By Tati Taylor 8 days ago, Lighting & Studio
A guide to top ring lights for photography.
A ring light is a simple-to-use multi-purpose lighting tool which is made from one circular fluorescent bulb or a few connected small LED lights in the shape of a circle.
Ring lights create nice light during your photo shoots and minimize odd shadows. They also create nice, circular catchlights, which is why they are widely used by portrait photographers, vloggers and beauty influencers.
Ring led lights can have different shapes and sizes, and your choice depends on what you are searching for. On this list you will find LED ring lights for different photography types which you can use in the studio, at home, with your camera or phone.
Size: 20.08 x 4.33 x 24.02 in | Output power: 55W | Color temperature: 3200-5500K | LED beads: 240 pcs | Weight: 11.38lb
⊕ Can be used on different devices
⊕ Firm construction, durable
⊕ Weights little
⊕ Dimmable option
⊖ No running off batteries option
This model is often used by portrait photographers. It has a special LED SMD design that makes it lightweight and portable so that you can take with you wherever you go. This ring light has 240 LED bulbs in it.
Neewer ring light has also a carrying bag in the set, using which you can keep it in a compact size, which is even more convenient when you are traveling. Moreover, this ring light lets you adjust the brightness from 1% to 100% to create an ideal setting for your needs and wishes.
This ring light also comes with a tripod stand made from aluminum alloy for durability and firmness. Besides, this model has top-quality white and orange filters that allow you to change the color temperature.
Size: 26.77 x 26.77 x 1.18 in | Output power: 60 W | Color temperature: 3000-6000K | LED beads: 480 pcs | Weight: 4.4lb
⊕ Provides bright colors without color filter
⊕ Simple to install
⊕ Offers 360-degree rotation
⊕ Has a travel-friendly bag in the set
⊖ Pricey
Inkeltech is an 18-inch ring light, which is perfect for portrait photography and videography. Due to the phone holder and hot-shoe adapter, which come in the package, it’s very simple to place your phone or camera right to the ring light stand.
Inkeltech ring light allows you to dim the brightness from 0% to 100%. This means that you can quickly change the light output to your needs. Due to the light stand and carrying case, this ring light is flexible and portable.
The color temperature can be easily adjusted from 3,000L to 6,000K without the need for color filters. Also, this ring light has a remote control that allows you to change the parameters on the go, right before or while the cameras are rolling. That’s why this model will be perfect for self portrait photography.
Size: 3.3 x 1.1 x 3.3 in | Brightness Level: 3 | LED beads: 30 pcs | Battery Type: Built-in Lithium Battery | Weight: 1.76 ounces
⊕ Compact
⊕ You can adjust the brightness
⊕ Can be recharged with USB Cord
⊕ Sophisticated design
⊖ Light can be too sharp
QIAYA Selfie LED Ring Light is the best ring light for vlogging and for those who want to implement self-portrait ideas on the fly. Its small-sized, lightweight, and portable so you will easily fit it in your pocket while traveling. You can use it for different purposes.
For instance, you can use it to illuminate the face while doing makeup, for taking selfies, vlogging, working with night photography and videography, etc. There are also three various lighting options that allow you to work in practically any setting or time of the day. It has a rechargeable battery so that you won’t need to worry about buying replacement batteries all the time.
Size: 21.42 x 20.55 x 3.97 in | Output power: 60W | Color temperature: 32000-5600K | LED beads: 416 pcs | Weight: 6.69lb
⊕ Has a tripod in the set
⊕ Cooling feature for more durability
⊕ Extensive compatibility
⊕ Provides a 30-foot wireless range
⊖ Weak phone mount
This is a great LED ring light to add to your studio lighting kit. With it, you can easily adjust the color temperature from 3200K to 5600K without the need for color filters. Also, you can dim the brightness from 10%-100%.
This ring light provides both cold white and warm light to hide blemishes and easily change skin tones in seconds. There are 12 heat-dissipating holes, which will cool this ring light and make it more durable. With the angle adjustment button, you can rotate this ring light 180 degrees.
