LED continuous lighting: when to choose it over flash
Continuous LED lights let you see the light as you shoot and work for both photo and video. Learn their strengths and limits.
Photo by KOBU Agency on Unsplash
Continuous lights stay on, so what you see is what you get. Modern LED panels like the Godox ES45 are bright, cool-running, adjustable in color and usable for both photography and video.
Advantages
- See exactly how the light falls before you shoot
- Work for video, reels and live streams as well as stills
- Adjustable color temperature to match daylight or room lights
- Easier for beginners and for directing nervous subjects
Limitations
- Much less powerful than flash, so they struggle against sunlight
- Need higher ISO or wider apertures for stills
- Cannot freeze fast motion like a flash burst can
Choosing a light
Look for high color accuracy (CRI 95 or higher), bi-color adjustment from about 2800K to 6500K and quiet or passive cooling for video. App control is helpful when the light is mounted high.
Best uses
Interviews, talking-head videos, product videos, food content, small product photography and streaming. For portraits in bright environments or action, flash is still the better tool.
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