Elgato Key Light - Professional 2800 lumens Studio Light with Desk clamp for Streaming, Recording and Video Conferencing, Temperature and Brightness app-Adjustable on Mac, PC, iOS, Android

Okay. I know I am late to the party, this thing has been out a few years. But I finally got one, and paired it with a streamdeck, and let me tell you - it's worth every penny. First off - a bit about me so you get some context: I'm a professional VFX Supervisor on big streaming shows by trade. I do a lot of photography and do some youtube and twitch streaming for fun, as a hobby. But I spend my life dealing with lighting both on set and virtually in VFX. It's my passion. So it comes down to what you need. You can absolutely NOT get this light and make a great looking setup using china balls from ikea or whatever. So this is def somewhat of a luxury expense. But... it's such a nice luxury and can do some trick things to make your stream look more sexy. Pros: -First off, I love all things about this being wi-fi. I know this could be a con if wi-fi goes down. But controlling a light from a phone app or deck or computer is great. If you are a one man band, imagine the time savings. I mean, sure, you can plop it on a computer desk, but you can also screw it on to any light stand and use it for a short film, etc. Get 3 of these and you can adjust a classic thee light setup while at your camera - huge. -Size. I love that this thing is flat. It's not THAT light, but light enough I can travel with 2-3 of these things in one case easy. -Color and dimming and brightness. As seen in other reviews, it does a nice job changing from something pretty close to actual kelvin color degrees. And it's plenty bright for its size. It is NOT as bright as my aperture light, but it's also not an aperture light that costs 700 dollars. and it runs cool and doesn't need a giant soft box to be useful. -Diffusion. Speaking of softness. I was going to make a "OK" category, but I think I will keep it in Pros. It is cleverly soft for what it is. I don't think this magic diffusion panel makes the light as soft as a true soft box. You really need some distance from the light source to make it catch and bounce the light rays. I compared it to a soonwell LED light I have with a softbox on it that is about 6 inches away, and the soonwell is indeed softer. However, going back to size, space and conviencence - it is about as soft as I have seen for this flat a profile. If I were in a pinch I could easily bounce this off a wall or some white card to really get soft. I also think I can print a few simple 3D components to make my own simple soft box, if I need it. For streaming it's plenty fine. CONS - -Wifi - I know it is also a pro for me, because it leads to such convenience. But you are reliant on having a wifi router for these things. for A V2 of this light, it would be nice to have some manual knobs on the back as a back up option. -Streamdeck - I would almost say getting a stream deck or the stream deck phone app is essential for these. It's such a surprisingly pleasant way to control your lighting. Like a mini lightboard in your hand. The streamdeck can also control my phillips hue strip lighting on my desk and room, so I can make cool gaming presets at push of a button. -Cost - They do cost more than a lot of knock offs you can get online. For me it is worth the money. And if you start digging in to "professional" light costs, like apertures and such, these are a steal. But if you are on a budget, you can sacrifice wifi convenience and get a pair of two similar style lights for like, under 200 dollars, with soft boxes. I got something like that for my wife and she loves them. -Ball head. The ballhead on the stand is cheap plastic. I will probably switch them out for manfrotto ballheads one day, if they break, but they're def not meant for constant movement or adjustment. Conclusion For me, these make streaming life a ton better. So much space saved in my office and I can do some really nice lighting fast and cool. I'm giddy with all the possibilities. As filmmaker, I'm also really starting to see where teh future of lighting is going, especially for indie style work. On my big shows we often use titan tubes, which do similar things to this light but cost an astronomical amount. Now, with a portable router and a cheap streamdeck, I could make my own portable three light system for filming, or even constant light style photography. I could fit all of this in to one camera bag and maybe another bag for extension cables and modifiers and such. If I were going around shooting interviews and weddings, I could do some really cool tricks with these. Anyway. I love em and that's what I got! lol

