This list is the result of 2020 Q3 research – looking for the best latest offerings for "virtual" equipment that would match our use cases. The guide is grouped into the following segments:
You can listen to an video/audio overview of the recommendations by expanding the Toggle below, and otherwise browse the sections through the rest of this page.
The following are some of the most compact offerings on the market, ideal for office use. The bigger the light surface the softer the effect, interviews use very large light sources.
The Elgato Key Light Air 8" is a top pick due to its portability and on-screen software controls—makes it very easy to use and move around as needed. If more stationary, the Elgato Key Light 11" mounts to the surface of a desk to save space. And the Neewer Bi-Color Studio Round 18" is at an amazing price vs competitive solutions for large, round, soft lights.
This is list was compiled for our use cases from a dozen or more sources, including The Best Live Streaming Cameras of 2020. There's a price gap between webcams and pro cameras that can be bridged via action cams like GoPro. To see a quick comparison of video quality, expand the following toggles: