Product Photography strongly relies on lighting. Proper lighting ensures you get a perfect glow in your photo. Additionally, maintaining light often becomes difficult due to a lack of sunlight or room light in the surrounding area.
So, a ring light comes in handy in this situation. The ring light is a valuable addition to photography tools, and it’s not only used as a light source but also a great source for eliminating invariable and unwanted glare during your photoshoot.
So, here we are going on an expedition to the best ring light for product photography and their thorough explanation.
What you’ll learn in this article
- 1 What Is Ring Light in Photography?
- 2 Is a Ring Light Good for Product Photography?
- 3 10 Best Ring Light for Product Photography
- 4 Things To Consider While Buying A Ring Light For Product Photography?
- 5 How to Use a Ring Light for Product Photography? Tips Tricks
- 6 FAQ – Ring Light for Product Photography
- 7 Closing Down
What Is Ring Light in Photography?
The name speaks for itself. Initially, ring lights were used as a beauty option but eventually, their usage increased.
The ring light is a simple stand with a circular-shaped photographic flash that usually contains LED or fluorescent lights. The light flashes and delivers even light on top of the subject.
The advantage of this photography lighting is that they can hold the camera lens into the circular light, so you can get more bright light during photography. This eliminates the chance of getting harsh shadows or glare into the camera lens.
Is a Ring Light Good for Product Photography?
The answer is, yes. The ring light is great for product photography to have even light on the subject. The first purpose of using a ring light for product photography is to improve the soft lighting quality. The soft light a ring light distributes is very much pleasing to the eye.
Have a look at other benefits of using a ring light.
Flexible and Easy to Operate:
Ring lights are so flexible that you can simply set the light to your preferred distance to have the proper lighting on the subject and you can immediately get the consistent and stunning lighting.
Eliminates Shadows and Glare:
Most photographers prefer to use a ring light because the light helps to eliminate glare and shadows. It’s hard to eliminate glare and shadows through post-production works. Using software to remove glare and shadows is time-consuming. So, getting a ring light is a viable idea.
Sharp and Bright Images:
No matter which background you choose for your product photography, the ring light will reveal every part of your product. Your product image will stand out from every aspect and make the product view brighter.
10 Best Ring Light for Product Photography
You must be looking for a ring light by now.
We know about the sheer power of ring lights and it produces amazing and stunning bright light to perfect your photos. But there are different types of the best ring light for photoshoots.
So, here are some of our recommendations for the best ring light for professional photography.
1. IVISII 19-inch Ring Light (Best Overall)
This powerful LED ring light brings convenience for shooting or photography. You can use this portable ring light for photography on both outdoor and indoor usage. If you need to use it for outdoor shooting, you can power the ring light by charging the batteries. Moreover, you can adjust the color temperature from cold light to warm conveniently.
The lighting also features an LED SMD design, and 480pcs LED beads that deliver more light for your shooting or photography, so use it on Facebook Live, beauty makeup, selfies, or videos. As this ring light is portable, you can use the included bag to carry the total package.
Bluetooth connectivity lets you shoot a selfie with ease; also, use the wireless remote to access the color temperature settings. Also, charge your phone with a USB QC3.0 port.
Key Specification-
- Connectivity: Wireless Remote, Bluetooth, USB
- Manufacturer: IVISII
- Brightness Level: Strong
- Power Supply: Dual Mode (DC adapter & Li-ion Battery)
- Color Rendering: CRI ≥97 and TLCI ≥ 99
- Accessories: Light Stand, Carrying Bag, Wireless Remoter, Bluetooth Remoter, Plastic Diffusion filters, Phone Holder, Camera mounting bracket, US Plug & Europe Plug, Universal Adapter, Cold shoe
| Pros | Cons |
| Portable Ring Light | No Assembly Instruction |
| Adjustable brightness | |
| Smart LCD display | |
| High Color Rendering | |
| Dual Power Supply |
2. PIXEL 19-inch (48 cm) Ring Light( Best Budget)
This ring light is equipped with dimmable light functionality and you can adjust the color temperature from cool to warm at ease. Also, change the effect and settings with the included remote and view the settings on the large LCD display.
The ring light features a phone holder that is compatible with your smartphone and DSLR cameras. The high color rendering also provides natural and true color rendering support.