These lights are awesome. The lights plus the software make them fully worth the cost in my opinion. They put out a TON of light, so much that for my purposes I'm never using them on more than 7-10% brightness. I'm not using these for photography currently (but I might in the future), and I don't podcast. However, I do work from home, and these do an awesome job of providing key and side lighting of my face to provide balance to my video conference image when the afternoon sun is playing through my windows and illuminating the rear of my office, which would have caused my image to be silhouetted in the past. The control software for these is really cool; since they connect to the wifi, I can operate them easily from any of my multiple devices, whether computers or personal devices (e.g. phone). The controls allow fine-tune control of both the brightness and color temperature of the light. It's a very well-thought-out holistic solution from the quality and consistency (and power) of the lighting to the means of controlling the lights. It also pairs very easily with HomeAssistant, allowing me to include the lights in my smart home automations. Finally, I actually bought two of these, and they are both VERY easy to control as a pair within the control software on all my devices, with a separate button provided to turn them on or off as a pair, and even an option to control the color/brightness adjustments for both simultaneously or independently as needed.

These are amazing lights. I’m a full time remote worker who spends roughly six hours a day on active video conference calls. Before these lights I tried at least eight alternative options, but with changing external light and skin tone conditions I could never really achieve the professional look I wanted. These key lights finally solved it! I use lights two elevated on stands above my desk angled in towards either side of my face. I have them connected to a StreamDeck to control on-off, individual brightness, and individual color temp. This lets me adjust them correctly for day time when I have cool side light coming from an adjacent window or night when the only external light is warm overhead room light. The integration with StreamDeck and the Elgato control software has worked well. After a year of use, I’ve only had once or twice that the one lights didn’t immediately respond and a power cycle was all that was needed to reconnect it. The only real downside I’ve found is that they do get hot and can heat up a small room when used for hours at a time. They are expensive, but definitely worth the money if you want that level of control. I strongly recommend pairing with a StreamDeck if you’re using these for a streaming set up and want to adjust the lighting regularly.

Have you ever wanted to light up your workspace like the North Star on a cloudless night or maybe just subtly glow like a firefly in the shadows? Elgato promises a solution with their Key Light – a professional-grade studio light that whispers to the world, "I’m not here to play games...unless I'm streaming them." The Luminous Highs: 2800 Lumens of Gloriousness: Illuminate your space from "eclipsing sun" to "mysterious twilight" with ease. Whether you’re streaming, video conferencing, or just taking selfies with your cat, the Key Light ensures you’re the most luminous object in the frame. And no, your cat doesn’t stand a chance. From Arctic Blue to Sunset Amber: With a color temperature range of 2900 to 7000 K, this light can transform your mood faster than a chameleon changes colors. Arctic morning? Check. Sultry sunset vibes? Double check. Silky Smooth Opal Glass Face: Because who doesn't want their light evenly balanced and glare-free? It’s like giving your studio space its very own facial. Space-Saving Design: Forget those bulky soft boxes that take up half your room. The Key Light's sleek design ensures it won’t be the elephant in your streaming space. Plus, that clamp system? Chef’s kiss! Mount it, adjust it, and let the spotlight fall on you. Integration with Stream Deck: This isn't just a light; it’s a smart light. For those who own an Elgato Stream Deck, the convenience level just skyrocketed. Adjust brightness, tweak the temperature, and even play a game of "Light On, Light Off" (if you’re into that sort of thing). The Dimmable Lows: Still Too Bright on the Lowest Setting? It seems our beloved Key Light might have attended too many parties in its luminary life. Even at its dimmest, it can be a tad bright, especially if you're going for that "intimate ghost story around the campfire" feel. Conclusion: The Elgato Key Light is a formidable player in the studio lighting arena. It's versatile, space-efficient, and exudes professionalism. While it might shine a bit too brightly for some, its range of features and adaptability make it an excellent investment for those serious about their video production or streaming endeavors. All in all, if you're ready to take your streaming or video production game to the next level, the Key Light is a strong contender. It promises to stand by you, come rain or shine. Or, you know, until you decide to turn it off. 😉 P.S. Always wear sunscreen. Even indoors. Especially if you own the Elgato Key Light. Safety first, folks!

