Ring Light Tripod For Camera

Best ring light in 2021: beautiful lighting for vlogging, video calls and selfies

Included in this guide:

The ESDDI PLV-R432 is one of the best ring lights you can buy (Image credit: ESDDI)

Now more than ever, the best ring lights have become one of the most important tools not just for photographers and videographers, but for families keeping in touch and remote workers attending meetings from home.

Previously the best ring lights were the preserve of slick photoshoots and YouTube content creators, but now they're as commonplace among home offices and family Zoom calls as they are with vloggers and videographers.

Because they produce continuous light, they give you what-you-see-is-what-you-get results – so if you're new to portrait lighting, for example, they're much easier to set up and work with than traditional flash. While they can't match the power output of the best flashguns or the best strobes, some ring lights do have flash modes or even High Speed Sync, boosting their power up to 500% (with no recycle time).

Their continuous output obviously makes them perfect for capturing video, particularly with many ring lights' ability to adjust color temperature for true skin tones – something that makes them especially valuable for make-up and beauty vloggers and content creators.

Even if you don't have aspirations of making it big on YouTube, ring lights also come into their own in the new world of increased home working. Indeed, pair them with the best webcams and your home setup will instantly look more professional – vital for making the best impression when on an important video conference!

Lastly, if you want to shoot a different kind of close-up, check out our guide to the best ringflash for macro photography.

Best ring lights in 2021

Best ring lights – Razer Ring Light — (Image credit: Razer)

The best 12-inch ring light

Specifications

Color temperature: 3,000K / 4,500K / 6,500K

Power source: USB

Dimensions: 300mm outer diameter, 241mm inner diameter

Weight: 260g

Reasons to buy

+Great light quality +Great build quality +Brilliant tripod included

Reasons to avoid

-USB power only

The Razer Ring Light does everything you could ask for. It packs all the power you'd want from a 12-inch USB product, the light quality is excellent and the build quality is superb – especially the bundled tripod, which unlike those included with most ring lights is sturdy and substantial.

Third-party brands are cheaper, mains-powered options are brighter, but this strikes the perfect balance and is a fantastic everyday ring light – and one that's well worthy of the Razer name. If you're in the market for a portable 12-inch ring light for streaming, video conferencing and vlogging, this won't let you down.

Best ring lights – Lume Cube Ring Light — (Image credit: Lume Cube)

The best portable ring light packs a powerful punch

Specifications

Color temperature: 3200-5600K

Power source: Li-Ion batteries, mains

Dimensions: 18 inches

Reasons to buy

+Mains or 90 minutes of wireless power +LED readout for settings +6.5-foot light stand included

Reasons to avoid

-Pricier than rivals

At first glance the Lume Cube Wireless Ring Light seems overpriced, compared to other options. However, drill down into what you actually get and it offers good value: not only do you get a brilliant ring light, which can run on mains power or for up to 90 minutes on batteries (which are supplied), an LED readout to monitor your settings, and an immensely useful 6.5ft light stand.

This is our favorite 18-inch ring light. It's ideal for shooting portraiture, filming vlogs and videos, and giving you the flexibility to work wirelessly either on location, in studio or anywhere you might need to move the light around. The strength of the plastic mounting bracket is the only question mark, so if you plan to take a lot of top-down shots for flat lays or unboxings then you might want to try before you buy. For the 90% of people who use ring lights upright, though, look no further.

Best ring lights: Neewer 10-inch LED Ring Light — (Image credit: Neewer)

3. Neewer 10-inch LED Ring Light

The best simple ring-light for TikTok

Specifications

Color temperature: 3200k-6000k

Power source: USB

Dimensions: 380x283x950 mm

Weight: 1.3kg

Reasons to buy

+Easy to operate +Small and portable +Tripod included

Reasons to avoid

-USB power only

Many people who are looking for a ring light don't necessarily need loads of fancy bells and whistles. They just want something simple that works, and in that regard, the Neewer 10-inch LED Ring Light is an excellent choice. It's on the smaller side for a ring light, but still a perfectly good size for self-taping, vlogging, TikToks and other quick and easy uses. It plugs in via USB, and comes with a 54-inch tripod, meaning it's very easy to get started the instant you take the Neewer 10-inch LED Ring Light out of its box.

You don't get the sophisticated features of some other ring lights on this list like those from Rotolight, and there are also larger lights available, including from Neewer themselves. But the Neewer 10-inch LED Ring Light is an all-around solid choice that will suit the vast majority of users perfectly, and that's why it nabs our top spot. The bottom line is: if you're looking for a ring light, this will almost certainly fit the bill.

