I’ve always wondered if a ring light like the Mobifoto Mobilite Mark III would make a difference to my video recording productivity, but I never knew just how much it would until trying one out for myself. This ring light is able to perform a number of different functions. It’s a mobile recording setup, a fantastic desk light, and it can even become a studio-size photography light.
In this review I’ll be going over the pros and cons of Mobifoto, highlighting the features that stood out to me so you can see if this device would enhance your content creation workflow.
Features of the Mobifoto Ring Light Creator Kit
- Controlled via wireless remote or built-in control panel
- Light uses 120 bi-colour LEDs and 48 TGB LEDs for a total of 168-colour range
- Rechargeable 8000mAh battery with 2.5 hours of battery life at full brightness
- Micro USB charging cable for portable use
- Quick colour temperature control adjusts from 2700°k-10,000°k
- Light has 15 advanced transition effects with speed control and 3 bright value settings
- Includes a Bluetooth shutter remote and handy travel bag
- Smartphone mount uses a flexible stick for any orientation needed
- Self-storing and foldable stand for easy storage that goes from 65” to 3” tall
Unboxing and setting up the Mobilite Creator Kit
Everything included with the Mobifoto Mobilite Mark III is carefully pre-packed into a handy canvas travel bag. The kit includes a micro USB charging cable, colour remote and shutter remote, a phone holding arm, and a manual.
The base of the stand has a compartment where the extra cables and remotes are stored. I like this feature because you don’t have to worry about them getting lost or tossed around when travelling. I honestly wish more devices had this kind of feature as I find having remotes lying around for all my devices can be an eyesore and find they are pretty easy to lose.
After unboxing everything I started setting up the ring light itself. I was excited to learn that the light is removable for standalone use. This turns the occasionally bulky stand into a complete handheld mobile setup that further unlocks its potential. I thought the full extension mode was a bit much if you’re just using it on a desk, and I had to stop when it almost reached my ceiling. When fully extended the ring light can reach up to 65” in height, almost 5 and a half feet, and it retracts to just under 3” for ease of travel.
When extended to the maximum height I noticed the ring light stand was leaning a bit to one side. After further inspection, it turned out I had not tightened the base enough as it stood fully straight afterwards. It was a good reminder of the importance of ensuring all the device locks on the Mobilite are loosened and tightened properly before and after changing its stance.
The Mobilite Mark III has a robust design
One of the advantages of extending the light to such heights is being able to set the Mobilite ring light on the ground. It’s bright enough to instantly transform wherever you are into the perfect location for content creation. The top of the stand even has a crank that allows for some downward rotation so it can also double as a fantastic overhead light.
The whole device feels durable, and I feel that is in part due to the aluminum and hard plastic materials used. This was especially true for the phone holder. There’s no worry of your phone slipping out at any time as the only way to open it is by prying it on both sides with your hands. While making for a very secure fit, it was a bit of a struggle to get it out carefully. I think that’s a fair trade for knowing your phone is safe at all times.
What you can use the Mobifoto Mobilite Mark III ring light for
The 2.5-hour battery life keeps you well lit without sacrificing any quality or brightness. While there are a lot of ways you can use a ring light like this one, there were a few ideas for use that came to my mind right away.
1. Vlogging and video recording with the Mobilite Mark III
Ring lights are often referred to as beauty lights for a reason. They provide the ideal lighting conditions for video recording your face. This is thanks to the light being close to the camera and providing such a large area of brightness so it fully illuminates the subject and casts very little shadow. While it didn’t instantly make me more photogenic, it certainly helps in adding a professional quality to your videos because everything is well-lit.
2. Improving your product and subject photography
From taking casual photos of your loved ones to professional photography, this ring light is a multi-purpose tool that can fit into any setup. The colour-shifting transition modes create a visually stunning effect as it reflects on objects. It applies a hassle-free mood light to your photography that would normally require filters or multiple combined devices.
3. High focus work light for any time of day
It can certainly be frustrating to work in a room without natural or directional lighting. That’s one of the things that excited me so much about using the Mobilite ring light. It provided excellent brightness at any height or angle while reducing the number of shadows I have to deal with. This is an especially helpful tool when traditional desk lights and lamps aren’t fully illuminating your workspace or you can’t see detail on the projects you’re working on.
Remote control on Mobifoto ring light
Thanks to the light control remote, you can change the various light settings on your ring light without needing to reach for your phone while recording. The built-in remote also allows some basic functionality of colours and brightness which is great if you don’t have the remote on hand at all times.
The ability to change the speed of the light transitions is something I’ve always wanted in an RGB/LED device. It makes adjusting colour settings easy, and that’s something I always struggled with on other lights. It’s so fast and easy to change colours on this light that I could easily see myself using it on a daily basis. The maximum settings on the lights are also extremely bright, especially on the white light settings.
On its own, the ring light was able to light up my entire room. It lit the room so well it allowed me to write notes that I would otherwise be straining to see with my normal lights on.
The Mobifoto ring light is perfect for content creation
Being a higher-end device, I had high expectations for the Mobifoto ring light in terms of features. When comparing it to my own entry-level ring light, I wasn’t disappointed in the least. This Mobilite ring excels at what it’s designed for, and it offers plenty of utility to be used in a wide array of scenarios.
If you want the benefits of this robust ring light but in a more compact size there are also two other versions available. The Mark III 10” and Mark III Compact 6” ring lights are smaller sizes, but combined with Mobifoto’s portability they will be the ultimate companion to any content creator’s toolkit.
Final thoughts on the Mobifoto Mobilite Mark III ring light
Overall, I think the Mobifoto Mobilite Mark III ring light will be a solid upgrade to any content creator’s workflow. It has features that make it a standout competitor in the ring light market.
However, one change I would personally make to the Mobifoto ring light is to have the wall power cable disconnected when using the wireless mode. I’d like a little more freedom to move, but the cable is easy enough to hide behind the stand and won’t get in the way of or show up in your recordings at all. Another feature I would like to see is the ability to make profiles based on your favourite transitions. It would make it faster to swap between a couple of your favourite transitions and that will save you time while recording.
I did notice that one of the LEDs occasionally generated a loud buzzing sound while in use. After researching this issue it turns out it’s not a known problem with the light itself, but a rare issue that can occur with LEDs in general. If you do end up having an issue with loud LEDs, the manual states that Mobifoto offers a 2-year parts warranty so I can wholeheartedly recommend the product despite this small issue.
You can find the Mobifoto Mobilite Mark III ring light as well as the Mark III 10” and Mark III Compact 6” at Best Buy.
