Long-term reviews of budget photo & video gear.

KIT PLAN RECOMMENDATION:
RALENO 19.5W LED Video Soft Light Panel
This image is 100% REAL, and no A.I. (or Photoshop compositing) were used to make it, and I know because I took it myself.
Quality?
LIGHT USE OK
Yes
MEDIUM USE OK
Yes
HEAVY USE OK
?
Portable?
No
CAMERA BAG
No
Yes
Common?
ON AMAZON
Yes
ON EBAY
?
Easy To Use?
SKILL LEVEL
MEDIUM
OVERVIEW:
I call this style of light a 10" LED panel, and it's what I use as my second light in my "T-Lighting" method (which is easier to transport, set up and tear down than 3-point lighting...see my BLOG for more details!) Again, this light isn't as powerful or as diffused as you would need your MAIN light to be, but it works perfectly as my #2 light. This one has an internal battery and you can also get an adapter cable to run it from a USB-C PD power bank.
MAIN POINTS:
PART 1: IS IT PORTABLE?
PART 2: IS IT AFFORDABLE?
PART 3: IS IT COMMON?
PART 4: HOW’S THE QUALITY?
PART 5: IS IT EASY TO USE?
PART 6: NEEDS ADD-ONS?
PART 7: WHERE DO I BUY?
PART 1: IS IT PORTABLE?
Yes. It's about the size of a small tablet or iPad, so it fits in the smaller sleeve of most laptop backpacks (super convenient).
PART 2: IS IT AFFORDABLE?
Yes, for a second light it's a really good price.
PART 3: IS IT COMMON?
It is pretty common on Amazon, and there is another version, which could be identical, sold by Neewer (so hopefully one of them stays in stock).
PART 4: HOW’S THE QUALITY?
The light "quality" is good (haven't scientifically tested it) and the build quality is too. The color of the light is accurate enough. The mounting method and hardware is good (enough).
PART 5: IS IT EASY TO USE?
Yes, it's easy to use (and transport).
PART 6: NEEDS ADD-ONS?
Yes, I use a Ulanzi MT-79 as the light stand. I also bought an adapter cable (12 volt round to USB-C PD) for it.
PART 7: WHERE DO I BUY?
I bought this on Amazon.
RECOMMENDATION:
I consider this one of my essential pieces of gear in my portable video production kit and it is part of the T-lighting method I use (so much easier than 3-point lighting). So, as a second (or 3rd) light I do recommend this small, 10-inch LED panel, but it's not big enough to be used as a main light.
These reviews are just my opinion and are focused on my Q.P.A.C.E. packing method, so they're not comprehensive. I wrote these mostly to help me remember what items worked for my KIT PLANS (and which didn't). If I said anything negative I apologize, as these products still may work well for you in your situation, but they were not Q.P.A.C.E (Quality, Portable, Affordable, Common, Easy-to-Use) enough for my budget filmmaking KIT PLANS.
