✅ You want the best light: This is the best ring light when it comes to the quality of the illumination. Gorgeous, soft, wrapping diffused light makes subjects look stunning.

Few medical diagnostic tools are as ubiquitously useful as the laboratory microscope. Various tests rely on microscopes to provide information essential to quality medical care around the world. Thus, the lack of microscopy services in many remote areas can be a restriction to the delivery of quality care. Certain diseases, such as mosquito-borne malaria, thrive in such low-resource settings where the lack of access to diagnostic services can stall treatment and eradication of the disease. However, new optical tools may be able to help close the gap by leveraging the ever-improving quality and affordability of sensors and components to build portable, automated diagnostic tools that can be taken to the point of care where high-risk patients reside. This work presents one such system in the form of a portable, digital, and multimodal microscope designed to enable the performance of laboratory-quality imaging for eventual use in the diagnosis of conditions, such as malaria, tuberculosis, sickle-cell anemia, and more in remote locations.

To assess the multimodal functionality of the portable system, a control phantom was created by fluorescently staining lanuginose fibers from the underside of a sericeous tree leaf using SYBR-1 Green nucleic acid stain (Sigma) for 20 min, then embedding the fibers in a thin film of degassed polydimethylsiloxane (Sylgard 184) on the surface of a microscope slide. A Zeiss AxioVert-A1 fluorescence microscope with high-power broadband LED source and FITC filter cube was used as the fluorescence control, and a Leica DMLM compound microscope was used for both bright-field and cross-polarized controls. The embedded fibers express absorption in white light, birefringence under cross-polarization, and strong fluorescence at the excitation and emission wavelengths of the portable system. To demonstrate the ability of the microscope to be used in diagnostic applications, blood smears of in vitro cultured Plasmodium falciparum were stained with either SYBR Green-1 dye or a dual Giemsa/fluorophore technique described by Guy et al.32 and imaged using the microscopy system. The two staining methods were compared as possible sample preparation options to ascertain which would provide the optimal balance of biomarker contrast across all three contrast modes, which has not been previously addressed in the literature.

If you want something for photography or pro-quality video, I'll point you towards the Lume Cube Ring Light Pro (below). But this is a fantastic 12-inch ring light perfect for day-to-day video conferencing, vlogging or streaming.

At 17 inches in diameter, it's an inch smaller than the Lume Cube Wireless Ring Light (the previous iteration of the Ring Light Pro), but it gives you a half hour more battery life, and the new light stand is a half-foot higher.

24 inchRing Light

The portable microscope is able to collect images in each modality with feature resolution below 775 nm, which is sufficient to detect biomarkers for many cellular samples. Indeed, examination of composite images collected from P. falciparum samples clearly show morphological features necessary to detect infections, quantify parasitemia, and distinguish mature parasites containing hemozoin, all of which are diagnostically important metrics currently not available from a single standard point-of-care device. Morphological feature recognition was performed by authors with several years of experience examining malaria smears in a research laboratory environment. This imparts subjective bias into the process of recognizing and cataloging morphological features in images, and further analysis by either independent trained experts in malaria hematology or by automated feature recognition software is necessary to improve the level of absolute confidence in the ability of the microscope to resolve parasitic morphology.

Metrics from sample preparation tests to optimize multimodal information available from P. falciparum cultured blood smears in (a) bright-field, (b) fluorescence, and (c) cross-polarized images.

2021913 — As the name suggests, this light is meant to fill in the missing light for your video. The key light is placed facing your subject but on the ...

Paul Gordon is a PhD candidate at Texas A&M University in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. He received his BS degree in biomedical engineering from the University of Cincinnati in 2015. His current research interests include various point-of-care optical technologies including portable microscopy, on-chip spectroscopy, and innovative fabrication techniques for low-cost optical components. He is a student member of SPIE, NSF Graduate Research Fellow, and a student fellow of the PATHS-UP Engineering Research Center.

It's not marketed as a ring light, but has the same properties and is great for tabletop lighting or shooting on the go when you still need premium performance for vlogging or streaming. Read more…

So everything about this light is premium – though that also includes the price tag, which stands at 60 bucks more than the Wireless model (which, in itself, is over 100 bucks more than the lower grade but still great Razer Ring Light).

As you'd expect from Neewer, it comes in a ready-to-rock kit that includes an adjustable light stand, phone clip, carry case and even a Bluetooth remote – so you don't need anything else to get going.

❌ You need top performance: Other lights on this list are more powerful, offer digital controls, and can fully adjust the color temperature. ❌ You won't be stationary: This is a wired light, so if you want to move the light – or your shooting position – around, you're going to be limited.

Why you can trust Digital Camera World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out how we test.

