Back when I was first dipping my toes into photography and video recording from home, I quickly realized that natural light just wasn’t cutting it. Relying on sunlight meant constantly chasing the good hours of the day, and indoor ambient light created harsh shadows and weird colour casts. This problem wasn’t just inconvenient; it significantly limited when and how I could create content. Without consistent, quality lighting, photos looked amateurish, and videos lacked that polished look, potentially hindering my progress and the quality of my creative output. Finding a dedicated lighting solution became essential.
- 【Photography Lighting Includes】(2) x 45W 5500K Energy Saving Daylight CFL – Continuous Light Bulb / (2) x 33'' Diameter Translucent/White Photo Umbrella / (2) x 83'' Photography Light Stand,...
- 【Photo CFL Bulb】45W(equals to 200W Incandescent Light), 5500K, 110V-130V, E26 screw base, energy saving compact fluorescent light - saves energy up to 80%, daylight/pure White.
- 【Photography Umbrella Reflector】33'' Diameter, Translucent/White. Made of high quality nylon, durable and solid construction. Help to soften and spread the light, not longer harsh light when you...
Key Considerations Before Investing in Photography Lighting
Good lighting is foundational to producing quality photos and videos, regardless of your skill level. It solves the core problems of insufficient light, harsh shadows, and incorrect colour balance, allowing you to shoot consistently and control the look of your final product. An ideal customer for entry-level photography lighting is typically a hobbyist, a beginner photographer, a small content creator (like a vlogger or small business owner), or someone setting up a simple home studio for portraits or product shots. If you’re a seasoned professional requiring heavy-duty, studio-grade equipment that can withstand frequent travel, harsh outdoor conditions, or continuous heavy use, or if you need extremely powerful lights or advanced modifiers, a basic kit like this might not meet your needs. Professionals might look towards LED panels, high-wattage strobes, or more robust stands and modifiers. Before buying any lighting setup, consider the type of light you need (continuous like CFL/LED vs. flash/strobe), the required brightness or wattage, the colour temperature (5500K is standard daylight), the type of light modifier (umbrella, softbox, reflector), the portability and sturdiness of the stands, the overall size of the setup relative to your shooting space, and, critically, your budget and the expected build quality for that price point.
- 【65"/165cm Black/Silver Parabolic Reflective Umbrella】 This 65"/165cm deep parabolic camera umbrella softbox reflects a more intense and focused light, ideal for situations where you need to cover...
- (4) 1 x 33" translucent umbrella
- The translucent white umbrellas can be used either as a shoot through or bounce light to reduce shadows and produce an even, soft, low contrast light over a relatively large area
Shining a Spotlight on the EMART Photography Umbrella Lighting Kit
Stepping into the world of dedicated lighting doesn’t have to break the bank, and the EMART Photography Umbrella Lighting Kit is designed precisely for those seeking an affordable entry point. This kit promises to provide simple, continuous, daylight-balanced lighting suitable for basic photo and video work. When you purchase it, you receive two complete lighting units: two adjustable light stands, two single-head lamp holders, two 45W CFL bulbs (which provide the equivalent light output of approximately 200W incandescent bulbs), and two 33-inch translucent/white umbrellas. This specific EMART kit is clearly aimed at the amateur photographer, the budding videographer, or anyone needing a basic, easy-to-set-up lighting solution for indoor use, whether for portraits, product photography, or online content creation. It is definitely not intended for professional studio work, outdoor shoots, or situations where equipment needs to withstand rigorous handling or heavy loads, distinguishing it from higher-end, more durable alternatives.
Here’s a quick rundown of the pros and cons I’ve experienced or noted:
Pros:
* Excellent value for the price, especially getting two complete lights.
* Very easy and quick to assemble and disassemble.
* Lightweight and relatively portable for indoor use.
* Provides sufficient, soft, daylight-balanced light for basic needs.
* Stands are adequately sturdy for holding the included components.
Cons:
* Build quality, particularly of plastic components and umbrella fabric, is basic.
* Umbrellas are relatively small and may feel somewhat flimsy.
* Lack of a carrying bag is inconvenient for storage and transport.
* Plastic threading on lamp holders can potentially strip with over-tightening.
* Not suitable for professional or heavy-duty applications.
Diving into the Details: Features and Why They Matter
Using the EMART umbrella lighting kit over time has given me a solid understanding of its capabilities and limitations. It’s the workhorse of my simple home setup, providing the foundational light I need without complexity. Let’s break down the key components and how they perform in practice.
Versatile and Portable Light Stands
The kit includes two light stands made from aluminum alloy. They are adjustable in height, extending from a minimum of around 30 inches up to a maximum of 83 inches (roughly 7 feet). In my experience, the stands are lightweight, which is fantastic for portability within my home or setting up quickly. They collapse down neatly, making them easy to tuck away when not in use. Despite being lightweight, they provide a stable base for the lamp holders, bulbs, and umbrellas, *as long as they are used indoors and aren’t subjected to bumps or heavy loads*. They feature a standard 1/4″ screw thread on top, which is crucial as it means they are compatible with a wide range of other photographic accessories beyond just the ones included in the kit. This standard compatibility adds a layer of future-proofing and versatility, allowing you to potentially use them for speedlights, phone holders, or other lightweight gear down the line. The adjustable height is a significant benefit, allowing me to position the lights high up for overhead or dramatic lighting, or lower down for face-level illumination depending on the subject. While they aren’t heavy-duty professional stands, for typical indoor portrait or product work with the included umbrella lights, they do the job reliably. However, based on feedback and my own caution, I’m always careful not to overtighten any of the plastic knobs or stress the legs too much, as the build quality is clearly geared towards affordability.
