Budget Lighting Kits Compared

 

Budget Lighting Kits Compared

LED Panels vs COB Lights for a Classroom Studio (and why “cheap” doesn’t have to look cheap)

If you teach in a classroom (or record lessons in one), you’ve got the same problem every time: big bright walls, shiny benches, a whiteboard that behaves like a mirror, and a ceiling full of fluorescent fittings that hate your camera.

So you buy lights. Then you discover there are two very different “budget” worlds:

• LED panels (flat, wide, already-soft-ish)

• COB lights (chip-on-board “monolights” that need modifiers)

Both can look excellent. Both can look dreadful. The trick is choosing the right type for your space and teaching style.

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1) What you’re really buying: “area light” vs “point source”

LED panels = area lights (easy softness)

Panels give you a broad, even source. That means:

• soft-ish shadows straight away

• flattering for faces

• quick to set up

• great when you need “good enough” fast

COB lights = punchy point sources (softness is optional… but powerful)

A COB is effectively a small, intense source that becomes whatever you shape it into:

• softbox = beautiful soft key

• bounce = huge soft light for almost nothing

• fresnel = throw light across the room

• grid = control spill

That flexibility is why many creators end up preferring COBs as they build a “proper” kit over time. (Even B&H’s podcast lighting guidance frames COB monolights as strong value for output—as long as you diffuse them.) B&H Photo Video

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2) The classroom realities that matter more than specs

A) Space (distance to subject)

• Small room / tight set: panels are forgiving because you can place them close without feeling like you’re sunbathing.

• More space / wider shots: COBs win because they can be pushed further back and still have presence—especially with a decent modifier.

B) Control (spill onto whiteboards & shiny benches)

• Panels can splash light everywhere unless you add barn doors / grids.

• COBs with a softbox + grid give far better control and keep your whiteboard from becoming a glowing rectangle.

C) Speed (how quickly you can start recording)

• Panels are the kings of “set it, point it, done”.

• COBs are slightly slower—unless you keep softboxes assembled and treat them like a permanent studio fixture.

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3) The quality factors that actually show up on camera

Colour accuracy (CRI/TLCI)

Budget lights often look fine to your eyes and awful to your camera. Look for published CRI/TLCI data from the manufacturer and avoid mystery-brand claims that feel… imaginative.

Output (brightness)

Panels can be bright, but COBs tend to deliver more usable “punch” for shaping and bouncing—particularly as you add modifiers. B&H Photo Video+1

Shadow quality

• Panels: smooth, low-drama shadows (good for teaching)

• COB bare: harsh shadows (bad for most teaching)

• COB through diffusion/bounce: lovely, controllable shadows (best of both worlds)

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4) Three classroom-friendly lighting setups (that don’t need a film crew)

Setup 1: “Talking head + whiteboard” (minimum fuss)

Best with panels

• Key: 1 panel at 45° to your face

• Fill: reflector or second panel at low power

• Background: keep the board darker than your face to avoid glare

Upgrade: add a grid or angle the panel so reflections bounce away from camera.

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Setup 2: “Experiment bench / overhead-ish vibe”

Best with COB + modifier

• Key: COB into a softbox above and slightly forward of the bench

• Control: grid to stop spill hitting everything

• Extra: small panel for filling shadows on hands/equipment

This is where COBs shine: you can shape the light to make glassware, sensors, and shiny kit readable rather than reflective chaos.

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Setup 3: “Two-camera classroom (wide + close-up)”

Best as a hybrid

• COB as key (softbox + grid) for the main look

• Panels as fill / background / practical boosts for evenness and speed

If you’re running a multi-camera studio (which you are), the hybrid approach keeps skin tones consistent while keeping the room usable for wide shots.

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5) Budget kit recommendations by “what you’re trying to film”

Not brands—roles (because roles survive upgrades)

Option A: Panel-first kit (fastest, simplest)

Ideal if you film:

• whiteboard teaching

• face-to-camera lessons

• quick daily content without set rebuilds

Buy:

• 2× LED panels with diffusion

• at least 1× grid/barn door option

• stands you trust (because wobble is the enemy)

Option B: COB-first kit (best long-term “proper lighting”)

Ideal if you film:

• experiments, apparatus, close-ups

• anything with shiny surfaces

• interviews / “YouTube studio” style lessons

Buy:

• 1× COB + softbox (with grid if possible) as key

• 1× smaller light (panel or small COB) as fill
  B&H’s advice for podcast setups aligns with this: COB monolights deliver strong output value, but you should diffuse/bounce for flattering results. B&H Photo Video

Option C: Hybrid kit (best for teachers who do everything)

Ideal if you alternate:

• whiteboard + bench

• portrait + product-style shots (equipment close-ups)

Buy:

• 1× COB + softbox (key)

• 1× panel (fill / background / quick fixes)

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6) The “don’t waste your money” checklist

Before you click “buy”:

• Can I control spill? (grids/barn doors matter in classrooms)

• Can I diffuse easily? (softbox/bounce makes COB usable)

• Can I power it reliably? (mains + battery options if you roam rooms)

• Is it quiet? (fan noise can ruin spoken teaching)

• Will it stay up safely? (stands + sandbags > regrets)

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Bottom line

• If you want speed and simplicity: go LED panels.

• If you want control and a path to “cinematic but clean”: go COB, but budget for diffusion/modifiers. B&H Photo Video+1

• If you teach across whiteboard + experiments: the hybrid kit is the sweet spot.