ProfessionalRing Light

In fluorescence imaging mode, a board-mounted blue monochromatic 485-nm epi-LED is activated and fluorescent emission filter (#67-031, Edmund Optics) selected from the filter deck. These excitation and emission bands were selected because most prevalent fluorophores used in malaria diagnosis utilize fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) excitation/emission wavelengths with cut on/off at 500 nm, although any visible excitation and emission bands may be used.35 For cross-polarized imaging, the transmission LED is activated and analyzing filter selected from the deck. When transmission illumination is used, all light passing through the system is also linearly polarized by default, as the polarizing filter is permanently kept in the Köhler illumination system. It was discovered, both in the literature and experimentally, that the dichroic mirror will reduce the cross-polarized signal intensity unless the polarizer and analyzer are carefully aligned with the orthogonal X and Y axes of the dichroic mirror to minimize circular or elliptical polarization states generated at the mirror.44,45 Alignment of the polarization to within 0.5 deg of orthogonal with the reflection plane of the dichroic was found to be required to generate an adequate extinction ratio, which allows for the imaging of depolarizing biomarkers in samples.

❌ You're on a budget: This is a premium light, and it comes with a premium price tag. There are cheaper alternatives elsewhere in this guide. ❌ You don't shoot photos or video: If you only need a ring light for your webcam, or to stream from your gaming rig, this performance is overkill for your needs.

✅ Size is important: As an 18-inch ring light, it's large enough to cover a large surface area and (because of its size) soft enough to produce gentle light.

If performance is paramount, this is the way to go – I've done plenty of "proper" photography and videography on this, from portfolio headshots pop-up events to vlogs and corporate video. If budget is a factor, though, Lume Cube or Razer's alternatives may be more up your alley.

✅ You need pro performance: The light stand is tall and robust, the remote control enables you to change settings on the spot, and the wireless battery life is great.

Emerging technologies are enabling the feasibility of new types of point-of-care diagnostic devices. A portable, multimodal microscopy platform intended for use in remote diagnostic applications is presented. Use of such a system could bring high-quality microscopy to field use for diseases such as malaria, allowing better diagnostic and surveillance information to be gathered. The microscope was designed using off-the-shelf components and a manual filter selection to generate bright-field, fluorescent, and cross-polarized images of samples mounted to microscopy slides. Design parameters for the system are discussed, and characterization is performed using standardized imaging targets, multimodal phantoms, and blood smears simulating those used in malaria diagnosis. The microscope is shown to be able to image below element 9-3 of a 1951 U.S. Air Force target, indicating that the system is capable of resolving features <775  nm. Morphological indicators of Plasmodium falciparum can be visualized in images from each modality and combined into high-contrast composite images. To optimize parasitic feature contrast across all three imaging modes, several different staining techniques were compared, with results indicating that use of a single nucleic acid binding fluorophore is preferable.

Taking microscopy out of a central lab to improve access to patients is not a new proposition. Seminal works by McArthur in the 1930s to 1950s describe and demonstrate the benefits of point-of-care bright-field microscopy.1–3 Since then, numerous iterations of portable microscopes have been proposed and commercialized.4–6 A recent, popular approach leverages advances in smartphone technology—network access, processing power, onboard cameras, and other built-in sensors—to construct either intrinsic or extrinsic diagnostic devices.7 While intrinsic microscopy systems that are built around cellphones can reduce costs and device complexity, the wide variety of smartphone models and ever-changing camera optics make control of imaging performance difficult. Additionally, most proposed intrinsic smartphone-based microscopes are restricted in their resolution limit due to the low numerical aperture (NA) and high aberration coefficients of the lenses used in their simplified, condensed imaging systems.8 Extrinsic devices, such as the one presented here, detect pathologic biomarkers using dedicated external hardware and transmit data to personal electronic devices for review and processing.7

In cross-polarized images, the signal strength from light depolarization in birefringent hemozoin crystals was found to be higher on average for SYBR-stained samples than for those of dual-stained images [Fig. 5(c)]. Lower average cross-polarized signals in dual-stained samples were not expected, although the occurrence of these phenomena may be explained by the fact that Giemsa stain, which is part of the dual-staining technique, frequently precipitates salt crystals from its ionic components, which would add to the total number of depolarization events detected in the dual-stained sample and lower the average signal intensity if said precipitate crystals express weaker retardation than hemozoin. This effect, in combination with higher fluorescence signal intensities, implies that use of SYBR Green-1 or other comparable fluorophores appears to be a logical choice for maximizing the amount of useful information that can be gathered from the portable multimodal microscopy system, although the specific preparation techniques must necessarily vary depending on the specific sample and test to be performed.46

