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Most podcast and YouTube videos will look a lot better with better lighting. Here's a cheap lighting kit that works great with any DSLR or camcorder setup, puts out really bright light, and costs under $200!
No products found.
The No products found. is really the same as the No products found.. Notice the model number similarities? But the Fancierstudio label is $10 under ePhoto's identical kit.
This cheap lighting kit has three lights and puts out 3,800 watts of light for only $169.99 ($10 more for the ePhoto one). You get a carrying case, two large softboxes, and one smaller softbox for an overhead hair light.
Low build quality (expected)
The build quality is quite low on this cheap kit, with a lot of plastic and thin aluminum. The carry case doesn't make much sense because these lights would take a very long time to disassemble and re-assemble. So don't plan to travel with these lights; they work best staying in your studio.
Versatile lighting gear
Each softbox holds five CFL bulbs. The kit includes 60-watt, 5500 K (daylight) bulbs for each softbox. Because CFL can't be dimmed, the five bulbs have independent switches, letting you control how much light is cast based on the number of bulbs.
The 3,800-watt kit includes a third softbox, designed for as an overhead hair light. It holds four 45-watt bulbs. This light has two light switches, each controlling two of the four bulbs. To make the hair light more stable, the kit comes with a heavy-duty stand, boom arm, hook, and counterweight bag (fill it with your own weights).
No products found.
Alternatively, you can get the No products found. for three of the same softboxes and 4,500-watt output for $199.99.
I chose this cheap lighting kit for myself because of its versatility, light output, and affordability. I can use the hair light either overhead, or mount it horizontally to use as a third softbox.
More light for a lower cost
The closest alternative is the No products found., which is built a little nicer, but cost almost 50% more and outputs only 60% as much light as the No products found..
If you want bright, versatile lighting at an affordable price to enhance your YouTube or podcast videos, consider either the No products found., or the No products found..
No products found.A little caution with this cheap lighting kit
My first order was missing a part and had a wrong light stand. So make sure you have everything you were supposed to get. If you have problems, Amazon's customer service will be far more helpful than Fancierstudio's.
But for a bright, cheap lighting kit, I think this Fancierstudio option will work great, whether you're video-podcasting or making video on YouTube.
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Disclosure
This post may contain links to products or services with which I have an affiliate relationship and may receive compensation from your actions through such links. However, I don't let that corrupt my perspective and I don't recommend only affiliates.
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thankyou! now i can format my podcast ep summaries now that I’ve disabled smartcase
Great Article! I made my own video lights for less than 5 usd each and they work quite well. Here’s how I did it. https://youtu.be/YM8HcloKguA