The Best Mini Ring Light

Buying Guide

If you’re a professional content creator for social media, conduct a lot of video calls, or just want to look good in photos and videos, you need to have the right lighting. The lighting you choose sets the tone of the photo or video and highlights the main subject: you. Your lighting also affects the level of professionalism of the video or photo. A mini ring light is a great tool to have in your arsenal if you like creating any kind of photo or video content.

A mini ring light, as the name suggests, is a small light in a ring shape. Typically lit with a circular fluorescent tube or many surface-mounted LEDs, ring lights have a mounting post and a stand. This way, you can place them in just the right position to light your face while you are in front of the camera. Ring lights are effective lighting sources because they create a shadowless light that is soft and natural.

Ring lights come in many sizes, and mini ring lights are on the smaller scale. You can find ring lights in 12, 14 or 18-inch sizes, while mini ring lights are in the 6 to 10-inch range. In some cases, a larger ring light is required for video production, especially if you’re planning to light up a large area. However, mini ring lights are perfect for lighting one person in front of the camera.

An important feature to look for in a mini ring light is whether or not it is dimmable. This feature provides additional versatility because you have control over how much light you want to cast. Without a dimmer, you can still adjust the lighting, but only by moving the light further away from or bringing it closer to the subject. With a dimming range, you can make detailed adjustments to the brightness of the light.

• The color temperature of the light affects the mood. Cooler color temperatures create a modern or sparse look while warmer color temperatures create a more homey and inviting feel. If you need variety for your video or photo content, look for mini ring lights that come with options for color temperature.
• If you want the colors in your content to look vivid and natural, then you need to get a mini ring light that has a high color rendering index (CRI) value. A good ballpark to be in is between 90 and 95 CRI. Some ring lights may not list their CRI value, which could indicate that they use a low quality bulb.
• One of the best features of a mini ring light is the flexible head. Ensure that the head can rotate properly so you can easily position the light in the right way to light your subject. Usually, the ring light should be slightly higher than your subject and tilted down. If you plan on lighting multiple subjects at different times, you will need the ability to quickly adjust the position of the ring light.
• Some mini ring lights can be powered by batteries, it gives you more flexibility to move it around – and one less cable for you to trip over. Some mini ring lights will need to be plugged in.
• If you want to create a really soft cast with the light, you will need to use a diffuser and place it over the front of the ring. This will help create a more romantic look.