Microscopy for malaria diagnosis was selected as the initial target application for the microscope for its high potential impact, established imaging standards, and demonstrated diagnostic utility for each individual imaging modality.24–35 Indeed, it is hoped that disclosure of this tool may facilitate investigations of an integrated trimodal microscopy approach to malaria diagnosis. Currently, the gold-standard test to diagnose malaria uses 1000× magnification benchtop bright-field microscopy to examine thick and thin Giemsa-stained peripheral blood smears to identify and quantify the presence of Plasmodium parasites.24 This test requires a well-equipped and well-staffed microscopy lab, which is often unavailable in remote regions where the disease is most common. Where access to a centralized lab is restricted, diagnoses are frequently made using only symptoms, substandard microscopy, or rapid diagnostic tests, which can lead to overdiagnosis and misdiagnoses.36–38 Frequently, antimalarial medications are prescribed to patients without a confirmed diagnosis, which can waste resources, cause other diseases to go untreated, potentially lead to ineffective treatment, and increase risks for developing partial drug resistance.39–41

To operate the microscope, a thin sample fixed to a standard 25×75  mm microscope slide is inserted into the stage via access port opened from the side of the case. Wet samples with coverslips may also be used, although it is recommended to affix the coverslip to the slide to prevent slippage while in the stage. The microscope is powered on, and any portable device with web-interface can be connected to the microscope via a device generated Wi-Fi network. After connection, a secure shell (SSH) portal interface can be used to access controls for sample translation, focal control, and imaging mode. Adjustments to the sample position or focus can be made if necessary, or an alternative imaging modality can be selected without altering the sample position. A new field of view may be found using the interface to move to any immediately adjacent field of view using preprogrammed commands. After pictures are captured, they can be automatically uploaded to any database structure desired, either via remote network access, to onboard memory, or directly to the user’s personal device. To demonstrate the capability of the multimodal microscope to interface with personal electronic devices, images were captured using a Windows-based laptop PC, an Android-based smartphone, and an Apple iPad (Fig. 2). On all platforms, the command interface was able to successfully control microscope function and collect multimodal data.

For my money, the Razer Ring Light is the sweet spot of price, performance and portability – it became the de facto "lockdown light" in my household for Facetime and Zoom meetings.

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Jul 18, 2022 — A method of illumination for an optical microscope. In dark-field illumination, the central light beam is blocked, allowing light to intersect ...

Multimodal images of various Plasmodium morphological forms from a single field of view: (a) bright-field images, (b) fluorescence images, (c) cross-polarized images, and (d) composite images of all three modes.

It delivers 55W of power, which is more than enough for most uses, and it offers bicolor 5600K or 3200K temperature (the latter via a clip-on filter) for use in daylight or under artificial illumination. I know a lot of creators do makeup tutorials using this light, such is the quality of its output.

where dx,y is the minimum laterally resolvable distance between two points; λ is the wavelength of light; and NAobj and NAcond are the objective and condenser NA, respectively. For this work, an Olympus MPlan 50×, 0.75 NA, infinity corrected objective was selected for use, and, because the condenser NA is ≥0.75, it is theoretically capable of resolving points separated spatially by 423 nm at wavelengths of 520 nm according to Eq. (1). Any infinity corrected microscope objective may be used in the system to optimize magnification, field of view, and imaging performance according to the needs of a specific test, although users should be aware that performance may not remain consistent across objectives from various manufacturers, as manufacturer-specific tube lenses are not used.

Modern ring lights are LED lights, since they are powered by clusters of LED bulbs. However, most LED lights come in the form of rectangular-shaped panels, which produce much flatter illumination. Ring lights, on the other hand, are donut-shaped, which is much more flattering to faces. So rather than providing harsh, flat lighting, ring lights sculpt your features and provide a more dimensional, pleasing, professional look.

Photographers and videographers like me also use love ring lights as they create soft, natural-looking light and circular catch lights in the eyes. In addition to producing soft and flattering lighting, they provide continuous light – which is great for photographers new to lighting, because unlike flash guns you can see exactly what the light is doing before you press the shutter.

If this has been of interest you might want to check out the best video lights if you need continuous light for moving imagery, or the best photography lighting kits: for studio and location work.

Now it's back in this all-in-one kit, which also includes a Rotolight mini tripod, stand adapter, phone clip and accessory bar – making it the perfect partner for a tabletop shooting setup in small spaces.

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Discover the perfect outdoor lighting solution with our special lens light, featuring a precise 35° beam angle for targeted illumination without waste.

Given their donut-shape, ring lights are perfect for headshots and close-ups, whether you're shooting still images or video. So if you photograph or film yourself or others directly looking into the camera, a ring light is perfect for you. Ring lights can also be used like more traditional LED light panels, to provide overall key or fill lighting to a scene, but they are tailor made for shooting faces.

