Review on Elgato Key Light: Professional Studio LED Panel, 2800 Lumens, Color Adjustable, App-Enabled, Mac/Windows/iPhone/Android Compatible, Metal Desk Mount by Victor Halla

Okay. I know I'll be late to the party, this thing hasn't been around for years. But I finally got one and paired it with a streaming deck and I can tell you - it's worth every penny. First a little about me to give you some context: By trade I am a professional VFX supervisor on major streaming shows. . I take a lot of photos and also do YouTube and Twitch streaming as a fun hobby. But I spend my life lighting with visual effects both on set and practically. This is my passion. So it depends on what you need. You absolutely CANNOT get this light and make a great looking setup with Ikea china balls or anything else. So it's definitely some kind of luxury edition. But. It's such a nice luxury and can use some tricks to make your stream sexier. Pros: - First off, I like anything Wi-Fi related. I know it could be a scam if the wifi goes down. But controlling the light from an app on your phone, deck, or computer is great. If you play alone, imagine the time savings. I mean you can certainly put it on your computer desk, but you can also screw it to any lighting stand and use it for a short film etc. Get 3 of these and you can set up a classic three light setup in your camera - huge. size. I like that the thing is flat. It's not THAT light, but light enough that I can easily travel with 2-3 of these in a suitcase. Color, Shade and Brightness. As seen in other reviews, it does a great job of transitioning from something pretty close to actual Kelvin color levels. And it's bright enough for its size. It's NOT as bright as my lens flare, but it's not a $700 lens either. and it runs cool and doesn't need a huge softbox to be useful. Speaking of softness. I was going to make the "OK" category, but I think I'll keep it in the "Pro" category. It's handily soft for what it is. I don't think this magic diffuser softens the light like a real softbox. You really need some distance from the light source for it to catch and reflect the light rays. I compared it to a Soonwell LED bulb I have with a softbox spaced about 6 inches apart and Soonwell is really softer. But back to size, space and comfort - it's about as soft as I've seen for its low profile. If I was in a tight spot I could easily slide it off the wall or a white card to get really soft. I also think I can 3D print some simple components to make my own simple softbox if I need to. That's good enough for streaming. CONS -- Wi-Fi -- I know that's a plus for me too because it's so convenient. However, you will need a WiFi router for these purposes. For the V2 of this device, it would be nice to have some manual knobs on the back as a backup option. - Streamdeck - I would almost say that it is necessary for them to have a streaming deck or stream deck phone app. It's such a surprisingly convenient way to control the lighting. Like a mini light board in your hand. The Streamdeck can also control my desktop and Philips Hue Stripe room lighting, allowing me to create cool gaming presets at the touch of a button. Cost - They cost more than many of the fakes you can get online. It costs me money. And if you're starting to dwell on "professional" lighting costs like aperture and the like, this is a steal. But if you're on a budget, you can forgo the convenience of Wi-Fi and get a pair of two identical lights for less than $200 with softboxes. I have something similar for my wife and she loves it. - ball head. Ball head on a cheap plastic stand. Maybe one day I'll replace them with Manfrotto ball heads if they break, but they're definitely not designed for constant movement or adjustment. Conclusion For me, they make my streaming life so much better. It saves a lot of space in my office and I can make really good lighting fast and cool. I'm excited about all the possibilities. As a filmmaker, I'm also starting to see where the future of lighting is going, especially for indie work. At my big shows we often use titanium tubes, which do the same thing as this light, but cost astronomical money. Now, with a portable router and a cheap streaming deck, I could make my own portable three-light system for constant light video or even photography. I could put everything in a camera bag and maybe another bag for extensions, modifiers and whatnot. If I was shooting interviews and weddings I could do some really cool tricks with it. In any case. I love her and that's what I have! giggle