Bright, Daylight-Balanced Illumination
At the heart of the EMART kit are the two 45W CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light) bulbs. These are described as providing the equivalent light output of a 200W incandescent bulb, which feels about right for lighting a small area like a corner of a room or a desktop setup. The key feature of these bulbs is their 5500K colour temperature. This temperature is designed to mimic natural daylight, which is incredibly important for photography and video. Daylight-balanced light ensures that colours in your photos and videos appear accurate and true to life, without the orange tint you get from typical household tungsten bulbs or the green tint from some older fluorescents. Using these bulbs has made a noticeable difference in the colour quality of my shots, requiring less colour correction in post-production. They screw into a standard E26/E27 base, which is convenient because finding replacement bulbs in this size and colour temperature is relatively easy. As CFLs, they are also energy-saving compared to traditional incandescent bulbs, which is a nice bonus for continuous use. For a home studio or beginner setup, two of these bulbs provide a good starting point, offering enough light to illuminate a single subject or small scene effectively, especially when paired with the included modifiers.
Softening the Light with Umbrellas
The photography umbrellas included in the EMART Photography Umbrella Lighting Kit are 33 inches in diameter and are translucent white. They are made of nylon fabric. The purpose of these umbrellas is simple but fundamental in lighting: they act as light diffusers. By shooting the light from the bulb through the translucent umbrella, the hard, direct light source becomes much larger and softer. This diffusion wraps the light around your subject, significantly reducing harsh shadows and creating a more even, flattering illumination. For portraits, this means softer skin tones and fewer harsh lines. For product photography, it helps reveal details without blowing out highlights or losing information in deep shadows. Using two umbrellas allows for classic lighting setups like a main light and a fill light, giving depth and dimension to your subject that a single light cannot achieve. While the nylon fabric is basic and some users find the umbrellas a bit smaller than they expected for wider shots, for close-up portraits, headshots, or small product setups, they work effectively to soften the light. They are simple to set up, just sliding onto the lamp holder’s post. It’s worth noting that while the fabric is thin, it serves its purpose as a diffuser adequately for entry-level needs.
Simple and Standard Lamp Holders
The kit provides two single-head lamp holders designed to attach directly to the top of the light stands. These holders have a standard E26/E27 screw base, which is compatible with the included CFL bulbs and most standard household bulbs of the appropriate size and wattage. Each holder has a bracket that allows you to insert the stem of the umbrella and secure it, typically with a thumbscrew. This design is straightforward and easy for beginners to understand and assemble. The holder also usually has a swivel function, allowing you to angle the light up, down, or sideways to direct it where needed, either through the umbrella (shoot-through) or bounced off a reflective surface (though the included umbrellas are primarily for shoot-through). The simplicity is a pro, making setup quick and painless. However, this is one area where the budget build is most apparent. The body of the holder and the securing knobs are often made of plastic, and the threading for the thumbscrew that holds the umbrella can be a weak point, potentially stripping if over-tightened. Gentleness is key when adjusting and securing the umbrella stem. Despite this, they function as intended, connecting the bulb to the stand and allowing the umbrella to be positioned correctly for diffusion.
Overall, the strength of this EMART photography lighting kit lies in how these simple components work together to create a functional, easy-to-use lighting setup for beginners. The combination of adjustable stands, bright daylight bulbs, and diffusing umbrellas provides a significant upgrade over relying on natural light or standard room lighting. While the individual components might not be professional-grade in terms of durability or features, their collective function provides a valuable tool for anyone starting out or needing basic, reliable indoor lighting on a budget. The system is easy to set up and put away, encouraging frequent use.
Real-World Feedback: What Users Are Saying
I’ve scoured online forums and reviews to see what others are saying about the EMART Photography Umbrella Lighting Kit, and the sentiment is largely positive, especially considering the price point. Many users, particularly hobbyists and beginners, express satisfaction with the amount of light provided and how easy the kit is to assemble right out of the box. Several reviews praise the overall value, noting that getting two stands, bulbs, and umbrellas for the cost is impressive. The stands are often described as sturdy enough for the job, and the compactness when folded is appreciated for storage. While some users noted the umbrellas were smaller than anticipated or made of basic material, they generally agreed that they still effectively softened the light for their needs. A common theme among satisfied users is that for amateur or home studio use, this kit is an excellent starting point and exceeds expectations given its affordability. However, a few users did report issues with durability, specifically mentioning problems with plastic parts like the thumbscrews stripping after minimal use and one report of a bulb failing early. These experiences underscore that while the performance is good for the price, the build quality is not professional-grade and requires careful handling.
My Final Thoughts
Dealing with poor, inconsistent lighting is a frustrating hurdle when trying to capture quality photos or videos, leading to wasted time and subpar results. This issue absolutely needs to be solved if you want your creative work to look polished and professional, even at a beginner level. The resulting complications of unresolved poor lighting include inaccurate colours, harsh shadows, and an inability to shoot consistently regardless of the time of day or external conditions.
The EMART Photography Umbrella Lighting Kit stands out as a great fit to solve this problem for several reasons. Firstly, its affordability makes professional-style continuous lighting accessible to beginners and hobbyists who might not be ready to invest in expensive gear. Secondly, the kit provides all the necessary components (lights, stands, modifiers) to set up a functional two-light system straight away, offering a significant step up from basic room lighting. Finally, it’s incredibly easy to assemble and use, requiring no prior lighting knowledge, making it perfect for anyone starting their lighting journey. If you’re looking for an effective, budget-friendly way to introduce quality, soft, daylight-balanced light into your indoor photography or videography, this EMART kit is certainly worth considering.
To learn more and check the product out for yourself, Click here to see the EMART Photography Umbrella Lighting Kit .ca.
Last update on 2025-06-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API