Key Specification –
- Connectivity: Wireless Remote, Bluetooth, USB
- Manufacturer: PIXEL
- Color Temperature: 3000K to 5800K
- Brightness Level: Strong
- Color Rendering: CRI ≥97 and TLCI ≥ 99
- Accessories: Ring light head, UL listed ac power adaptor, Aluminum alloy light stand, Removable soft white filter, Smartphone bracket, DSLR camera mount
| Pros | Cons |
| Adjustable brightness | Need improvement of the connector |
| Wireless Connectivity | |
| Ultra-High CRI | |
| Dual Power Supply |
3. Lume Cube Cordless Ring Light (Best for On-the-Go Photography)
This 12-inch Bi-color ring light delivers the easy-to-use experience set up on the go. The ring light features adjustable color temperature settings and in-built diffusion that brings convenience to set the color.
Power the ring light with AC powered adapter or use lithium-ion batteries to use it either at home or going out. The power backup of the batteries will be up to 70 minutes.
Furthermore, the included travel case is designed to carry the 6.5-inch stand and ensure you can carry the ring light during travel. The flicker-free operation takes you to the vlogging perfection while you can take the portraits, headshots, or beauty shots with ease.
Key Specification –
- Connectivity: Wireless, USB
- Manufacturer: LUME CUBE
- Color Temperature: 3200K to 5600K
- Brightness Level: Strong
- Color Rendering: CRI ≥97
- Accessories: 12-Inch Ring Light, Ring light AC Adapter & Power Cord, NP-750 Battery, NP-750 Battery Charger, Ring Light Gooseneck Arm, Ring Light Swivel Mount &Mobile Device Mount, 6.5′ Ring Light Stand, Ring Light Travel Case
| pros | cons |
| Adjustable temperature | May need frequent charging |
| Flicker-free operation | |
| Lightweight design | |
| Dual Power Supply |
4. Weeylite 18-inch (46 cm) RGB Ring Light (Best RGB Ring Light)
The specialty of this ring light is it is larger than the average size ring light. This 18-inch ring light with 36000 colors and 96 RGB light modes is the perfect choice for your selfie, Youtubing, or using it on social media appearance.
The digital backlit allows you to adjust the brightness or color temperatures. Also, within 20 meters of the ring light, you can use the remote control to adjust the brightness and RGB light. Furthermore, the universal phone holder and the lock feature help to hold the lighting equipment.
Key Specification –
- Connectivity: Wireless
- Manufacturer: WEEYLITE
- Color Temperature: 2500K to 8500K
- Brightness Level: Strong
- Material: Aluminum Alloy
- Color Rendering: CRI ≥95+
- Accessories: 18-Inch Ring Light, 67 inches/ 5.6 feet Light Stand, Remote Controller, Phone Holder, Cold Shoe Adapter, Power Adapter, Carry Bag
| Pros | Cons |
| Easily Adjustable Stand | Instructions are in Chinese |
| Ease app & Remote Control | |
| 17 Scenes Mode | |
| Lightweight design | |
| Dual Power Supply |
5. Westcott 18-inch (46 cm) LED Ring Light( Best for Customer Guarantee)
Here’s another long 18-inch ring light stand you can rely on. This ring light features a lightweight design and mounts for your device that can weigh up to 10 lbs. Also, use the ring light either outside or at home with the powerful AC adaptor and NP-F750 batteries.
The flicker-free operation enables you to use the ring light for jewelry photography, shooting, or using it on social media appearances. Whether you need a ring light for vlogging, headshots, or portraits, have a quality shot by adjusting the brightness.
Key Specification –
- Connectivity: Wireless
- Manufacturer: WESTCOTT
- Color Temperature: 3200K to 5600K
- Brightness Level: Strong
- Color Rendering: CRI ≥97
- Accessories: 18-Inch Ring Light, Light Stand, Phone Holder, Adapter, Power Adapter, Carry Bag
| Pros | Cons |
| Easily Adjustable Stand | No Bluetooth Connectivity |
| Flicker-free operation | |
| Adjustable temperature | |
| Lightweight design | |
| Dual Power Supply |
6. Glendan Portable Photo Studio Light Box,12″x12″ ( Jewelry)
Finding the perfect professional lightbox?
Here’s the portable professional photo lightbox to kickstart your photography business. If you want to take a shot of jewelry, toys, or gadgets, here is the professional photo studio lightbox to take your business to another level.
This photo studio lightbox features high-quality light beads that can produce bright colors and adequate light. Use the brightness dimmer to adjust the light if you need it.
With the brightness adjusting feature from 1% to 100% and high CRI, the provided shooting tent can produce high-quality shots with ease.
The shooting tent is made of silver film reflective fabric; the light diffuser supports reducing the bright light, and the light reflection helps to increase the reflection perform contours.
Moreover, open the top and front of the lightbox that is on horizontal or vertical view and take shots from different angles. Also, the multi-color background scene allows you to set the product in various colors.