If you're shooting with a phone mounted, the tripod doubles as a grip – making this great for handheld filming and moving around. The hole in the middle is perfect to poke a shotgun microphone through, too.

That isn't the end of the world for its intended purpose of streaming and video capture next to your screen, though – especially considering how good the light quality is.

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Like a lot of people, I'm cautious when it comes to cheaper Chinese alternatives in photography or videography kit. However, Neewer is a respected name and I own quite a few of its products that have never let me down – so this a brand you can trust.

It can attach to your laptop, tablet or phone so long as it's 18mm or thinner – no tripod or other equipment necessary, no additional space required. Just clip it to your device and start shooting.

Vision Light Tech supplies a broad range of solutions in light worldwide, lenses and filters. VLT is renowned for their speciality in this niche market.

Both systems present general agreement of feature signal contrast across all three modes, and measured parasitemia generally agreed with the nominal value of 5% of cells containing parasites. In bright-field images normalized to the background intensity, the portable system displays similar values but higher variance than the benchtop control for background and intracellular regions, which is expected given the lower quality of camera and optical components utilized. However, this trend is reversed when trophozoites are examined, with the benchtop images displaying significantly higher variance of contrast compared to the portable system. This trend will be repeated across images from all three modes, with the portable system displaying higher signal variance for homogenous image regions such as the background or intracellular spaces, whereas benchtop images reveal higher signal variance for heterogeneous features. It is believed that this occurs because the benchtop system provides greater modulation of the high spatial frequencies found in fine, heterogeneous features, allowing the full range of feature intensities to be captured. In contrast, while the optical system of the portable microscope can resolve such small features, it does not modulate the high spatial frequencies as effectively, leading to a loss in the dynamic range of signals. Images of trophozoites and schizonts in fluorescence images display this pattern as well. It must be noted, however, that fluorescence parasitemia data show that the portable system may be registering false positives in ∼1.5% of cells, meaning that artifact registration may skew the feature intensity averages presented in Fig. 7(b). Hemozoin signals from benchtop cross-polarized images likewise show significantly higher variance, with the cause attributed also to the higher number of small crystals that are able to be seen above the image noise floor, which is supported by analysis of the number of cells observed to contain the biomarkers in Fig. 7(d).

Because microscopic diagnosis of blood-borne pathogens such as Plasmodium relies on the identification of morphological characteristics, the microscopy system must achieve a theoretical diffraction-limited resolution smaller than the sought-after features. For this system, the resolution target was set at 0.5  μm in order to resolve chromatin dots and gross features of ring-stage infections that average between 0.5 and 1  μm in size.42 This limit then drives the NA of the objective and condenser lenses in the system according to the Rayleigh criterion as described by

While ring lights may seem like simple devices, there's actually a lot to consider. So how we test them is by putting them through their paces in real-world conditions, using them for Zoom calls, photographing portraits, filming YouTube content – all at different times of day, in different natural and artificial light conditions.

BiggestRing Lightsize

❌ You want to create content with it: It's great for taking well-lit selfies, and it will do for a spot of filming in a pinch, but it's not intended to light a high-quality video. ❌ You don't have a micro USB connection: Make sure you have a spare micro USB lead, otherwise you will be caught out trying to top this up from a charger or power bank!

❌ You want to shoot photos: At 12 inches, it's too small and doesn't have enough output to be used for effective photography – and being wired limits mobility. ❌ You don't have USB A: The light requires the older USB Type A connection, which many modern laptops and chargers don't have. Make sure to check your connections!

✅ You want great quality light: The diffused light is beautiful and flattering, and with three color temperatures you can match pretty much every lighting situation.

✅ You don't have any space: Since this clips directly to your phone, tablet or laptop, you don't need any additional floor or desk space to set it up.

This 12-inch Razer Ring Light is my go-to for everyday use. It does pretty much everything I could ask of it for meetings, videos and virtual calls, with the only downside being that it's only powered via USB.

James has 22 years experience as a journalist, serving as editor of Digital Camera World for 6 of them. He started working in the photography industry in 2014, product testing and shooting ad campaigns for Olympus, as well as clients like Aston Martin Racing, Elinchrom and L'Oréal. An Olympus / OM System, Canon and Hasselblad shooter, he has a wealth of knowledge on cameras of all makes – and he loves instant cameras, too.

The new remote control is a godsend for lighting yourself without having to keep getting up to change settings, and the improved diffusion is a dream for lighting portrait subjects. The quality of light and color accuracy is absolutely spot-on, which is particularly important for accurate skin tones and things like makeup tutorials.

