Because it doesn’t rely on included or built-in lights, this box offers a lot more creative freedom than some others on the list. We’re not recommending you put this through some vigorous rough and tumble, but you shouldn’t have to worry too much about your kit being damaged. Outright power is also formidable, as the Astra 6X manages a huge 6330 lux at a distance of 5 feet, and it’s steplessly adjustable down to 0% with no colour shift. Color filters absorb the light that is being projected from the encased bulbs therefore your camera exposure will need to be tweaked to effectively align with the color filter being used. I found it difficult to disassemble the various parts when I was finished with them for the day without any kind of packaging structure and was worried about the safety of the exteriors when carrying them around.

Portable Lighting Kit for Photography (8 Picks in 2023) The Best Portable Lighting Kit for Photography (8 Picks in 2023)

Why it made the cut: With three strip lights and a compact frame, this 16-inch box is great if you just want to get started photographing small objects quickly. Small but powerful and extremely versatile as a constant LED light, the NEO 3 is a quantum leap forward from the NEO 2. Capable of outputting up to 1,500 lumens, this is an impressive little light that's also small enough to keep in a pocket and take everywhere with you. That might not mean much to videographers but will be very interesting to photographers who need a continuous light for video work and stills.Control is done via the control box, which can be mounted on a light stand using a locking collar to make sure it's out of the way.

The best LED light panels in 2023 | Digital Camera World The best LED light panels in 2023 | Digital Camera World

And although the wattage is on the lower side, for the photographer who just wants to get started in the studio, it’s an excellent option. With a huge output of 56,000 lux at 1m, the Aputure LS 300X also has power where it counts, marking it out as one of the best professional lighting solutions around right now. The i4T EX 400W is compact and comes with a backlit LCD screen that is easy to read even in strong light.

Flaps allow photographers to shoot from the front or the top of the item to give several viewpoints without having to rotate it. The big difference between LED panels and flashguns is that LED panels emit light continuously, not just at the moment of capture, meaning you can see what your shot is going to look like before you capture it. The Rotolight NEO 3 builds on the success of the preceding NEO 2 (below), adding a raft of impressive new features.