The 6 Best LED Light Kits of 2023

Get your lighting right

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Aside from the camera, lighting is the most crucial consideration in photography. The proper lighting will make or break your photography project, whether inside a studio or outside in the sunshine. Inside lighting is the easiest to control, so photographers need the best light kit to suit their needs.

We have a variety of light kits here that match all kinds of budgets and situations. Whether you're shooting a product on a tabletop, models for a fashion shoot, or even selfies for the influencer crowd, we have lights for you. These lights will keep your photographs well-lit and looking great.

Best Budget

GVM 2-Pack LED Video Lighting Kit with App Control

GVM 2-Pack LED Video Lighting Kit with App Control

Amazon

What We Like
  • Wide range of adjustable color temperature

  • App control

  • Easy-to-use controls

  • Included carrying case

What We Don't Like
  • Batteries not included

This setup is a close second in our top pick for lighting rigs. Great Video Maker (GVM) is not just appropriately named—you get two bright variable control lights, stands, software filters, and more. The lights are also very slim. One of this light rig's cooler aspects is it's app-controlled. While the controls on the back of the lights are easy to use, controlling them via an app lets you set up your scene more easily from a distance.

You can control light brightness and temperature to get the shot you want. The color temperature goes from 2300K to 6800K, meaning you can find just the proper lighting for your conditions. The lights can be battery-powered, but batteries are not included, which is disappointing. You do get AC adapters for the lights, but we'd like to see more portability built in from the jump.

Lights/Brightness: 480 LED beads | Color Temperature Range: 2300K to 6800K | Power Options: AC adapter or battery | Adjustable: Yes

Best for Studio Work

Ikan IB508 3-Point LED Studio Light Kit

Ikan IB508 3-Point LED Studio Light Kit

Amazon

What We Like
  • Lightweight and portable

  • Batteries included

  • Included filters

What We Don't Like
  • Hard to read display

  • Fixed color temperature

The Ikan IB508 light kit may be for you if you predominantly shoot inside a studio. The lights are controlled with a knob and readout on the back, which can be hard to see in direct sunlight. That's why this light kit gets our recommendation for inside studio work. This is a three-piece set with a fixed color temperature of 5600K. That's good for most photography, and if you want to change the color, you can use one of two included filters. The first filter changes the light to about 300K, while the other softens it to 5600K, so it's less intense. 

The kit has everything you need to start, including stands, batteries, chargers, and a carrying case. It's very lightweight and ready to go outdoors with you, but it's more suited for indoor work. Photographers can appreciate that kind of versatility when they need to go on location to shoot.

Lights/Brightness: 508 LED beads | Color Temperature Range: 3200-5600K (300K) | Power Options: Battery | Adjustable: Yes

Best for Soft Lighting

Ikan LB10 3-Point Soft Panel LED Light Kit

Ikan LB10 3-Point Soft Panel LED Light Kit

Amazon

What We Like
  • Swappable battery plates

  • One knob control

  • Included carrying case

  • 30 degree yoke

What We Don't Like
  • Expensive

  • Bulky

If you are looking for some of the best soft-light lighting, look no further than the Ikan Lyra 1 x 1 LED Lighting Kit. This three-pack of lighting is great for your standard three-point lighting system for an interview subject or model. This versatile system can be set to 3200K or 5600K with adjustable brightness. It's all controlled by a single large knob that switches between brightness and temperature. This makes it easy to locate when it's up on a stand and easy to control.

One key feature of these lights is the 30-degree mounting yoke. This allows the light to come off the stand and gives you more mobility in focusing and aiming the light and barn doors. The stands and case are included in this package, which is good because it also costs a pretty penny. These are also all 1 x 1 panels, making them large and bulky to travel with. If you pick up these lights, you'll want to stay in the studio.

Lights/Brightness: 900 LEDs | Color Temperature Range: 3200K to 5600K | Power Options: Battery | Adjustable: Yes

Best Remote Control on a Budget

VILTROX VL-200 LED Kit

VILTROX VL-200 LED Kit

Amazon

What We Like
  • 3-pack

  • Remote control

  • Hot shoe adapters included

What We Don't Like
  • Batteries not included

  • Does not include diffuser

If you're on a budget but want a remote control to adjust your lighting, the Viltrox VL-200 3-Pack of lights is a great deal. You get three LED panels, stands, and power adapters in an easy-access carrying bag. In addition to the remote control, one nice accessory is hot shoe adapters for the lights. This allows you to use other hot shoe accessories and the lights, including mounting them directly to a camera.