My top pick for affordable, simple illumination. The Neewer balances quality and cost, with adjustable brightness and bicolor output (with a clip-on filter for 5,600K or 3,200K). Read more…

Many of the best ring lights enable you to adjust the color temperature to suit different skin tones (making them great for makeup tutorials, too) and to match the ambient lighting conditions. So whether you're using them in the sun, the shade or yellow-tinged indoor light, you can make your lighting look natural.

Y Zhang · 2024 · 1 — Title:Cost-efficient Active Illumination Camera For Hyper-spectral Reconstruction ... Abstract:Hyper-spectral imaging has recently gained ...

Sometimes when I'm using my phone or laptop, I don't have the time or space to set up a whole ring light. And sometimes, since I'm on my phone or laptop, I haven't brought a ring light with me!

In conclusion, we have shown that a portable, multimodal microscope can successfully resolve features necessary for detecting P. falciparum parasites in bright-field, fluorescence, and cross-polarized modalities. This system is constructed in a compact form factor using standard optical components and inexpensive electronics. Preliminary results toward use for malaria diagnosis show that the same morphological features are able to be seen on the portable system as on a benchtop microscope with similar magnification, indicating that further, more comprehensive investigation is merited to assess its sensitivity and specificity in a comprehensive diagnostic setting. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first published example of a portable, customizable, trimodal microscope intended for diagnostic applications at the point of care.

To assess system resolution capabilities, a negative high-resolution 1951 U.S. Air Force target (transmissive line elements) was first used to test the resolving capabilities and magnification of the system. As can be seen in Fig. 3, element 9-3 (775-nm linewidth) of the target is fully resolved using full-width-half-max criteria, easily satisfying both Rayleigh’s and Sparrow’s criteria for these features. Using known linewidths and camera pixel pitch, images of the U.S. Air Force target were used to experimentally calculate the net optical system magnification to be 27.8×. Images of the multimodal control phantom used to assess multimodal function are shown in Fig. 4, with the same field of view imaged both on the portable microscope and gold-standard benchtop systems.

The Quick List ↩ 1. Best all-rounder – Razer Ring Light 2. Best for professionals – Lume Cube Ring Light Pro 3. Best value – Neewer Ring Light Kit 18" 4. Best for small spaces – Rotolight Ultimate Vlogging Kit 5. Best for smart devices – Xinbaohong Clip-On Selfie Light Common questions How we test

This ring light earns its "Pro" designation with distinction, and it's my go-to light around my home or home studio when I need to take a professional-looking headshot or record a vlog or video content in the most efficient way possible.

There are cheaper and brighter options out there – along with the more expensive, albeit wireless, Lume Cube Ring Light Mini – but I think this strikes the perfect balance of portability, brightness, and price.

22 inchRing Light

This is the light I recommend to my friends! Sturdy, well-built, variable color temperature, built-in tripod – it's perfect for vlogging and streaming and all-round use. Read more

A Raspberry Pi 3 was selected as the data collection, storage, and transmission module for the microscope due to its low cost, ease in prototyping, and simple integration with commercially available camera sensors. A complementary 8 MP Picam v.2 with Sony IMX219PQ sensor (3.674×2.760  mm, 1.12-μm pitch) with lens removed was selected for its small pixel size, resolution, low cost, and highly controllable acquisition parameters. To control sample translation and focusing, four mini stepper motors (28BYJ-48, Kiatronics, New Zealand) with 4096 step increments/rotation receive driving currents from a custom PCB that translates commands from the Raspberry Pi into discreet step intervals. Two motors control focal depth, one controls X axis sample translation and the other controls Y axis translation. Power is provided to the microscope by two lithium-ion battery packs that can be recharged by plugging the microscope into a power outlet. The optomechanical mounts for the prototype microscope were either 3D printed or incorporated as off-the-shelf parts.

2015625 — Let me go over the four common methods for creating artificial light along with the basic physics that makes them work.

In this configuration, the microscope can gather images in different contrast modes without moving the sample focus or alignment. To select which mode of imaging is used, the only changes necessary are to activate the appropriate LED source and select the proper filter from the sliding filter deck. To generate bright-field images, the transmission illumination, warm-white LED is activated and a blank space in the filter deck is selected. The polarizing filter and dichroic mirror are by default kept in the optical path, which prefilters all light reaching the sample in bright-field imaging to be linearly polarized and filters all light reaching the camera to be of wavelengths longer than the dichroic cutoff. This places an inherent limitation on the amount of chromatic information available in bright-field imaging but can be compensated using simple postprocessing to recreate images in a traditional color-space by interpolating information from missing color channels. Alternatively, if the information contained in wavelengths shorter than the dichroic cutoff is critical for a particular test, the dichroic filter can easily be removed from the system but must be replaced prior to collection of fluorescent images.

