Lights for video studio come in LED, HMI, tungsten, and fluorescent types. You need to consider the color temperature, color rendition, light quality, power output, and power supply when choosing the best lighting equipment. In this article, we will explain the aforementioned information and recommend three COLBOR video lights to help you get a quick purchase.
What are the types of studio lights for video?
LED, HMI, tungsten, and fluorescent lights are four main types of studio lights used in video production. Each owns its pros and cons.
LED lights for video studio: They are energy-efficient and have various color temperatures
It is the most energy-efficient light among these four types and is increasingly popular in video studios. LED stands for light-emitting diode. LED studio lights for video can produce varying levels of light across the RGB spectrum and usually have bi-color capabilities for switching between cool and warm color temperatures. In comparison to conventional lights, LEDs have an unusually long lifespan, allow for complete dimming, and are highly durable and safe. They may be more expensive, but as this technology becomes more common and cost-effective, prices will continue to fall.
HMI: Daylight-balanced light with high output for professional film production
HMI lights employ mercury vapor and metal halide to produce a large output of light while consuming little electricity. HMIs emit light that is remarkably comparable to that of natural daylight (6000K), making them daylight balanced. They are expensive up front, but they can save money on energy expenditures in the long term. However, they require large ballasts and are not entirely dimmable. Unless you work on a professional film production, you're unlikely to come across one of these enormous, expensive lights. HMI lighting is not recommended for the ordinary video maker.
Tungsten: 3200K light with high CRI and low price but creating much heat
Tungsten lights are more powerful lights for video studio of the traditional incandescent light bulb. Tungsten features the typical color temperature for indoor lighting at 3200K. you will need gels to change it to other color temperatures. Tungsten lights are less expensive and produce superb color rendition. On the negative, they become hot, need a lot of electricity, and the bulbs must be handled with care. Handle tungsten lights wearing gloves at all times, even when they are cool since oil from your fingertips can cause the lamp to explode.
Fluorescent lights for studio video: Energy-efficient, variable color temperatures but may cause flicker
Fluorescent lights emit a glow that is intensified by a layer of phosphor coating. These lights are extremely energy efficient and have color temperatures ranging from 2700K to 6500K. Fluorescent lighting is small and produces less heat. Regular-use fluorescent lighting may cause 'flicker' and color rendition concerns, however fluorescent lighting designed expressly for video typically does not. Professional fluorescent lights are designed to eliminate the flicker and poor color quality that are inherent in home-use fluorescents, but they are significantly more costly.
How to choose studio light for video shooting: Four factors to consider
When you purchase the best lights for video studio, you need to consider four factors. Decide on the color temperature according to your shooting environment and light sources, look for a 95 or 95+ CRI, choose between soft and hard lights, and pay attention to the power supply to see if the light can run normally in your studio.
Color temperature
Color temperature measures the light color quality in degrees Kelvin. It is an important factor to consider especially when you use different light sources in the video studio. It is advised to consider which color temperature is suitable for your work types. Do you need studio lights that are balanced with 3200K indoor lighting, 5600K outdoor illumination, or ones that feature a wide range of color temperatures? This depends on the shooting environment and your already-have light sources.
Color rating
Color rating is an assessment of how well lights for video studio can reproduce color accurately. The Color Rating Index (CRI), created in the 1960s, assesses how well a light reproduces the complete spectrum of colors in a subject when compared to a standardized source. A CRI 0f 100 is perfect and it is great to have a CRI of 95 or above.
A related but more recent statistic is the Television Lighting Consistency Index (TLCI). TLCI detects color changes that can be observed by a video camera rather than depending on a human observer to measure color variation. A TLCI score of 90 or higher is considered acceptable.
Light quality
You should also think about whether you want to illuminate your scene with harsh or soft light. Hard lighting is direct, resulting in a lot of contrast and severe shadows; it seems highly dramatic and emphasizes textures and detail. Hard lighting is typically provided by Fresnel lamps, which employ a specific lens to focus a beam of light to meet your demands.
On the contrary, soft lighting is diffused and appears to wrap around the subject. It casts shadows with delicate, subtle borders between light and dark. It is regarded to be more attractive to subjects, making them look younger and decreasing wrinkles. In general, if you want soft light, you should choose panels and lights with soft boxes.
Power
Next, think about how the lights for video studio will be powered: AC, battery, or both. Someone who works primarily in a studio will have quite different requirements than a documentary team on the fly. In addition to power options, you'll want to know the light's draw and output. How much energy is used by the light, and how much light is produced? Wattage (w), lumens, lux, candela, or foot-candles (fc) are all terminology used to describe output.
What are best studio lights for video at COLBOR?
COLBOR has introduced several LED studio lights for video to the market. Below we recommend three models that come with different power outputs and work perfectly for different applications.
COLBOR CL60: Compact design for offering lighting for home video studio
If you work in a small home studio and want the light to be close to the subject, the COLBOR CL60 can be the best studio light for video. Its size is 140*80*90mm, weighing 550g. It emits little heat and also comes with a cooling system to lower the temperature. Both lead to a comfortable shooting environment with low fan noise.
The CL60 sports 65W COB beads to provide impressive brightness. It features variable color temperatures from 2700k to 6500K, allowing you to set different video moods. The CRI of 97+ ensures accurate color reproduction.
The COLBOR CL60 can be wirelessly controlled by COLBOR Studio App. It is convenient to adjust the brightness and color temperature and switch among 10 lighting modes for specific scenarios.
COLBOR CL100X: Work as key or fill light to provide studio lighting for YouTube videos
The COLBOR CL100X is a versatile bi-color studio light for YouTube videos and nearly any other type of video. It features 2700-6500K color temperature and 97+ CRI. You can adjust the color temperature to match the ambient illumination or already-have light sources to ensure correct white balance.
The LED lights for streaming offer constant 110W power output at each color and gives 25,070Lux of 5600K light at 1m when used with the supplied reflector. It can be used for key or fill light in nearly every studio for YouTube videos.
The CL100X, like the CL60, can be controlled by onboard buttons, physical controller, and App, allowing you to make adjustments anytime and anywhere.
COLBOR CL220: Professional studio lighting for product video at constant 220W
The COLBOR CL220 takes the COLBOR video lights to the next level. It incorporates a powerful 220W lighting system while retaining 97+ CRI for accurate color reproduction. It is a good choice if you film product videos or other types of videos in a large studio.
The Bowens mount design makes the CL220 compatible with a wide range of light modifiers. The NATO rails allow it to accept more accessories. Both lead to great flexibility in setting up video studio lighting.
Although the CL220 features high output, it won’t produce much heat after long-time working. The intelligent temperature control system works to ensure the CL220 works at an optimal temperature while creating low cooling noises.