REVIEW – What is the single most important thing that you need when it comes to video capture, streaming video, and Zoom meetings? Ok, other than a solid connection to the internet, you need light and lots of it. We all have set in on meetings or watched videos that look like they were captured/streamed in a cave. Don’t be dim, be bright. One way to do that is with an accessory like the Zumy clip-on light. Let’s check it out.
What is it?
Zumy is a clip-on collapsible LED soft light box designed for better Zoom meetings and video capture.
What’s in the box?
- Zumy clip-on light
- USB charging cable
- Zippered pouch
Design and features
Zumy is 5″ x 3″ (130 mm x 75 mm) and stores flat. On the bottom edge is a spring-loaded swivel clip.
On the back of the Zumy light is a micro USB connector that is used to power the light. Note that you have to keep the light plugged in. There’s no internal battery to allow it to be used wirelessly.
Zumy stores flat, but the flexible sides allow it to pop open to create a small softbox.
Zumy offers 4 light modes (150 – 600 lux) with a color temperature of 3,500K. Consecutive presses of the button on the back of the light switches between brightness levels.
The clip opens far enough to allow it to clip to the top edge of your laptop display like you can see above on my MacBook. Also, note that the USB cable that is included with the Zumy has a pass-through USB connector so you won’t lose a port. But for people like me with a MacBook, you’ll need an adapter to use it with a USB-C port.
See it in action
What I like
- Portable
- Collapses for storage
- Includes a pass-thru USB cable
What I’d change
- Offer a battery version
- Lower the price
Final thoughts
Zumy is a cute little lighting accessory that folds flat for storage and mobile use. It does provide additional light but I wish it was brighter and didn’t glare on my glasses. I realize that all lights will cause glare problems (check out my video above) for people who wear glasses, but I’d definitely like to see a brighter version.
Price: $59.99
Where to buy: Indiegogo Indemand and Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Zumy.
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I wonder if it would be helped by having less ambient light from your overhead light? Seems to be a very warm light, which (to me) tends to be more difficult to see clearly when projected/streamed.
Also, I learned a trick from a school photographer years back: put your glasses arm a little above your ear, rather than having them parallel to the floor. This will angle your glasses down from your face, yet not drastically change the vision correction. Similar to adjusting your car’s rear-view, you’ll still see fine, but the reflection from the light source will not go directly back to the camera. Unless someone looks at you form the side, they won’t really notice that you’re “ridin’ high!” I’ve used that trick for years to lessen glasses reflection in photos.
Smythe thanks for the trick ideas 🙂
You were much more generous than me, I thought it was rubbish. The swivel ball didn’t hold together well and the light quality was pretty rubbish (maybe I’ve got a higher expectation than I should, but it’s based on the promotional material by the product). I bought a clip on light for about a third of the cost of the zumy and it worked just as well.