A Hands-On Review of the Neewer 5600K USB LED Video Light

If you’re looking to get yourself a video lighting set-up for a reasonable price, Neewer’s 5600K USB LED Video Light might be on your shortlist. In this article, we give you our take on this lighting kit in a hands-on review of the Neewer 5600K USB LED Video Light.

A Note About Testing

This lighting kit was tested with product photography in mind. The set up used and functionality seemed to work very well together. That being said, this lighting kit can also be used for other lighting purposes including various video applications. We feel confident that even in these situations, the lighting kit will perform well, and results from our review are still very much applicable.

What’s In The Package?

The bundle comes complete with:

• 2 USB LED Panel Lights
• 2 Mini Tripod Stand for LED Lights
• 2 Extension Rods (selfie sticks)
• 2 White Color Filters/Diffusers
• 2 Red Color Filters
• 2 Yellow Color Filters
• 2 Blue Color Filters

And has the following specifications:

• Output Power: 10W
• Luminous Flux: 1000LM
• Led Quantity: 66PCS
• Color Temperature: 5600K
• Dimmer: 10%-100%
• DC power input: USB 5V/2A

The unboxing of the product led to the immediate assertion of the following benefits:

• Affordable price point
• Articulated tripod
• Simple, lightweight, compact set-up
• Access to electrical outlets

Not required bonus perks include:

• Two-color filters can be used at once
• Head of tripod doubles as a ‘selfie-stick’
• Light dimmer incorporated

Cost

The system is cost-effective. It offers budget lighting with fantastic results. In terms of product grading, the Neewer 5600K dimmable lights kit presents as an intersection between low-cost ring lighting and expensive softbox lighting. The plastic component of the lights undoubtedly reduces the overall quality of the set-up. However, expectations around productivity and efficiency are relative to the price point. The cost does bestow a warning in itself. The product retails on Amazon for approximately $50 before shipping, $55 direct from the manufacturer with free shipping.

Durability

Although the delicate makeup of the synthetic materials used in the production of these lights may be a negative feature for some, we can attest to the durability of the product from our first-hand experience.

Midway through a shoot, the light fell from the surface of the table it was located on top of, on account of the table legs giving way unexpectedly. The light survived unscathed and remained in perfect working condition despite the 3’ fall and a close encounter with water.

We’re not recommending you put this through some vigorous rough and tumble, but you shouldn’t have to worry too much about your kit being damaged.

Size and Functionality

The lights themselves are small, approximately 3.5 inches by 5.5 inches. But they do offer a high degree of flexibility that caters to multiple shooting angles. These shooting angles range between 180 degrees when the light is fixed on the tripod or for ultimate flexibility you get 360 degrees of rotation when using the lights manually. You also get adjustable heights when using the tripod with the lights extending high, low, and at eye-level.

These LED lights are compact and effective. They are easily transported in an average-sized backpack or tote; however, they do not come with a carrying case which was a disappointing discovery. I found it difficult to disassemble the various parts when I was finished with them for the day without any kind of packaging structure and was worried about the safety of the exteriors when carrying them around. Although it was a challenge to protect the lights in my bag, they are inarguably portable.

Portability

In addition to the lightweight and compact nature of the lighting suite, which makes it a top candidate for on-the-go lighting, the product is also powered by a USB cord.

While a USB powered device could be viewed as a con for some users, it allows for the effortless transportation and use of the system, as you do not necessarily require access to electric ports or adapters to use the light.

You can connect the USB cable to any USB charging unit be it a portable charger, laptop, or other charging option equipped with a USB port. This makes it very accessible when traveling, working outdoors, and/or moving throughout multiple locations. You are not limited to studio space or a setting equipped with standard power outlets.

Tripod Design

The tripods assemble in two pieces and offer a lot of flexibility in how you can use them. The lowest height the tripod will fall to is 8 inches and the highest is 45 inches (approximately 3’10). This is a generous range that allows you to place the light in the direct vicinity of your subject whilst also allowing you to successfully light the external borders and backgrounds of the shot.

The tripod can be connected directly to the light and it can also be connected to the extension stick. The adapter at the top of the tripod is adjustable (180 degrees) and allows you to direct the light any way you want while remaining locked in its placed position.

The legs of the tripod can be removed to leave behind a foam handle and wrist strap that can be used as a ‘selfie stick’ and/or handheld dock for filming. Great for expediting YouTube/video footage and/or social media content.

USB Cable

The length of the power cord is much longer than the height of the light when fully extended on the tripod which speaks again to the accessibility of the product and the range at which the light can be positioned. The cable is approximately 76 inches long. The dimmable brightness control is located in the middle of the cable, it displays an on/off button along with arrowed tiles to increase and decrease the brightness level of the lights.

Brightness

The inclusion of a light dimmer is a major perk offered by this affordable set-up. The brightness can range between 10% and 100% exposure, providing a perfect blend of light for shooting and/or filming. The brightness can be manually adjusted by the user using the buttons on the panel attached to the USB cable.

The lights are most effective indoors. They can be used outdoors but operate more successfully during hours of low light or darkness. Even with the incorporation of reflectors, I determined the strength of the lights too weak to compete with the natural light being projected from the sun.

At 5600K, these lights produce ‘cool’ lighting as opposed to ‘warm,’ incandescent grades of brightness. The results I achieved using these lights in a studio setting to obtain product photos were terrific.

I very much appreciated the color filters that are included with the Neewer 5600K bundle and liked working with them in this context to create interesting perspectives by manipulating the lighting hues.

Color Filters

The set-up comes complete with 4 color filters (2 red, 2 blue, 2 yellow, and 2 white), each offering up a unique effect. The filters are slotted into the light shell, they do not have to be screwed in which allows for an easy transition between colors. It is important to note that the color filters must be used in tandem with the white diffuser to offer the best lighting.

Take a look at some examples of these gel filters in action below.

A noteworthy thing to remember to do when using a color filter is to adjust your exposure and/or ISO. Color filters absorb the light that is being projected from the encased bulbs therefore your camera exposure will need to be tweaked to effectively align with the color filter being used. This, of course, is dependant on your personal preferences and the graphic effect you are looking to create.

Summary and Conclusion

The Neewer 5600K is a great lighting option. While the set-up does not come with a carrying case or a USB power supply, we had an overall excellent experience with these lights. They are agile, inexpensive, and neatly bonded. Save the power source, the lights are entirely self-contained.

The lights are ideal for semi-professional lens-based enhancement, even professional if used aptly. They facilitate photography/videography on the go and enable convenience from shoot to shoot or video call to video call. If you are thinking about upgrading your light source to shift from opaque, unpolished finishes to fresh, refined results, the Neewer 5600K is a bright purchase for you!

Get the Neewer 5600K Lighting Kit Today!