Friday, April 2, 2021

Shine a light in all the right places with these webcam lighting options

Proper lighting is the key to getting a crisp photo or video with your iPhone and for webcam streaming. However, you don't need any ol' light; you want a soft, indirect light to shine directly on your face, making you the focus. Whether you're streaming on YouTube or meeting your boss on Zoom, we've rounded up a list of the best lighting for webcam streaming.

Best professional lights

Neewer 5600K USB LED Video Lights 2-pack

Staff Pick

This panel-style light kit from Neewer comes with two LED light panels, one of the many reasons this is one of the best lighting options for webcam streaming. The lights are powered by USB and work with a wall plug. Each small LED panel is adjustable up to 180 degrees, so you get the right angle every time. Also included are two tripods for perfect positioning, two extension sticks, and eight filters. Set one light on either side of you and you're good to go.

$45 at Amazon $51 at Walmart $51 at Neewer

Best budget pick

QIAYA Selfie Light Ring Lights

QIAYA's LED light made our list of the best ring lights for selfies for its price, weight, and fill light capabilities. It clips over your iPhone, or iPad for FaceTime calls and pics and works on your Mac for webcam streaming or video calls with friends and family. This small light recharges via USB, making this kit portable and wallet-friendly.

$16 at Amazon $16 at QIAYA

Best for video conference calls

Lume Cube Video Conference Lighting Kit

At-home and in-office workers who spend all day on video conference calls will love Lume Cube's Conference Lighting Kit. The LED panel lights give off a soft but bright light that's fully adjustable to daytime or nighttime shooting. The lenses are frosted and covered with a white diffuser, putting you in a professional glow. This kit comes with a computer mount and is ready to use right out of the box.

$70 at Amazon $70 at B&H $70 at Lume Cube

Best tabletop lights

Emart 60 LEDs

The twin light setup from Emart plugs into any standard outlet, making it one of the best lighting options for webcam streaming for those on a budget. Set the lights around the webcam on your computer, phone, or tablet, and start streaming. There are even filters included to give you a soft glow or take the harshness out of daytime shoots. This kit is made for tabletop use and includes eight gel filters, two lights, and two adjustable stands.

$32 at Amazon

Great Zoom companion

Jelly Comb Bicolor LED light panel for video conference

Jelly Comb Bicolor LED lights fit on the included mini tripod, a camera's hot shoe, or suction cups that you can adhere to a monitor or other flat surface. Lighting brightness and color adjust from one to 100 percent, which means you can put yourself in warm or cool colors for your next Zoom meeting, live stream, or FaceTime call.

$44 at Amazon $81 at Walmart

Best multi-purpose

FDKOBE video conference lighting kit

The FDKOBE video conference lighting kit is a good choice for webcam lighting, Zoom calls, live streaming, and video calls. It's made to pair with your Mac or PC and comes with a tabletop tripod you can position behind or beside your monitor. Lighting adjusts from 2,500-65,000K, plus you get temp dimming and a fill light. Best of all, you can use the light as a standalone flashlight or portable backyard light. The FDKOBE has a rechargeable battery that operates over USB and stays powered for up to 15 hours.

$44 at Amazon

Best for your phone

UBeesize 10-inch Selfie Ring + Tripod

If you use your phone as your webcam, the 10-inch selfie ring from UBeesize is just what you need. This affordable kit includes a dimmable ring light with three color options, a mini desktop camera holder, an adjustable tripod, and a Bluetooth remote. Set the tripod on your desk or the floor, and you're ready to take calls or film video. You can even leave your phone off the tripod and place this light behind your computer's webcam for precise lighting.

$36 at Amazon

Best full kit

NexiGo StreamCam N93OE

If you need to upgrade your camera and your lighting system, reach for the NexiGo StreamCam. It's a 1080P webcam with an attached ring light. If you're a privacy junkie, you'll dig the privacy cover that slides over the camera when it's not in use. This setup fits atop your monitor and also works as a standalone unit on any flat surface.

$59 at Amazon

Our three favorites

The best lighting for webcam streaming comes down to positioning, brightness options, and your budget. If you want professional-grade light, we recommend the Neewer 5600K USB LED Lights. They're dimmable, come with eight filters, and offer endless lighting options.

When you need an inexpensive light that will work just as well with your laptop as it will your phone, we like the QIAYA selfie ring light. It's USB-powered and clips directly on to your phone, tablet, or laptop, giving off soft, warm, adjustable light.

And if you spend all day and night on video conference calls, your best option is the Lume Cube Video Conferencing Lighting Kit. It comes with a computer mount and built-in frosted lenses and diffusers that shine a soft light on your face without hurting your eyes.


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