Unfortunately, if you mount a light to the camera, you'll need to buy a battery separately, as these lights don't come with them. Nor do the lights come with a diffuser to get a softer light. There's some great value here; it can make a great mobile lighting studio when you're on the go. The remote allows you to control one or all of the lights from a distance, so you can take in the scene as you adjust.

Lights/Brightness: 192 LED beads | Color Temperature Range: 3300K to 5600K | Power Options: Adapter or battery | Adjustable: Yes

Best for Tabletop Use

Emart LED Video Light

Emart LED Video Light

Courtesy of Amazon

What We Like
  • Tabletop mount included

  • USB plug

  • Four color filters included

  • Very inexpensive

What We Don't Like
  • Only one ball head

  • Not powerful

This Emart set of two LED lights is excellent for close-up and tabletop photography. You get a complete kit, including two lights, two stands, and two small tabletop stands. The lights aren't powerful; you won't fill a room with them, but they'll do very nicely for close-up photography. If you want to add a little color to your shots, each light has four color filters you can put in to adjust the lighting.

If you want to use the included stands, they extend from 21 inches up to 54 inches in length. An enclosed ball head lets you aim the lights anywhere you need them. The lights are powered by USB, and you can plug them into any USB port, wall charger, or portable battery pack. For the price, this is a nice set of lights that can help you up your product photography game.

Lights/Brightness: 66 LED bulbs | Color Temperature Range: 5600K only | Power Options: USB | Adjustable: Yes

Best for Social Media

Emart 6'' LED Ring Light with Tripod Stand

Emart 6'' LED Ring Light with Tripod Stand

Walmart

What We Like
  • Clever stand design

  • Built-in stand

  • In-line remote

  • Two-pack

What We Don't Like
  • Built-in stand seems flimsy

If you're working on the Instagram or TikTok circuit, look at these ring lights from Emart. They come in a two-pack to light up the scene. Ring lights are all the rage on social media, so if that's your aim, this is the right tool for the job. You can adjust the lights with the in-line remote to any of the three light modes and 11 brightness levels. 

The neatest part about these lights is the stands, which are built into the base of the ring light. Three spring-loaded feet extend from the light's bottom to form a nice little tripod. You can rotate the points of the tripod down to get a bit more elevation and stability. It's a neat design that we're fans of here, even if some reviewers suggested that the built-in stand is flimsy. While that is concerning, we nonetheless love the design.

Lights/Brightness: 11 brightness levels | Color Temperature Range: N/A | Power Options: USB | Adjustable: Yes

What to Look For in an LED Light Kit

Light Temperature

Light temperature is measured in Kelvins. Typically photographers prefer to use lights in the 5,600 Kelvin range, as they appear similar to daylight. Other color temperatures are possible, and their primary purpose is to change the subject's look for more artistic shots. You'll have to look for a light in the 5,000 Kelvin range for a sense of realism. If you want warmer tones, look for lower Kelvin temperatures.

Stands

Lights typically need to be mounted on something, so you'll want to look for lighting rigs with their stands. This will give you a more complete lighting setup and make your lights an all-in-one solution. Of course, this is less important if you already have a way to mount lights.

Power/Battery

Powering your lights is also quite important. How your lights are powered will determine where and how you can use them. Batteries provide a more portable solution, but they'll be limited in duration. AC-powered lights will not run out of juice, but of course, you'll be more limited in where you can use them.

FAQ
  • Why do you need lighting for photography?

    Lighting is critical for taking great photos and shooting video. Without proper lighting, your subject could be too dark to see, or grainy. Harsh lighting like direct sunlight is no better since it tends to blow out highlights and leave your subject overexposed. Quality lighting rigs will help you get the right balance of light and shadow.

  • What is the best way to use lighting?

    The most common way to light a subject is by using the three-point method. A primary light, or key light, is placed at a 45-degree angle from your subject, with a secondary fill light placed 45 degrees the other direction. A third, optional backlight is placed high behind the subject, often opposite the key light. This fills out the background behind the subject and provides a sense of depth. 

  • What does bi-color mean?

    Some lights can change their light temperature between two different settings, giving you more options on how to light your subject. Bi-color lights usually flip between 5,600 Kelvin (comparable to daylight) and 3,200 Kelvin (comparable to incandescent lights). This is handy because it can give you different looks on your subject, and allows your light to adapt to light already present in the room.

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