Key Specification –
- Connectivity: USB
- Manufacturer: Glendan
- Color Temperature: 3200K to 5500K
- Dimming Range: 1% to 100%
- Dimming Gear Position: 10 Gear Adjustment
- Power: 1 to 10 W
- Cable Length: 2m
- Voltage: 5V
- Brightness Level: Strong
- Color Rendering: CRI ≥95
- Accessories: Portable Photo Studio Box, 112 LEDs Ring light, Color Backdrops, Diffuser Cloth, Reflection Board, USB Power Cable, Carry Bag/User Manual
| Pros | Cons |
| High Color Rendering Index | Only USB Connectivity |
| Portable and Foldable | |
| Multi-color Backdrops | |
| Reflection Boards | |
| Light Diffuser |
7. HAVOX Photo Studio – 24x24x24 inches
Here’s another addition to the photo lightbox that features 198 dimmable LED big lamps. These lamps provide brighter lighting with a color rendering index of 95 that making an excellent lighting environment. Take the shot within a professional reflective fabric tent box that reflects light evenly.
Place the product in the shooting tent and take the shot from different angles, such as from the top or front. Also, if you need to change the backgrounds, you can place the product with a colorful background to have a great effect during the photoshoot.
Key Specification –
- Connectivity: Wired Connection
- Manufacturer: HAVOX
- LED Lamp Number: 198
- Color Temperature: 3200K to 5500K
- Dimming Range: 10% to 100%
- Dimming Gear Position: 10 Gear Adjustment
- Output Power: 85 to 265 V
- Lumens: 12000LM
- Material: Iron Frame, Oxford Fabric, Cardboard
- Color Rendering: CRI ≥95
- Accessories: Studio tent, LED light panel, background (white / black / orange / gray / blue), power supply, brightness dimmer, diffuser cloth, manual
| Pros | Cons |
| Rotatable LED delivers 360-degree Lighting | No white background provided |
| High Color Rendering Index | |
| Portable and Foldable | |
| Multi-color Backdrops | |
| Reflection Boards | |
| Light Diffuser |
8. Diva Ring Light Super Nova – 18”
The 18-inch large ring light for photography is the perfect studio addition to your photography solution. The fluorescent light produces the light without any shadow or flaws. The ring light is equipped with lighting that eliminates skin imperfections and it helps you to get a fresh and new look.
The lighting also comes with a dimming feature that helps you to control the light source and the soft dome of light creates a soft and colorful surrounding to complement the subject. See the sparkling eyes of the subject with this ideal ring light.
Key Specification –
- Connectivity: Wired Connection
- Manufacturer: Diva Ring Light
- LED Lamp Number: 198
- Color Temperature: 3200K to 5400K
- Material: Aluminum
- Dimming Range: 20% to 100%
- Output Power: 110V to 240V
- Color Rendering: CRI ≥95
- Accessories: 18″ Dimming Diva Ring Light Housing, 5400K Daylight Bulb, Diffusion Cloth, AC Power Cord, Flexible Gooseneck for a Light Stand, Diva Ring Light Stand, Tripod Z Bracket for a Video Tripod
| Pros | Cons |
| High Color Rendering Index | Bulky Ring light |
| Daylight balanced & Flicker-free | |
| Quality Construction | |
| Suitable Mount Choices | |
| Light Diffuser |
9. GVM – LED Ring Light with Detachable LED Light Bars
This sturdy construction of LED ring light is made for your video or photography shooting. Get quality photos or videos with 480pcs LED beads that hold 90W high-power lighting output. Shot the video without even getting any flickering and give your subject true colors.
Get light bars to shoot video, or without bars, use it as a ring light with the given 6 pieces of light bars. No matter which styles you want to shoot, the versatile light bar enables you to get brighter shots with every click.
Key Specification –
- Connectivity: Wired Connection
- Manufacturer: GVM
- Output Power: 90W
- Total Illumination: 18000LM
- Color Temperature: 3200K to 5600K
- Material: Aluminum Alloy Stand
- Dimming Range: 10% to 100%
- Color Rendering: CRI ≥97+
- Accessories: LED Ring Light, Led Light Bars, AC Adapter, Light Tripod, Camera Stand, Power Cables, Portable Handbag
| Pros | Cons |
| High Color Rendering Index | Not capable of adjusting brightness/color temperature |
| Flexible Dimmable Knob Design | |
| Sturdy Light Stand | |
| Versatile Light Bars | |
| Flexible Fill Light |
10. Neewer LED Ring Light – 16”
This 16-inch LED ring light comes with a bright color temperature and brightness control touch button with a clear LCD panel that shows how much brightness you’re getting. Also, the provided Bluetooth and multiple functionalities remote controls have the advantage for distant photography and controlling the ring light.
