8 Best Small Budget Filmmaking Lights

Video cameras are getting smaller, lighter and better quality every year. Now, Oscar-winning directors are using smartphones to shoot feature films for Netflix. But what’s the point of having a tiny camera if all the other equipment is still the same size?

If you are shooting your movie with a small video camera, you’ll want some small accessories to go with it. Luckily, it’s not only cameras that are getting smaller and lighter. Filmmaking lights are too.

As a working smartphone filmmaker myself, I would always recommend using available light when at all possible. Add some reflectors to create fills and backlighting. But if you can also add a small, lightweight lamp or 2, you will be covered in situations where available light just isn’t enough.

Also, aside from location filmmaking, YouTubers and Vloggers can improve the quality of their videos by adding a couple of small, inexpensive lamps to their studio. Most likely, the explosion of Vloggers on the scene has led to an equal explosion of these little lights and they’re improving all the time.

1. Aputure AL-M9

In recent years, Aputure have become well known for their range of small lights. The AL-M9 is one of the most popular. It is compact, lightweight and is powered by 9 SMD bulbs. The light certainly packs some power in it’s mini size and at such an affordable price.

The light is very thin and weighs only 140 grams (less than your average smartphone). It has an inbuilt lithium battery, charged via USB. The battery should last about 1.5 hours before starting to dim. However, a full charge can take over 3 hours. So that is one possible downside of this light.

The light should come with a simple detachable diffuser, plus an orange and a blue gel. The light can be adjusted to 9 levels of brightness.

Aputure AL-MX

Aputure say the AL-MX is an upgrade of the AL-M9. Compared to the plastic M9 predecessor, the metal MX is substantially heavier. This is mostly due to a thick and heavy red heat sink on the back.

The light’s 128 SMD LED bulbs output 3200 lux at 0.3 meters. But an extra “boost” option powers 30% over maximum brightness for 60 seconds. There’s 5 steps of adjustable color temperatures, ranging from 2800-6500K.

A 1/4 inch screw and universal cold shoe mount mean you can easily mount the AL-MX on cameras or light stands. The light weighs 278 grams, which is almost twice the weight of the AL-M9.

With USB Type-C charging port, the battery lasts between 1 to 4 hours, depending on usage. Again, the item comes with a magnetically attached hard frosted plastic diffusion panel.

Check the Price of Aputure AL-MX on Amazon

Also from Aputure, you might like to take a look at the AL-F7. The light is similar in construction, less cost and can give you up to 14000 lux at a range of 0.3 meters. With a weight of 260 grams, it’s actually lighter than the AL-MX. However, the light is not as compact and needs to be powered: you can use D-Tap, USB Type-C or a Sony NP-F series battery.

3. SOKANI X21

The Sokani X21 is small and is the lightest light so far, at 100 grams. Powered by 21 LEDs the light also comes with a softlight and a tungsten coloured diffuser. While the light is in the same price range as the Aputure AL-M9, the build is all metal instead of plastic.

So you get a 5600K colour temperature, or 3200K when using the 3200K diffuser. At the 0.3 meter range the light will produce up to 2400 LUX (so that’s about 2/3rds the power of the Aputure AL-MX). The brightness can be adjusted by 1% increments, while the previous Aputure lights have less fine adjustments.

The build is really nice and that 100 gram weight really makes this one of the most portable lights around. The batter will last from 45 minutes upwards, depending on usage (ie: how bright you have it). The total package also includes:

Universal cold shoe mount

USB charging cable

Carrying case

12 Colour Gels

4. Boling P1

While Aputure have been one of the most popular makes of small LED photography lights, there hasn’t been too much competition. Until now. The Boling P1 has got a lot of Vloggers and photographers excited due to its build quality and features.

The colour temperature of the light ranges from 2500-8500k. The 2930mAh lithium battery takes 90 minutes to fully charge, but lasts 140 minutes even at 100% brightness. Like the Sokani X21, brightness can be adjusted from 1-100%.

The light is 15mm thick and weighs 260 grams, which makes it slightly lighter than the Aputure AL-MX. The body is all metal and the light comes with a useful clamp to adjust mounting position. In terms of brightness, the light will produce 3300 lux at a distance of 0.3 meters. This makes it a touch brighter than the Aputure AL-MX.

Added to these basic features, the light comes with some unusual effects. For example, if you are shooting a scene with ambulance lights, the Boling P1 can mimic them. Say you were shooting a scene and you wanted to give the impression of nearby ambulances without having to hire them. Another setting mimics lightning.

There’s 9 different effects in all. So that makes this a pretty special little light for low budget filmmakers.

5. Aputure AL-MW

Need to light something under water? This could be the model for you. So, back to Aputure again and this time the light can be used up to 10 meters below.

In normal mode, the light produces 4000 lux at 0.3 meters. The booster mode (60 seconds) takes it up to 6000 lux. The light itself weighs 285 grams, making it the heaviest of the lights we have looked at so far.

So, being IP68 Dust and Waterproof Certified up to 10 meters, the light is capable of going to places other lights can’t. Like the Boling P1, the light comes with some effects. There’s 5 in all: Paparazzi, Lightning, TV, Fireworks and Faulty bulb.

Battery life comes to about 1.5 hours at maximum brightness, but you can get more life out of it at lower brightness levels. The light comes with a silicone rubber diffuser and 6 coloured gels.

Considering it costs more than the previous listed models, you might only consider this light water or dust is going to be an issue. However, it can also serve as a regular, small and portable light. Squeeze it into the dash for car interior scenes, for example.

6. Neewer 12 SMD

Going smaller and cheaper, we find this Neewer light. Neewer are a company that make a lot of affordable filmmaking kit, that is not necessarily the most well built. However, working on a budget we can’t have everything.

On the plus side, the light only weighs 67 grams. This means you can pop a couple in your bag and still hardly notice. They also provide versatility as they can be easy stuck to walls or other objects at a location. The 1/4 inch screw allows mounting on a camera, tripod, light stand or other supports.

These little lights are good for close up product photography too. The battery runs for 1.5 hours at a maximum illuminance. These lights are obviously less powerful than the previous models in this list, but they can be used in different ways and squeeze into tighter spaces.

Also look at the Neewer’s 176 LED Panel light. This light is very cheap, no frills and will do a good job for you in your budget lighting set up. The light weighs 249 grams, so not too heavy. However, it does require a rechargeable battery (not included).

This light isn’t as compact as some of the others I have listed, but it is certainly the most affordable.

7. GVM RGB LED Camera Light

This small, affordable light from GVM connects to an app on your smartphone (iOS and Android) for remote control. The colour temperature is adjustable from 3200K to 5600K. The light is powered by 128 individual LED lights.

The colour as well as brightness can be fine tuned (as opposed to moving in steps).The light comes with a removable, rechargeable battery (NP-F550). The 1/4 screw mount fits all standard DSLRs, mirrorless cameras, stands and tripods.

8. VIJIM VL-1

The VIJIM VL-1 is similar to some of the previous models – credit card size, mini display on the back. 1-100% brightness control, colour temp control 3500-5700K, metal body and decent decent power for the size. The battery lasts 1 – 17 hours depending on usage, with a remaining power indicator in the mini display.

The light is magnetic, so you can mount it to a tripod or stand quickly. What I love to work with are devices which do their job reliably and simply, without too many gimmicks or frills. And this light is definitely one of those. The light weighs only 147 grams, and doesn’t sit too heavy on your budget either…

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