When it comes to capturing images or videos, and no matter how good the quality of mobile phone cameras may be, there may be times when more light input is needed, or even more than what smartphone flash could provide.
Selfies, video recording with third parties, static or dynamic recording, photographs of objects or people, with a little light present or in almost complete darkness… For each use there may be a different answer because there is a different need, although yes, all with LED lighting technology behind it, a lighting technology so widespread that it is present even in smart homes thanks to smart bulbs.
Fortunately, there is a vast industry of mobile lighting accessories capable of satisfying all needs, all tastes and all budgets. Below are some of these solutions with examples of all kinds, so that each user, for each occasion and for each type of content, can find the one that best suits them.
In the vast majority of cases, the lighting comes from the famous LED rings, circular lamps with small LED diodes inside that generate uniform illumination on the faces of subjects placed at a short distance.
There are usually different diameters of these LED rings, so depending on the needs (and budget) you can choose one or the other model. Finally, it should be remembered that many LED lighting systems have certain parameters that allow you to adjust both the intensity of the light and the tone of the light, with colder or warmer shades.
The best gadgets to improve the light of photos and videos with the mobile
-Selfie clip: These clips that attach to the body of the smartphone offer a popular LED ring for its compact size and powerful lighting ability. Being so small, they fit perfectly in a pocket, bag or backpack.
Fixing by means of a clip system keeps the accessory firmly on the mobile and can be placed in one of two positions, illuminating the user or whoever is in front of him. They therefore work for selfies but also for photos and video recordings made using the rear camera.
Some models include a mirror polished surface, so for those who prefer the selfie with the rear camera, it’s a great contribution to manage the framing and have everything captured through the lens. Some models have a small internal rechargeable battery via a USB connection while others run on AAA batteries.
-Table tripod with light ring: In this case, the recording must be static and have either a desk or a shelf or similar where you can place the tripod, which has a low height. Due to its compact size, this type of tripod would also allow the legs to be folded up and used as a support for dynamic recordings, holding it in the hand.
The mobile is fixed to the support located in the center of the light ring so that the face of the person making the recording receives uniform illumination. Its advantage is its small size, its disadvantage is that it limits the possibility of moving if it is placed on a piece of furniture. It is USB powered, able to connect to both charger and portable battery.
– Tripod with light ring: With these devices, the limitation of movements is maintained, but it is no longer necessary to have a piece of furniture to place the tripod. There are different models, increasingly less fragile (and expensive) and large enough not to fit in a backpack or a small bag. In return, they allow you to record videos or take photos almost anywhere.
The tripod is collected and occupies a small space to be able to transport it more comfortably. The light ring and the central support to hold the smartphone can be disassembled for transport. The LED ring is powered by USB and can be connected to both a charger and a portable battery.
-Tripod base with light ring and possibility to connect accessories: It is an evolution compared to the previous model which already includes other accessories (such as other lighting systems or auxiliary supports for microphones) or has the necessary fixings to place additional supports.
This makes it possible to add, in addition to the LED ring for front lighting, other LED torches for additional side lighting, microphones or a tablet holder to read the script of the recording or to have access to subscriber reactions in transmissions via streaming.
-Support with automatic stabilizer with the possibility of connecting accessories: Gimball-type stabilizers, capable of automatically countering the oscillations or vibrations of the operator’s hand, have become extremely popular thanks to the results of videos recorded with these devices. Although most are designed to simply hold a camera or a mobile, some also allow the connection of auxiliary LED lighting systems.
-LED torch: It has an internal USB rechargeable battery that provides the power needed to light up any scenario. There is a wide variety of models with different sizes, weights, power, number of LED diodes… Due to their generally compact size, they are easily transportable in a pocket, and when recording videos, when handling the mobile with one hand and the LED torch with another offers the possibility of realizing curious dynamic lighting effects and moving shadows. They usually have a thread to attach to cameras or tripods.
-Night lamp: A final accessory, not strictly intended for recording videos or taking snapshots, makes it possible to transform the camera’s own flash into a night light. These are ingenious designs that mimic old oil lamps or the recognizable silhouette of the classic night light.
Made of translucent white plastic, they are placed using a clip system on the back of the mobile, just above the flash diode. When turned on, its light is enhanced by the translucent plastic piece, providing instead of the powerful, unidirectional light of the flash, pleasant, diffused and soft contour lighting. All that’s left to do is use it for intimate effect on a date, weather a power outage, or read until sleep takes over.
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