Be it portrait, live broadcast, or self-portrait photography; this ring light is exceptional at taking your photography to the next level. The light stand is made of aluminum alloy, so, it has solid construction and is capable of taking the shot without getting wobbly.
Key Specification –
- Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wired
- Manufacturer: Neewer
- Input Voltage: DC12-15V
- Lumen: 0.5M 2100Lux 1M 850Lux
- Light Color: White
- Color Temperature: 3200K to 5600K
- Material: Aluminum Alloy Stand
- Dimming Range: 1% to 100%
- Dimmable: Yes
- Color Rendering: CRI ≥97+
- Accessories: LED Ring Light; Light Stand; Remote Control; Bluetooth Remote; Hot Shoe Adapter; Smart Phone Holder; Carrying Bag for Ring Light
| Pros | Cons |
| High Color Rendering Index | Too much bright light may reflect on the item |
| Flexible Dimmable Design | |
| Sturdy Light Stand | |
| Smart Phone Holder | |
| Solid light stand Locking Capability |
You Can Also Read: Best Ring Lights for Food Photography-Our Top 8 Picks!
Things To Consider While Buying A Ring Light For Product Photography?
You might consider purchasing a ring light by now.
But before you step onto the purchase, here are some key points you need to consider.
The CRI or Color Rendering Index
The CRI introduces the accurate portion of colors diffusing from the light. If you want to get a quality ring light, you better choose the ring light by considering the CRI that delivers at least 90 or higher than 95, which is ideal for ring light photography.
Always see the CRI on the product description, and if CRI is not listed in the description, the product may contain average quality lighting.
Color Rendering Bulb
When considering the bright and natural colors, LEDs lights are way ahead of others. LEDs deliver high-quality light and CRI values whereas the other group of lights, such as fluorescent tubes diffuses average quality lighting.
The Color Temperature of the Bulb
The color temperature of the bulb refers to the different colors, such as warm to cool, that disperse from the light source. So, you need to find out the best color temperature numbers in order to balance the lighting for product photography.
The standard color temperature numbers are around 5000k to 5500k. These numbers can hold a better color display and light balance.
Cost of the Ring Light
You might want to save some bucks while purchasing the best ring light for photoshoot. While purchasing the ring light, you might think of purchasing some other accessories for future usage. Other accessories, such as batteries, battery charger, tripod, screws, or mounts are the ring light parts you may need to purchase in the future.
If you are on a tight budget, you might want to consider the cost of the ring light, but choose the best one while considering the specification and advantages it provides. You can check our list of ring lights for purchase.
How to Use a Ring Light for Product Photography? Tips Tricks
Using ring light for product photography is rather simple. Just assemble the ring light accessories and you’re good to go.
But for a more accurate presentation follow the tips below.
- Hold the camera in the middle of the ring light and make sure the lens includes proper light
- Make sure the camera stand in the center of the ring light can be adjusted as your needs
- Use the instruction manual to attach the camera parts of the equipment
- Stay out of the reflective surfaces and choose the precise background
- Make sure the dispersed light properly covers the shadow
- For using a ring light on the go, use the portable one
FAQ – Ring Light for Product Photography
What size ring light do I need to get?
According to your photography project, choose a variety of sizes and large circle ring light that diffuses bright light. The size chart of the ring light is 22, 18, 14, 12, 10, 8, and 6 inches. Choose the one according to your needs.
Can ring lights damage your eyes?
Some bulbs, such as CFL produces blue light that can strain your eyes; otherwise, using a ring light has no damage indication for your eyes. But LED’s flickering can cause headaches or eye strain. So, stay out of flickering or CFL ring light that produces blue light.
How long will a ring light last?
That depends on how long the LED bulb last. As most ring light uses LED bulbs, you can use the ring light for more than 50,000 hours. It depends on the longevity of an LED bulb as well.
What is the best portable ring light for product photography?
The best portable ring light for product photography includes high CRI and accurate color temperature. The main characteristic of the best portable ring light is LED bulbs. LED bulbs are long-lasting while carrying for outdoor shooting.
Which ring light is better LED or fluorescent?
LEDs are more than efficient when using a ring light. LED lights are 50 percent more efficient than fluorescent and they last longer than fluorescent. LEDs last longer and do not get dimmer over time.
Closing Down
The ring light is a very efficient tool to use for your product photography. The most praiseworthy thing about ring light for photography is the ability to provide pleasing output for any product photography shot.
Choose the best one according to your choice or choose from our recommendation. But keep in mind that choosing the best one requires high CRI, good color temperature, and how the ring light can cover the shadow.