The Rotolight RL48-B Stealth was one of my favorite portable in years past, back before the ring light craze really took off, but sadly it disappeared from the market.

Limitations of system optics must be acknowledged, including the loss of some chromatic information in bright-field images due to inclusion of the dichroic mirror, reduced contrast in high spatial frequency information, increased exposure times necessary for fluorescence images due to use of a noncooled, color camera sensor, and reduced extinction ratios in cross-polarized mode when compared to a gold-standard benchtop instrument. Additionally, the presence of apparent false positives in fluorescence images is yet uncharacterized and must be studied further, after which it is hoped that image processing techniques may be able to separate artifacts from the true positives in datasets. Despite these limitations, the system represents an advancement in the quality and flexibility of microscopy systems designed for use at the point of care and may certainly have applications beyond those described in this work.

A large 18-inch ring light, this offers a good degree of versatility at a price that won't break the bank. It's not quite as powerful as some other options, and the design isn't as slick as the big names, but this is still a formidable performer.

Portable bright-field images clearly show cell boundaries and intracellular parasites, although they do not display the same level of contrast between the intracellular space and background as is seen on benchtop images. In fluorescent images, the portable system is able to clearly resolve dual chromatin dots in ring-stage trophozoites, which are characteristic of P. falciparum infections. In cross-polarized mode, the portable system reveals the presence of hemozoin within a schizont; however, it was unable to detect as many crystals as the benchtop microscope, indicating that the portable system suffers from a loss of contrast in this mode. In general, it was found that the system is able to resolve intra-erythrocytic parasites in all three imaging modalities, though with decreased contrast ratios when compared to benchtop systems using similar magnification. The portable multimodal images show various small parasitic features such as intracellular vacuoles, chromatin dots, ring stage and mature trophozoites, schizonts, and large hemozoin crystals.

At a push you could use this to do some pickup shots for a vlog, but it's really more for close-quarters to give you better lighting quality for video calls and virtual meetings.

30 inchring light

While this kit is geared towards camera phones, the RL-48 is also an ideal on-camera light for traditional cameras (though this kit doesn't come with a foot for the shoe) or you can use it to one side to create more shape (or balance) to your lighting.

Feb 22, 2004 — I've used a light from Advanced Lighting(alcorp.com ) for over 10 ... As for your question my department went with Advanced Lighting Corp.

Creating content on your mobile device? The Selfie Light clips to your phone, laptop or tablet and lights you up wherever you are. Perfect for travel and on-the-move content creators. Read more…

Comparative metrics for images of the same sample taken on both portable and benchtop microscopes. Common diagnostic biomarkers are shown for (a) bright-field, (b) fluorescence, and (c) cross-polarized images, with (d) measurements of quantitative parasitemia shown for each model.

The brightness is dimmable via an analog adjustment dial, which some people actually prefer to digital control – though this can make it more challenging to achieve consistent light.

To broaden the functionality of point-of-care devices toward diagnostic utility and translational potential, this work presents a configuration of a portable microscope capable of gathering images in bright-field, fluorescence, and cross-polarized modes and transmitting the data wirelessly to any web-browser-enabled device for viewing and processing. Numerous portable microscopes have previously reported bimodal functionality, most commonly pairings of either bright-field/dark-field or bright-field/fluorescence imaging.6,9–15 However, combinations of three or more imaging modalities have been almost exclusively relegated to sophisticated benchtop instruments.16–21 On the benchtop, combinations of bright-field, fluorescence, and cross-polarized imaging have been validated, yet never translated into portable configurations for use at the point of care.22,23 This system, designed using off-the-shelf optical components, is easily adaptable to the needs of a variety of imaging tasks, making it, to the authors’ knowledge, the first published example of a portable, customizable, and trimodal microscopy platform.

The overall microscope configuration is depicted in Fig. 1 and was previously reported as a proceeding of SPIE.43 Both epi and transmission illumination are available, depending on the desired imaging mode. A 3D-printed housing holds elements of the simplified Köhler transmission illumination system, in which light from a warm-white light-emitting diode (LED) (XREWHT-L1-R250-009F7, Cree) is collected by a singlet asphere (ACL25416U-A, Thorlabs), transferred through a field diaphragm, and, after being folded 90 deg by a plane mirror (PFSQ10-03-P01, Thorlabs), is passed through a linear polarizer sheet (PS030-R15, MidOpt) and condenser aperture before being focused onto the sample plane by a second identical asphere, which has an NA of 0.79. In epi-illumination mode, such as for fluorescent imaging, light from a blue, 485-nm LED (XPEBBL-L1-0000-00301, Cree) is collected by a similar singlet asphere, passed through an excitation filter (#67-028, Edmund Optics), reflected off of a dichroic mirror (#67-080, Edmund Optics), and condensed onto the sample plane through the microscope objective. Both LEDs are driven at 3-V forward voltage, resulting in expected luminous flux output of 80 lumen from the white and 45 lumen from the blue. From the sample, image-encoded light is collected by the objective, passed through the dichroic mirror and one of three available filters in infinity space, then focused onto the camera by a tube lens with 100-mm focal length (TTL100-A, Thorlabs). A third-party, reduced focal length tube lens was chosen to reduce optical system path length and because such a lens is more likely to be useful with objectives from a variety of manufacturers. Both the imaging and transmission illumination paths are folded using planar mirrors to reduce the overall footprint of the system.

