Whether you use a webcam for Zoom meetings or make videos for TikTok, the key to creating a good image is to ensure you have adequate lighting. Nothing spoils a video more than poor lighting where people can’t see you properly and low light levels produce grainy images.
To crack the lighting problem, you should invest in affordable lighting that can be used for video meetings or when filming on the go with your smartphone or digital camera. The Zhiyun FiveRay M20 series of pocket-sized lights has professional features but is very easy to use. The lights are ideal for videographers who need a compact and portable lighting system that can be used on location or in the home office.
There are two variants in the range: the FiveRay M20 and FiveRay M20C. Both products have a power output of 20W and a 4,500mAh rechargeable battery. With a full charge, the battery can run continuously for around 40 minutes. Recharging takes around two hours so if you’re working on location, it would be a good idea to have two or three lights in your bag.
These lights are about the size of a couple of chunky cell phones lashed together. They produce a very bright light that can be finely controlled. For example, the FiveRay M20 model has a color temperature (CCT) range of 2,700K to 6,500K making it ideal for indoor use with tungsten lighting or outdoors in daylight. The lights have a Color Rendering Index (CRI) of 95+, which means they produce a natural and accurate white light. The premium FiveRay M20C model includes additional RGB LEDs that open an even wider range of color temperatures from 2,500K to 10,000K, with more color control and a CRI of 94+.
The FiveRay M20C model can also be controlled wirelessly over Bluetooth by using the Zhiyun smartphone app. The app also has additional lighting effects and Bluetooth mesh capability so you can synchronize several lights to cover a wider area. Multiple lighting units can be stacked together for increased brilliance.
Both the Zhiyun FiveRay M20 and M20C are available in two versions: the Standard and the Combo packages. The Standard package has all the essentials while the Combo package includes a white diffuser, four-leaf barn door, honeycomb grid and storage bag. The dual-side extension bracket and cold shoe enable the attachment of accessories.
The FiveRay M20 is easy to use once you familiarize yourself with how the two clickable control wheels. Using the wheels, you can toggle through the lighting modes: White, Color, Special Effects. Color Temperature and Brilliance. All those controls can be altered remotely using the Zhiyun app if you opt to buy the FiveRay M20C model.
Although the lights are primarily designed for video creatives, they are also ideal for anyone who has a home video studio for livestreaming or when using a webcam with apps like Zoom, Teams and Skype.
The lights offer some interesting special effects such as lightning, police car or strobe. These can all add extra atmosphere to a video shoot. The RGB mode enables a wide range of colors to be dialed up and that’s bound to be popular for lighting the background of a gaming rig for livestreaming.
Verdict: Currently, ring lights are very popular for lighting faces when appearing on a video meeting. However, a more versatile lighting solution like the FiveRay M20C, offers much more. To begin with, there is Bluetooth control that lets you adjust color and brightness levels without getting up from your desk or when the light is placed somewhere high up to create a special lighting effect. The battery life of the FiveRay M20C is good. If you’re turning the unit on and off during a lengthy shoot, you can expect to get about 30 minutes plus you can use a power bank as your energy source on location. If you’ve never experimented with these kinds of lighting units, give the Zhiyun FiveRay M20C a try because it’s a big step up from a cheap ring light and offers much more versatility. A good light source can massively improve the image quality produced by your webcam. And with extras like the magnetic barn door, diffuser and honeycomb filter, the FiveRay M20C offers a lot for the money.
Pricing & Availability: The FiveRay M20 and M20C are available now. The basic FiveRay M20 costs $89 while the M20C costs $119.
More info: ZHIYUN and Amazon Stores.