Best ring lights ESDDI 18-inch Ring Light — (Image credit: Amazon)

4. ESDDI PLV-R432 18-inch Ring Light

Best ring light for YouTube – big, bright and bicolor

Specifications

Color temperature: 3000K-6500K

Power source: Mains power

Dimensions: 458mm outer dia / 318mm inner dia

Reasons to buy

+18-inch diameter with 48W power +Includes light stand, case, phone clip

Reasons to avoid

-Requires lots of space -Phone holder isn't great

The ESDDI PLV-R432 is a beefy 18-inch ring light that kicks out 48W of power from 432 LEDs. It's big and bright enough to work as a key light for sumptuous portraits with that unique "ring light look", producing soft illumination and circular catchlights. It's also ideal for videos and vlogs, providing useful key or fill to soften shadows and even out lighting when presenting to camera. Its sheer size makes it perfect for beauty and makeup work, too, giving you plenty of room and abundant light.

This kit includes everything you need to get going, with a 6-foot light stand and padded travel case. Prominent dials adjust brightness and temperature, and the light can even rotate 180°, making it useful for shooting flat lays or macro work. Sadly the bundled phone holder isn't terribly sturdy, and you can't mount a camera to the light – so you'll need to set up a separate tripod to use a DSLR or mirrorless body if you're filming yourself.

Note: The ESDDI PLV-R432 18-inch Ring Light is becoming harder to get outside the US, so international users may want to consider some of the other options on our list.

Best ring lights Rotolight Neo 2 — (Image credit: Rotolight)

5. Rotolight Neo 2

Best ring light for webcam video calls

Specifications

Color temperature: 3150-6300K

Power source: 6x AA batteries, D-Tap port, AC adapter

Dimensions: 150x45mm

Weight: 354g (504g with batteries)

Reasons to buy

+Bicolor lighting +Temperature adjustment +Powerful HSS flash mode

Reasons to avoid

-Not a true ring light

Okay, so the Neo 2 is technically a ring-shaped light – though for most people it will do exactly what they want it to. Since it isn't a truly donut-shaped light source, it won't achieve the same sculpted softness or circular catchlights for portraits. What it will do, however, is deliver a whopping 1,840 lux (a little lower than the claimed 2,000) at a distance of 3 feet, making it an ideal key or fill light for both stills and video (especially when it can be modified with everything from barn doors to softboxes). Powered by six AA batteries, the Neo 2 can also be powered by a mains adaptor for up to 500% more power in flash mode.

Best ring lights Rotolight Ultimate Vlogging Kit — (Image credit: Rotolight)

6. Rotolight Ultimate Vlogging Kit

11. Smoovie Flexi Selfie Ring Light

Best mount-anywhere ring light that can also hold your phone

Specifications

Color temperature: (Three white light settings)

Power source: USB

Dimensions: 6-inch

Reasons to buy

+Flexible clip arm mounts anywhere +Second flexi arm can hold smartphone +3 tone settings & adjustable brightness +USB powered

Reasons to avoid

-Less color temp control

Ring Lights are fantastic but, unless you're sitting at a desk or table, you might struggle to find a surface or enough space to erect a tripod. The Smoovie Flexi Selfie Ring Light solves this problem by providing you with a flexible clip arm, which means that you can mount your light virtually anywhere – the edge of a shelf, a window sill, a radiator, the interior of your car… it goes where tripods can't! The clip also has a second flexible arm that can hold your camera phone, so this can either be used strictly as an adaptable ring light or as a dedicated smartphone setup. The light can be adjusted to three tones of white to match daylight or artificial conditions, and the brightness can be adjusted too.

More buying guides:

The best LED light panels: portable lighting for photography and video
Best video lights: continuous video lighting for vlogging and filmmaking
The best photography lighting kits: for studio, location and video
The best webcams for home working
The best camera for streaming

The editor of Digital Camera World, James has 21 years experience as a magazine and web journalist and started working in the photographic industry in 2014 (as an assistant to Damian McGillicuddy, who succeeded David Bailey as Principal Photographer for Olympus). In this time he shot for clients as diverse as Aston Martin Racing, Elinchrom and L'Oréal, in addition to shooting campaigns and product testing for Olympus, and providing training for professionals. This has led him to being a go-to expert for camera and lens reviews, photographic and lighting tutorials, as well as industry analysis, news and rumors for publications such as Digital Camera Magazine, PhotoPlus: The Canon Magazine, N-Photo, Digital Photographer and Professional Imagemaker, as well as hosting workshops and demonstrations at The Photography Show. An Olympus (Micro Four Thirds) and Canon (full frame) shooter, he has a wealth of knowledge on cameras of all makes – and a particular fondness for vintage lenses and film cameras.