The authors wish to thank Masih Ghorayshi for his assistance in preparing and staining blood smears for analysis for this study; Richard Horner and Cody Lewis for their design and assembly of the electronic systems used for sample control; and Kevin Kiefer and Taila Kawano for their assistance with growing parasitic cultures and creating blood smears used for analysis. This work was made possible by contributions from the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the form of Research Grant No. 1402846, graduate research fellowship positions (GRFP #2017240275), and the Precise Advanced Technologies and Health Systems for Underserved Populations (PATHS-UP) Engineering Research Center (1648451).

Once upon a time, only professionals used ring lights! Prior to the LED revolution, they were the preserve of glossy magazine shoots and slick music videos. Nowadays, though, technology has made them much more affordable and available to the masses – though plenty of professionals still use them, especially in the world of content creation.

Diagram of portable microscope system layout and completed prototype microscope: (a) system layout diagram, (b) system CAD model, and (c) final microscope system prototype.

✅ You want an all-in-one solution: The kit includes a quality tripod and a ball head mount for phones or small cameras to perfectly aim the light – nothing else needed!

The filters are a bit fiddly to interchange, but nonetheless enable you to shoot under different lighting conditions. The whole thing is powered by three AA batteries, which means you can pop in replacements and keep on shooting without having to wait for an internal battery to recharge.

✅ You need the most portable option: This little light is so small, it easily slips into a pocket, a handbag, a sling bag or anything else.

From images collected on both the portable and gold-standard systems, image quality metrics and parasitic counts were collected to quantify the performance of the portable system. Figure 7 presents bar graphs showing the mean intensity of various morphological features in images of each modality, with data normalized to the mean of the feature with highest intensity in each to compensate for differences in exposure intensities and times between the portable and benchtop systems. Between 3000 and 3500 cells were surveyed using each system. For parasitemia analysis, the infected proportion of cells was treated as a Bernoulli distribution, with binary determination of either “infected” or “uninfected” made for each cell and variance expressed as the binomial proportion confidence interval.

While the best LED light panels and the best lights for Zoom calls tick some of the same boxes, for the best and most flattering lighting there is no substitute for a ring light. (And if you want to shoot a different kind of close-up, check out our guide to the best ringflash for macro photography!)

You may have seen influencers or party gals using one on a night out, as it's ideal for capturing well-lit selfies. It's also perfect for Facetiming while on holiday or virtual meetings while traveling. It's a great portable makeup light, too!

Resolution capability of the system as shown by (a) imaged 1951 U.S. Air Force target. (b) Line contrasts were averaged over the vertical and horizontal elements using boxed regions as shown using ImageJ software.

Large Ring Lightfor photography

I've filmed quite a bit of video content for clients as well as Digital Camera World using these lights, along with using them for my professional photography portfolio.

For my money, the Razer Ring Light is the sweet spot of price, performance Because of their size and shape, the results are incredibly flattering which is why they're so popular among content creators. The larger the ring light, the softer the light so if you want a natural light go for something bigger. However, if you mostly shoot with your phone on the move you may be better suited to something smaller than clip directly onto your device. Most ring lights come with a stand and a mount for your phone so you can position it in the center of the light making it easy to shoot.

I also take them out to see if they're sturdy enough to be transported and used on location, or if they're only really robust enough to stay on your desk or in the corner of your room. It's also important to see how the output performs when using batteries versus main power, if that's something they offer.

For those moments when you only need a little light, this very little light from Xinbaohong is perfect. It's so small that you can pretty much keep one on you at all times, in a pocket or bag.

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The best ring lights used to be just for vloggers and Tiktokers, but now they're essential for anyone attending virtual work meetings as well as Zooming or Facetiming with friends and family.

US Godox MF-R76 Macro LED Ring Flash Light Macro Close Up Camera Speedlite Flash. Brand New · Godox. $149.00. or Best Offer.