For convenient storing and transporting, you can fold the stand. This ring light is also very lightweight and convenient to carry. Due to its solid locking features, your lighting equipment will be fully secured when being used.
Size: 23 x 19.75 x 4 in | Output power: 60W | Color temperature: 3000-5800K | LED beads: 240 pcs | Weight: 11.38lb
⊕ 4 various color filters
⊕ Offers LSD display with control panel
⊕ Has Bluetooth remote
⊕ Heat dissipation feature
⊖ Weighs a lot
This LED light has four color filters (white, green, red and blue) and allows you to adjust the brightness from 0% to 100%. It comes with a Bluetooth remote control, that makes it easier to take videos and selfies.
This ring light for photography has a smart LCD display which precisely shows the brightness and color temperature. It’s ultra-slim and, therefore, very lightweight. This model has also the heat dissipation feature that makes it more durable and prevents it from overheating.
A cold shoe adapter can be used with the majority of DSLR cameras and a smartphone holder is suitable for practically any smartphone. The ring is 19 inches in diameter which means that it’s one of the biggest lights available on the market today.
Size: 23 x 21 x 4 in | Output power: 48W | Color temperature: 3000-6500K | LED beads: 432 pcs | Weight: 7.78lb
⊕ Long-lasting
⊕ Eye-caring design
⊕ Customizable light stand
⊕ High CRI
⊖ Tripod easily gets out of balance
ESDDI ring light is a great option with a special ABS shell, which makes it more durable. Its light stand has 4 levels of height adjustment and due to the soft tube, it’s convenient to rotate the ring light to find the best position, height and angle.
This professional ring light works within a wide color spectrum (3000-6500K), which makes it suitable for multiple purposes. You can easily adjust color temperature and brightness without using color filters by scrolling two built-in knobs.
This ring light has a heat dissipation design, which makes it durable and effective even after a long time of use. Also, this model of ring light has a special eye-care design. SMD LED requires only 45w power.
Size: 24.5 x 22.5 x 4 in | Output power: 55W | Color temperature: 3200-5600K | LED beads: 240 pcs | Weight: 9.18lb
⊕ Provides wide dimming range
⊕ Simple to adjust and set up
⊕ Has Bluetooth remote
⊕ Compact, weighs little
⊖ The bendable part needs to be firmer
MOUNTDOG Ring Light is a portable and foldable LED ring light. It’s 18 inches in diameter and comes with a soft tube, due to which, you can adjust the stand angle without turning the light itself. With 180° adjustable light head, you can conveniently take amazing photos.
360-degree rotation allows you to move your camera into a vertical or horizontal position without removing the phone from the adapter. There are 2 color filters to change the color of the light.
Also, you can adjust the brightness from 1% to 100%. This ring light has also a convenient remote and tripod, due to which, it’s portable and easy to use.
Size: 10.63 x 5.91 x 3.54 in | Voltage Range: 100-240V/50-60Hz | Color temperature: 3000-9000K | LED beads: 48 pcs | Weight: 1.1lb
⊕ Has 8 adapters
⊕ 6 lighting adjustment parameters
⊕ Inexpensive
⊕ Has 4 color filters
⊖ Plastic
RF- 550D LED Ring Flash was created to implement macro photography ideas.
You can use it with any Nikon or Canon DSLR camera. This Neewer light has adapters that fit almost all lenses: 49mm, 52mm, 55mm, 58mm, 62mm, 67mm, 72mm and 77mm.
There are also a few filters that will let you change the temperature of the light: blue (9000K), yellow (3000K), white (5000K) and transparent/standard (5500K). It provides amazing luminance and low static power consumption.
There are six lighting adjustment options and four lighting options in this ring light: right light, left light, flash and continuous. Use it together with the best camera for macro photography and achieve stunning results.
