Choosing the best lights for your GoPro camera can be the difference maker in recording high-quality or low-quality footage. However, choosing the right set of lights can be tricky since there are so many options to pick from.
Hi, it’s lovely to meet you! My name is Larry, and I’m a certified GoPro fanatic. Unfortunately, due to the compact size of GoPros, they have smaller camera sensors than other digital cameras. Therefore, they don’t perform as well in low-light environments.
Luckily, I’ve tested dozens of different GoPro lights and have compiled a list of the top 7 best lights for GoPros that I’m excited to share with you today. I’ll also answer a few common questions and explain what makes the best lights for GoPro.
Keep reading to learn more!
Contents
- Key Takeaways
- What Makes the Best Lights for GoPro
- Top 7 Best Lights for GoPro
- 1. GoPro Light Mod (Best Overall)
- 2. Suptig Underwater Dive Lights (Best Underwater)
- 3. GoPro Zeus Mini (Best Compact External Light)
- 4. ULANZI Video Light (Best Value)
- 5. Sea Dragon 2000F (Best Premium)
- 6. IVISII G2 Pocket Light (Best Mini Tripod Light)
- 7. Neewer Waterproof Light (Best Budget Lighting System)
- Final Thoughts
Key Takeaways
- GoPro lights are a must-have to record high-quality footage during nighttime or in low-light scenarios.
- Without lights in low-light settings, your GoPro videos will be noisy and grainy.
- There underwater GoPro lights you can use to capture high-quality ocean footage.
- The most important factor when choosing the best lights for GoPro is how many lumens it offers.
- The GoPro Light Mod is the best overall lighting for GoPro cameras.
Do you need a light for GoPro underwater?
I highly recommend using a light when you want to record underwater GoPro videos. Even a smaller light produces much better video quality. This is because it’s difficult for sunlight to protrude into the water, which results in a low-light environment. Therefore, bringing a light underwater is essential for clear underwater footage.
Is GoPro good in low light?
GoPros are not the best cameras for low-light videography and photography. Due to its smaller camera sensor, your videos may turn out grainy or noisy when filming in low-light scenarios. If you don’t have a light and are shooting in low-light situations, I recommend using lower FPS video settings.
How do you put the lights on a GoPro?
You’ll need a media mod or third-party GoPro cage to attach a light onto your GoPro camera. You can also attach your GoPro light onto a mount instead of your camera. This way, you don’t need to purchase an additional media mod or GoPro cage.
How long does the GoPro light last?
The GoPro Light Mod lasts up to 6 hours at the lowest brightness and up to an hour at the highest brightness. However, there are third-party GoPro lights that last longer than 6 hours. To charge your GoPro Light Mod, you can use the included USB cable, which takes about 1.5 hours to charge fully.
What’s the best GoPro light mod?
The best GoPro light mod is the official GoPro Light Mod manufactured by GoPro. Since the GoPro company itself makes it, it offers outstanding brightness and build quality. Furthermore, it’s lightweight and compact, so it won’t weigh your camera down or cause strain if you hold it for a prolonged period of time.
What Makes the Best Lights for GoPro
Before we dive into my list of the best lights for GoPro cameras, discussing what factors you should consider is essential. This way, you can pick the best light for your specific shooting needs and requirements.
So, let’s take a closer look at the key criteria you need to think about when choosing the best lights for your GoPro.
- Max Lumens: The most essential factor of a GoPro light is how many lumens it offers. Lumens are a measurement of how much light a bulb emits. Therefore, it describes how bright your GoPro light is when you turn it on. Depending on your recording situations, you may need a light offering the most lumens possible.
- Battery Life: While GoPro lights come with a rechargeable battery, keeping your light’s battery charged during long filming sessions may be challenging. For this reason, finding a light that offers enough battery life is crucial.
- Mounting Technique: You also need to think about how you will attach your light to your GoPro or various mounts and accessories. Luckily, there are several ways you can use your GoPro lights. This includes a tray and arm set, media mod, or ball mounting system.
- Waterproofing: If you plan on recording underwater footage, you need a waterproof GoPro light. Without waterproofing capabilities, the light will break and simmer out if you take it underwater.
Top 7 Best Lights for GoPro
The best light for your GoPro depends on your specific needs and preferences. Some lights offer brighter lighting for professional shoots, while other lights are more compact and better for vlogging and casual action content. Furthermore, most lights are waterproof and let you shoot beautifully clear underwater footage.
So, let’s dive into my list of the top 7 best lights for GoPro cameras. I compiled this list based on years of testing and recording nighttime videos.
Here we go!
1. GoPro Light Mod (Best Overall)
- Max Lumens: 200 lumens
- Battery Life: Up to 6 hours
- Mounting Technique: Media Mod or various GoPro mounts and accessories
- Waterproofing: Up to 33 feet or 10 meters
The GoPro Light Mod adds a compact but powerful LED light for your future GoPro adventures. With the GoPro Light Mod, you can shine your recording subject with smooth, wide, and even light to capture ultra clear footage.