❌ You're averse to waste: This light requires a pair of AA batteries, so you'll need to keep buying and trashing cells (or invest in a rechargeable set) when power runs out. ❌ You need to change filters often: The kit comes with four filters, to shoot under different lighting conditions, but they're a pain to change in a hurry!

Whenever I need to do photography or video work, though, the Lume Cube Ring Light Pro is absolutely my go-to. Whether I need to snap a cheeky headshot or film a close-up for a YouTube video or Instagram story, this gives me the power and more importantly the quality of light that I need.

Thin films of blood cultured with P. falciparum were stained using either dual-staining or SYBR Green-1 methods as previously referenced, and images of these smears collected using the portable microscope were analyzed to assess signal strengths for each preparation protocol across each mode. Figure 5 shows the average pixel intensity of various parasitic morphological features from grayscale images of this comparative study. Sample variance was defined as the standard deviation of the population of signal values surveyed. Bright-field images clearly show cell membranes and intracellular malaria pigment using either staining technique. Dual-stained images express a slightly darker background than those stained with SYBR Green-1 alone; however, no significant difference was found for the absorption of light in trophozoites between the two staining methods [Fig. 5(a)]. Fluorescence images reveal no significant difference in background intensity between the two staining techniques, although samples stained only with SYBR Green-1 showed significantly higher signal in trophozoites and schizonts, which is desirable for signal collection efficiency with low-cost photodetector arrays [Fig. 5(b)].

Images of a multimodal phantom collected on (a) individual benchtop instruments and (b) the portable microscopy system. The same field of view is imaged on each system.

All components of the multimodal imaging system are self-contained in a durable plastic enclosure measuring 11″×6″×5″, with auxiliary components such as the Raspberry Pi, motor control board, and rechargeable battery packs fully integrated into the unit. The unit is capable of operating without any external power supply from onboard battery packs or may be plugged into an external 5-V power supply for operation and battery recharge. An advantage of the system is its flexibility to be easily modified to match the specific needs of a variety of specific tests that may be required. For example, if images of a different magnification or fluorescence emission spectrum are desired, components such as the objective lens, emission filters, LEDs, and dichroic mirror are easily accessible and can be interchanged to adapt the microscope to achieve the desired performance. This ability to customize the microscope underscores its potential utility as a platform for performing laboratory-grade microscopic imaging at the point of care for a variety of applications. The system as presented here is not without its usability limitations, as numerous changes would likely be made to translate the current prototype into a commercially viable unit that is low cost and field-ready. Use of off-the-shelf or 3D-printed optomechanical components should be replaced by inexpensive, appropriately toleranced injection-molded parts to improve repeatability and reduce costs. Additionally, the water, shock, and dust resistance and overall durability have not yet been fully tested for the prototype and would need to be considered before field use.

For photo and video, this is my top choice. It's pricey but, with remote controls, wireless or USB use, and outstanding light quality, this is perfect for anyone who needs pro performance. Read more

✅ You're a smartphone shooter: This is ideally suited to working with a phone, whether you're a content creator or you dial in to work meetings from your handset.

Georgia Event Lighting Experts. As Georgia's premier event lighting company, Illuminating Design provides innovative lighting design and installation ...

Articles from Journal of Biomedical Optics are provided here courtesy of Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers

Razer hasn't skimped on build quality, either. Unlike a lot of other ring lights out there, the Razer is very sturdy and reliable – mine has done plenty of journeys thrown in a bag or the back of a car!

Gerard Coté is a Texas A&M University Regents Professor and the James J. Cain Professor I in biomedical engineering at Texas A&M University. His research includes biomedical sensing for diagnostic and monitoring applications with a recent focus on the development of wearable and hand-held medical devices for underserved populations. He is a fellow of four societies (IEEE, SPIE, BMES, and AIMBE) and is an entrepreneur who has founded several start-up companies.

Thin smears of P. falciparum stained with SYBR Green-1 were imaged using the portable microscope and a benchtop Nikon Eclipse inverted microscope as a gold-standard control. Images from all three modalities of the portable system were successfully collected in succession and wirelessly transmitted to a personal electronic device for analysis. The results of multimodal imaging shown in Fig. 6 show that the portable instrument is capable of producing images of comparable image quality to benchtop instruments for each contrast modality. Images taken using the portable system were previously reported in an SPIE proceeding.47 Diagnostically relevant morphological features were able to be observed in images from all three modes on both systems. All images were converted to grayscale during analysis. This was done primarily for aesthetic purposes, as it minimizes confusion resulting from chromatic shifts that appear when blue-channel data are removed from the bright-field color images, and fluorescence and cross-polarized images could then be false colored to heighten contrast in the displayed images.