta and Green Adjustment
• Carries sensitive audio system to hear ambient sounds
• Adjustable color temperature from 2700K to 6500K
• 97+ CRI
• 22,655 lux at 1m when setting at 5600K and using with reflector
• 13 lighting effects
• On-board, mobile app, and remote control
• Quiet cooling fan
• Bowens-mount compatibility
• PowerCube design for creating a higher output combination

Reasons to buy

• RGB LED light allows full-color lighting
• Supplied Bowens-mount adapter for adding modifiers
• Effective cooling fan and runs quietly

Reasons to avoid

• Narrow beam angle with supplied reflector

CL60R review video

Video by David Zhou

COLBOR CL220 Best LED light for YouTube videos to give powerful lighting

The COLBOR CL220 is one of best LED lights for video that is ideal for both location shooting and gloomy studios, with an adjustable color output ranging from 2700 to 6500K for indoor, outside, and mixed light scenarios. It is powerful enough to be used as a key light and allows you to steplessly change the brightness of the fixture to get the desired degree of brightness. It's simple to use and operate and has cutting-edge COB light technology to ensure realistic colors and well-lit objects. The Bowens mount and NATO grooves ensure wide compatibility with light modifiers and filmmaking gears.

Key features

• Adjustable color temperature from 2700K to 6500K
• 97+ CRI
• 52,700 lux at 1m when setting at 5600K and using with reflector
• On-board, mobile app, and remote control
• Quiet cooling fan
• Bowens-mount compatibility
• 10 lighting effects

Reasons to buy

• Powerful light
• Simple to use
• Various adjustment settings

Reasons to avoid

• A bit expensive for beginner video creators

CL220 review video

Video by NO limits ON

COLBOR PL8B Best LED light for iPhone video, ideal for mobile video shooting

The COLBOR PL8B is a portable light for photography and video when you use a smartphone or camera for content creation. The cold shoe mount accessory allows this best LED light for DSLR video to be mounted on the camera while the magnetic back makes it simple to attach it to your smartphone. It is also convenient to mount it on stands and tripods via its 1/4’’ screw hole. The PL8B is also adjustable in brightness and color temperatures and features 10 lighting effects for video creation. The 5000mAh large capacity of inbuilt battery ensures a 125-minute running time under 100% brightness.

Key features

• Adjustable color temperature from 2500K to 9000K
• 98+ CRI
• On-board and mobile app control
• 10 lighting effects

Reasons to buy

• Really compact
• Simply mount on anywhere you want
• Can work as a power bank if needed

Reasons to avoid

• Not ideal for long-term video shooting over 3 hours
• Have to keep charging in mind

FAQ about LED lights for film and video

What are the types of LED lights for video?

If classified by shapes, there are LED panels, ring lights, and LED strips.

LED light panel for video: An LED light panel that emits continuous, even light may be a blessing while capturing images or videos (especially the latter). Modern LED panels allow you to accurately change the intensity and color temperature, making it simple to obtain the appearance and feel you want in the video shooting.

Ring lights: They are ideal for product or macro photography. You can also use LED ring light for video. A ring lamp is one of the greatest lighting options for capturing video of individuals, particularly for YouTube or other vlogging of a single person, such as an interview or instructive video. When used near to the subject, a ring light casts almost no shadows on the subject. Another approach to utilizing ring lights for video is to include them in an existing lighting setup to provide a catchlight for the subject's eyes.

LED strip lights for video: LED strip lights are popular among video creators like TikTokers. They can be multicolored or a single color, motionless or pulsing with music, and include a number of other customizing functions. They are also very user-friendly and can be easily and neatly stored.

Why to use them for video creation?

LED lights, or light-emitting diodes, have quickly acquired favor in video production because of their adaptability, efficiency, and greater performance. Here are a few reasons why the best LED lights for video are good choices for content creators:

• Energy Efficiency: They use substantially less energy than incandescent or fluorescent lights. With the growing requirement to be environmentally responsible, LEDs provide a long-term lighting option that reduces both power use and prices.
• Long lifespan: LEDs have an unusually long lifespan, frequently lasting 50,000 hours or more. Filmmakers may enjoy longer service and focus more on creating excellent videos with fewer maintenance needs and longer replacement intervals.
• Size and portability: LED video lights are small and lightweight, making them ideal for shooting on the move. Because of its portability, lighting equipment may be readily transported and set up by filmmakers and video makers, allowing for greater flexibility and creativity in a variety of filming locales.
• High color accuracy: LEDts provide improved color accuracy and control, allowing content creators to generate accurate and consistent lighting tones.
• Heat Management: Traditional lighting solutions can create a lot of heat, which can be uncomfortable for the film crew and subjects. LEDs produce significantly less heat, making them safe and easy to use throughout lengthy shots.

When and when not to use LED lights for filmmaking?

It is common to use LED lights for video and film. However, there are also some cases where they are not suitable.

When to use:

The best LED light for videography may be used for either a basic YouTube studio setup or a classic 3-point lighting system. Their capacity to produce a large amount of light from a tiny source makes them perfect for both macro and high-key applications. They are particularly handy for filming in limited locations, such as on a tiny set when you need to properly conceal a small but strong light source, or when you don't have the capacity to move a large amount of gear.

The best LED lights for videos have a distinct advantage over other forms of cinema lighting in that they use less power and may be powered by a battery. This makes them ideal for on-location filming where a generator would normally be required, as well as documentary and run-and-gun video productions.

When not to use:

There aren't many scenarios where cinema LED lights won't suffice. However, if you're using 60hz AC power and your frame rate or shutter angle becomes out of sync, you'll observe a flicker. You can circumvent this by shooting with a DC battery.

Video tutorial: How to use LED light for music video?

Video by Sergio Mota | Academy

In this video, you can see how the YouTube Sergio Mota | Academy uses COLBOR CL60 and CL60R to set up lighting for music videos. He also uses them in creating short horror films. Check the video to get some LED video lighting ideas.