Size: 11.42 x 7.48 x 1.57 in | Color temperature: 3200-5500K | LED beads: 120pcs | Weight: 1.1 lb
⊕ Great variable lighting
⊕ Simple to work with, practical
⊕ Portable, weighs little
⊕ Works remotely
⊖ No firm mounting tripods
If you have a good camera phone then this ring light is what you need. It has a comfortable design and is lightweight, which makes it very comfortable to carry with you while traveling. This ring light for phone comes with a stand and has 11 adjustable brightness parameters.
There are 3 different light modes: warm yellow, white and warm yellow + white. These modes will be helpful to you when you need additional light for taking photos, recording videos, reading, etc.
This ring light has a fast release phone holder that is very easy to use. This holder can be used with most smartphones. You connect it to different devices via the USB port.
Size: 15.2×14.5×3 in | Output power: 55W | Color temperature: 3200-5500K | LED beads: 120 pcs | Weight: 2.35lb
⊕ Has 10 brightness levels in each mode
⊕ Provides after-sale services
⊕ The stand can be adjusted
⊕ Compatible with many devices
⊖ Lack of remote control
This is one of the best ring lights for photography as is it allows you to adjust brightness and select the necessary lighting mode from three available light parameters. An M1/4 pad-tilt allows you to place your camera at the center of the ring light to get nicer photos.
The manufacturer provides after-sales services, so you will get all the necessary technical support within 12 months after you bought it. The stand can be extended to the 66.9-inch height.
Since it’s very adjustable, you can use it conveniently no matter how tall you are. You can also use it on the tabletop or the floor. The phone holder can be used with practically any smartphone letting you place your phone with its case on or without it.
| Image | Name | Features | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Inkeltech
OUR CHOICE |
CHECK PRICE → | |
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QIAYA
FOR SELFIES |
CHECK PRICE → | |
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MountDog
ADJUSTABLE |
CHECK PRICE → |
If you want to buy a ring light that is worth the money you pay for it, you should pay attention to its portability, the purpose of use and adjustable brightness. Below, you will learn more about the aspects that you need to consider when purchasing LED ring lights.
LED ring lights have different designs depending on the purpose of their use. You can find sizes ranging from 8 to 18 inches. If you need a ring light just for taking selfies using a phone, tablet or DSLR camera, you can get a small selfie ring light. If you are planning to record videos or take professional photos, buy a larger ring light with better brightness.
A lot of photographers have to travel long distances to get to places of their photoshoots. That’s why they should get a lightweight and compact ring light. Having a heavy rink light and not being able to carry it with you will be a problem for you and a waste of money.
Ring lights for photography can be easily adjusted in color temperatures and brightness. That’s why you have to look for a ring light that you can adjust according to your needs.
The brightness has to be adjustable from 1% to 100% and dimmable from 2700K to 6500K with three color modes. Such ring lights will be suitable for multiple purposes.
The possibility to rotate the ring head can be helpful to you but it’s not obligatory. With a rotatable ring head, you can place the light a bit above your subject and tilt it down too. If the ring head rotates 90-degrees forward or backward, you can use it to bounce light off the ceiling or eliminate a subject lying down.
The quality of the material shows the durability of a ring light. Don’t get a cheap ring light made of plastics and other weak materials. They will not last long and will cost you more in the end. Buy a ring light with a metal body if you want it to last longer.
It depends on the particular model of the ring light, but the majority of them last for about a year on one set of batteries under regular use.
Standard sizes are 12, 14 and 18 inches, and they all work well. The 12-inch ring light is perfect if you need to take headshots only. If you can spend more money, buy an 18-inch ring light because it will be more flexible and light.
YouTubers use continuous ring lights and they are slightly different from on-camera ring lights created for macro photography. These are usually LED lights for photography with a stand, which lets a camera or a smartphone to be placed right in the middle of the ring of light.
Similar to a camera flash, ring lights highlight the details and hide shadows due to their circular design. The soft light hides wrinkles and blemishes and helps create better portraits and make-up tutorials.