The Light Mod attaches to the HERO10 Black, HERO9 Black, and HERO8 Black with a Media Mod. Furthermore, you can use it with a variety of other GoPro mounts if you have an older GoPro camera.
This light has a built-in rechargeable battery that runs up to 6 hours on the lowest brightness setting. There are four brightness levels, and you can also use strobe mode for signaling and visibility.
Built by GoPro itself, this light is durable and waterproof up to 33 feet or 10 meters. The Light Mod, light diffuser, 2-finger adapter, and USB-C charging cable are included in the package. My favorite feature about this light is how bright it is compared to its size. Just like me, you’ll be shocked at how powerful it is.
However, if you need extravagant lighting, there are limitations with the GoPro Light Mod. Designed for portability and convenience, you may need a more powerful light if you plan on recording subjects far away in the distance.
My Verdict: The GoPro Light Mod is the best overall GoPro light because it offers impressive lighting in a compact and lightweight form factor. However, you should remember that the Media Mod is sold separately.
2. Suptig Underwater Dive Lights (Best Underwater)
- Max Lumens: 233 lumens
- Battery Life: Up to 9 hours
- Mounting Technique: Cold shoe mount adapter
- Waterproofing: Up to 164 feet to 50 meters
The Suptig Underwater Dive Lights is built with a stainless steel body that makes this LED incredibly durable. Since it’s designed for underwater adventures, it’s important to use a light that won’t rust when exposed to water.
This light uses 84 LEDs to provide a wide angle light of 5000 lux. You’ll be shocked at the amount of area this light can cover. In terms of lighting modes, there are four options: high light, mid light, low light, and SOS mode. Therefore, finding the perfect setting for your recording environment is easy.
Since this is the best underwater GoPro light, you’d expect it to be able to travel deep into the ocean. This is exactly the case. The Suptig Light is waterproof down to 50 meters or 164 feet, which is relatively deep compared to other lights.
In terms of battery life, this light has a built-in lithium battery you can charge with the included micro-USB cable. Furthermore, the color temperature is 5500K. In my experience, this light is perfect when your recording subject is 3 to 5 feet away. It offers highly detailed videos and photos when used at a close range.
Although I never had any issues with the light after dozens of dives, some users reported leaking and water damage. Luckily, most users shared the same experience as me, so you shouldn’t have issues taking this light into the sea.
My Verdict: The Suptig Underwater Dive Lights are the best underwater GoPro lights because they offer impressive visual lighting at a relatively affordable price. The included cold shoe mount adapter can also easily attach it to your GoPro.
3. GoPro Zeus Mini (Best Compact External Light)
- Max Lumens: 200 lumens
- Battery Life: Up to 6 hours
- Mounting Technique: Mounting clip or internal magnet
- Waterproofing: Up to 33 feet or 10 meters
The GoPro Zeus Mini is another official GoPro accessory manufactured by the GoPro company itself. For this reason, you can expect reliability and top-notch performance. In addition, this mount is unique because it’s not meant to attach to your GoPro or external mount.
Instead, it features an internal magnet you can use to stick onto metal objects such as appliances, pipes, auto parts, and equipment. Furthermore, the Zeus Mini has a Grip Slip clip you can easily attach to a hat, backpack strap, table, or workbench. This means you quickly shift the lighting position for the best footage possible.
In addition, the light features a 360-degree swivel that lets you adjust the viewing angle on to go. Similar to the GoPro Light Mod, the Zeus Mini has four levels of brightness, from 20 to 200 lumens. It also features the same strobe mode you can use for signaling and impromptu dance parties.
You can also attach this light to your GoPro via a Media Mod or cold shoe mount. The package includes a light diffuser, 2-finger adapter, USB-C charging cable, mounting buckle, and thumbscrew. However, this light isn’t the best option if you go underwater. Although it’s waterproof, you may want a brighter light.
My Verdict: The GoPro Zeus Mini is the most versatile GoPro light because it attaches to dozens of objects in your vicinity. The Zeus Mini offers adequate lighting for low-light environments, even on the lowest setting.
4. ULANZI Video Light (Best Value)
- Max Lumens: 800 Lumens
- Battery Life: Up to 5 hours
- Mounting Technique: Cold shoe mount adapter
- Waterproofing: Not waterproof
The ULANZI Video Light offers color temperatures ranging from 2500K (warm) to 5500K (cold) and five brightness levels. Also, this light has a built-in 2000mAh lithium battery with a charge time of 2 hours. On max brightness, the battery lasts up to 2 hours, while it can last up to 5 hours on the lowest brightness setting. You can charge it with the included USB-C charging cable.
This inexpensive GoPro light uses 49 LED beads to light up the world in front of you. Therefore, it offers an easy way to reduce post-grading work by allowing your camera sensor to process more detailed photos and images.
If you are looking for a small and affordable light to accommodate your GoPro camera, look no further than the ULANZI video light. It can fit onto a variety of different GoPro mounts or balance on its own when placed in a stationary position. Additionally, you can use it for light vlogging at night or as an accent backlight.
On the downside, I must remind you that this light isn’t waterproof. Therefore, you can’t bring it on your scuba diving or snorkeling trips. Furthermore, it can only be mounted in one position since it doesn’t feature angle adjustment capabilities.
