NEEWER Photography Lighting Kit Review: Solid Kit for Budding Photographers

I've been dabbling in photography for a while and decided it was time to upgrade my gear. I came across the NEEWER Photography Lighting Kit, which seemed like a decent all-around starter kit. With an assortment of lights, softboxes, and backdrops, it looked like it could cover most of my needs without breaking the bank.

The first thing that caught my eye was the variety of backdrops included—black, white, and green. These are pretty standard and should help in most scenarios, whether you're doing portraits or product shots. Plus, at its price point, it seemed like a reasonable investment for someone still finding their feet in the photography world.

Another aspect that intrigued me was the continuous lighting kit, which promised to provide even lighting for shoots. This sounded promising as uneven lighting has been a common issue in my previous setups.

After a couple of weeks of use, I felt ready to share my thoughts. Let's dive into the specifics of this kit and see if it’s really worth picking up.

When it comes to value, the NEEWER Photography Lighting Kit offers a fair deal. For what you pay, you're getting a pretty comprehensive package that includes multiple backdrops, light stands, and lighting options. If you're just starting out and need a one-stop-shop, this could be a good pick.

Compared to similar kits on the market, this one holds its own. It's not the cheapest, but it isn't the most expensive either. The inclusion of LED bulbs instead of traditional incandescent ones is a bonus as it saves on energy costs and reduces heat output, which is something you’ll appreciate during long shoots.

A potential downside is the durability of some components. The backdrop stands, while functional, are not the most robust I've encountered. If you're planning on setting up and tearing down frequently or transporting the kit a lot, you might start to see some wear and tear sooner rather than later.

Overall, if you consider the features you get for the price, it's a good value for budding photographers who need a versatile kit to experiment with different setups.

The design of the NEEWER Photography Lighting Kit is pretty straightforward. Setting it up for the first time took me about 30 minutes, which is not bad considering all the components involved. The backdrop stands are simple and decent, with telescopic legs that allow for some flexibility in height adjustment. They feel stable enough once they're set up, but I wouldn't push their limits on a windy day.

The softboxes and umbrellas are easy to assemble, which is great because nobody wants to spend ages putting things together when you’re eager to start shooting. The softboxes are equipped with E26 light bulb sockets, which is handy because it means you’re not locked into using the supplied bulbs. The umbrellas are pretty standard fare, helping to diffuse the light to soften shadows.

One thing I did notice, though, is that the light stands can feel a little flimsy when fully extended. They hold up well indoors, but I'd be cautious about using them outdoors unless you’re prepared to keep an eye on them. They do the job but didn't blow me away with their sturdiness.

Overall, the design is functional but not stellar. It’s what you’d expect for the price, and it gets you shooting relatively quickly.

Performance-wise, the NEEWER kit is solid for its price range. The 24W 5700K LED bulbs provide a good, neutral light that's pretty close to daylight. This is useful for most photography needs, from portraits to product photography. The light output is decent, and I found it adequate for my small home studio setup. It's nice having continuous lighting so you can see exactly what your shot will look like before you click the shutter.

The softboxes and umbrellas do a fair job of diffusing the light, but it's nothing special. You won't get that super soft, studio-quality light you might see in professional setups, but it’s enough to reduce harsh shadows and give your photos a more balanced look. Compared to what I used before, which involved some DIY lamps, this is a noticeable improvement.

One downside is the power output. The bulbs are equivalent to 200W incandescent bulbs, which is adequate for beginners, but might fall short if you're planning to light up a larger space or need more intensity for specific shots. For most amateur and semi-pro needs, though, it gets the job done.

In summary, the lighting quality is decent and will suit newcomers well, but if you're looking for something more powerful or refined, you might need to look elsewhere.