Great ecosystem(El Gato Products i.e Stream Deck). Very adjustable for any height you so choose. The desk clamp is sturdy and the adjustable settings for the lighting is amazing. You do need wifi to initially setup, I do not have a wifi computer so I set it up in the app on my phone which then allows you to use on your PC. Will be getting a second one!

I have 2 of these Key Lights (along with 5 of the Key Light Airs, 2 Key Light Minis, and an Elgato Stream Deck) in a home studio. When the lights work, they work well—lightweight, decent light, and not as hot as another brand I tried. However, when I connect them to Elgato Control Center I lose control. Often, one or more of the lights does not connect to the Control Center and then it won’t work at all. That is, I can turn it on, but it turns itself right back off again because the Control Center has not sent the signal to be on. I have reached out to Elgato’s tech support and nothing but crickets. I have searched for solutions and nothing works. I have reset the lights and reestablished a connection with Control Center. Next power-up, some are gone and the list of missing lights changes; none are consistently on the MIA list. There is not an option to manually override the Control Center, so I am stuck until the software finally connects to each of the lights. For such expensive lights and heavy promotion of the company, I expect better. The whole idea of purchasing 9 of their lights and Stream Deck was to simplify my various recording scenarios and save time. Instead, they frequently cost me time and always cause me frustration. I had heard Elgato products recommended on a couple of podcasts I listen to and was hopeful. Instead, I am very disappointed I made the move to Elgato. If you are going to use these, don’t count on anything but totally manual operation and don’t count on support once they have your ca$h.

Excellent build quality, the light itself is very bright, fully adjustable color temperature, all of that. It's a great light. It's easy to control over a network, has a very straightforward protocol and can be controlled using a computer over the network.... if you can manage to get it connected to WiFi and keep it connected. Getting it to connect to my network was extremely difficult, and if it ever loses the connection (which happens occasionally), it's a huge headache and I think I'll never be able to get it connected again. Of the ~100 devices on my network, it's the single most finicky. Would I buy it again? Probably. Definitely glad I have it. I just wished it were easier to network.

If you want a kit that is high tech, this one is great. If you just want a light, there are other options. I use this light to illuminate my face. My camera is 30" from my face. The key light is 50" diagonal. Many reviews mention that the panel is overpriced for the specs. This may be true depending on what specs you are looking at. The primary specs I am looking at are * Edge lit LED * 97 CRI * 2800 lumen * Wifi controlled * Kit with appropriate-height mount For those specs, you can find everything besides wifi controlled and the mount at $100 for a standalone panel. If you don't care about the wifi or the mount, go compare to some other photographic LED panels. Don't compare to panels that have the same lumen output but 80 CRI; 80 CRI is garbage office lighting. 97 is close to what you'd get from a conventional incandescent light. Including the mount, this is competitively priced. Do consider that this kit comes with a decent-quality 49" telescoping, desk-clamp mount. Other less-expensive kits comes with a smaller mount and/or a cheaper mount. You don't want a shorter mount if you are going to attach this to a desk and use it as a true "key" light. Some of the competitors I compared to before buying this light include less than half the height for the mount. That may work for a "fill" light, but would be very annoying as a key light and very difficult/impossible to get positioned correctly. If you already have an appropriate mount or plan to mount it to the wall rather than a desk, go compare to other LED panels. Many people probably don't need the wifi. For the more technically-inclined, there are two main features to this wifi connectivity. * Pair with Elgato Stream Deck * Control via API The first feature is rather simple and flawless: if you have a stream deck, this is a perfect accessory as you can set buttons to change the light settings directly. Accessing via web depends if you are technical enough to write something that will interface with the light. If you code, this is not difficult, I would say about as difficult as coding around a Phillips Hue if you've ever done that; there are libraries available to simplify it. Even if you don't have a stream deck and don't want to mess with the API, ctrl-click on the taskbar icon in Windows turns the lights on and off which is fairly convenient compared to reaching up to turn the light on and off by hand. I think it's a great value if you keep in mind all of the things being purchased with this kit. If there is something you don't need or want, other options may be better.