My Verdict: The ULANZI Video Light is the best bang for your buck because it offers extensive lighting in a compact and affordable device. The battery life is impressive, and there are five different brightness levels and multiple color temperature options.
- Max Lumens: 2000 lumens
- Battery Life: Up to 4 hours
- Mounting Technique: Included GoPro adapter
- Waterproofing: Up to 330 feet or 100 meters
The Sea Dragon 2000F is a premium GoPro light designed for professional productions or diehard GoPro fanatics like myself. The Sea Dragon has a 120-degree topside beam angle and a 90-degree underwater angle, as well as three brightness settings at 100%, 50%, and 25%.
You can connect the Sea Dragon to any GoPro camera mount or standard ¼-20 tripod. With 2000 max lumens, this is easily one of the most potent and bright GoPro lights available. It also features an 80 Color Rendering Index (CRI) that mimics natural daylight.
The removable 25-watt lithium-ion battery runs up to 60 minutes at 100% power and much longer at lower brightness settings. This light also has a hidden emergency signal mode and quick-release button if you want to handle the light manually.
This mount can travel down to 330 feet or 100 meters for underwater dive use. I was amazed at how the Sea Dragon can light up a reef and bring out the true colors in my GoPro videos. As you’d expect, the build quality is also outstanding and built to last a lifetime.
However, the primary downside to this light is its relatively high price point compared to other options. But you can’t go wrong with the Sea Dragon if you’re looking for a serious workhorse and don’t have a budget limit.
My Verdict: The Sea Dragon is the best premium GoPro light because it offers the brightest lighting available on today’s list. Sea Dragon is a reputable brand that’s been manufacturing camera lights for over two decades.
6. IVISII G2 Pocket Light (Best Mini Tripod Light)
- Max Lumens: 700 lumens
- Battery Life: Up to 5 hours
- Mounting Technique: Self-standing tripod
- Waterproofing: Not waterproof
The IVISII G2 Pocket Light offers an expansive color temperature range from 2600K to 10000K. Weighing in at 11 ounces with dimensions of 5.6 inches long, 3 inches tall, and 3.7 inches wide, it’s easy to carry with you while traveling.
This light is unique because it’s not meant to attach to a GoPro mount or your GoPro itself. Instead, it comes with a mini tripod stand which means you can easily set up this light in a stationary position.
In my opinion, this light is perfect for vlogs, YouTube content, portrait shooting, product shooting, and video shooting with less movement involved. This is one of the best RGB box lights with a functional mounting system. So yes, you can attach it to your GoPro and remove the tripod if you’d like to.
This light also has a full range of RGB color options. Therefore, you can record unique colors such as purple, blue, green, red, and yellow. The possibilities are endless. Furthermore, the light takes two hours to charge.
The only downside to this mount is that the controls may take some time to get used to. This is because the buttons are relatively small and difficult to press if you have larger fingers. You must also cycle through all the options to get to your preferred setting. It’d be better if this light included a mobile app or external remote.
My Verdict: The IVISII G2 Pocket Light is a versatile mount you can attach to your GoPro or use externally with the included tripod mount. It’s much brighter than you’d expect and can set any color under the sun.
7. Neewer Waterproof Light (Best Budget Lighting System)
- Max Lumens: 700 lumens
- Battery Life: Up to 4 hours
- Mounting Technique: Included mount
- Waterproofing: Up to 131 feet or 40 meters
The Neewer Waterproof Light provides a wide-angle light perfect for a GoPro’s wide-angle camera lens. This light has a color temperature of 5500K, 20 LEDs, and three lighting modes. The included mount allows you to attach the light to any GoPro camera or accessory.
A unique feature of this light is that it includes three color filters of white, orange, and purple to vary up your video footage. It also has a built-in battery you can charge with the included USB charging cable.
As the name states, the Neewer Waterproof light can travel down to 131 feet or 40 meters since it’s sealed with a high-pressure waterproof ring. However, this light works great on land if you’re filming past sunset or in low-light environments. Overall, this light was much better than what I expected for its relatively low price point.
The only downside to this mount is that since it’s so inexpensive, the build quality isn’t as good as other options. However, unless you accidentally drop it or handle it carelessly, you shouldn’t have any issues.
My Verdict: The Neewer Waterproof Light is the best budget lighting system because it’s waterproof, offers excellent wide-angle lighting, and includes a GoPro-compatible mounting system.
Final Thoughts
GoPro lights can dramatically improve your footage quality during nighttime or low-light settings. Not only do they provide better videos, but they are also easy to set up, lightweight, and affordable. Today’s guide taught you the best 7 GoPro lights, depending on your preferences.
I hope by now you’ve narrowed in on which lights to use with your GoPro camera. The GoPro Light Mod is my favorite option because it attaches directly to my GoPro and provides excellent lighting for its compact size. However, the Suptig Underwater Dive Light is the better option if you plan on snorkeling or scuba diving.
So, which light from today’s guide caught your eye? Do you have any further questions about GoPro lighting? Either way, let me know in the comments section down below!