Professional quality photographs are a necessity if you want to display your craftsmanship and wares online for e-commerce or in publications. This requires you to create an infinity background with even and shadow-free lighting for the product.
In this review, we will examine some collapsible tabletop photo studio lightboxes that will make it easier for you to work in your office or home.
We will talk about the size, materials, and lights, as well as how you can shoot using them. So, let’s go through them and find the best light box for photography for your needs…
Contents
- 1 Top 10 Best Light Box for Photography In 2023 Reviews
- 1.1 1 Amazon Basics Portable Photo Studio LED Lightbox (Foldable) 25 x 30 x 25 – Best Budget Light Box for Photography
- 1.2 2 MyStudio MS20 Photo Studio Lightbox Kit w/ 5000K Lighting for Professional Tabletop Product Photography – Best Mini Light Box for Professional Photography
- 1.3 3 HAVOX-Photo Studio HPB-80XD Super Bright CRI 93 Dimmable LED Lighting 32 x 32 x 32 Lightbox – Best Collapsible Light Box for Shooting Large Objects
- 1.4 4 Photography Lightbox Photo Studio Kit, 160 LED 3 Color Lighting Tent w/ 6 Colored Backgrounds and Mini Tripod – Best Affordable Lightbox Kit for Ecommerce Photos
- 1.5 5 Puluz Photo Lightbox Kit. Professional Tabletop Lightbox w/ 64 LED Lights and 6 Backdrops of Different Colors 16 x 16 x 16 – Best Lightbox Kit for Over the Top Ecommerce Shots
- 1.6 6 SLOW DOLPHIN Folding Photo Studio Lightbox Kit w/ Adjustable 80 LED Ring Light and 6 Colored Backdrops – Best Lightbox Kit for Shooting Very Small Items
- 1.7 7 LimoStudio Table Top Photography Lightbox Kit w/Studio Style LED Lights and 4 Colored Backdrops – Best Lightbox Diffuser Kit for Photography
- 1.8 8 SLOW DOLPHIN 9 x 9 Portable Studio Lightbox Kit w/ 2 Light Strips and 6 Colored Backdrops – Best Mini Photography Light Box
- 1.9 9 Neewer Photo Studio Diffusion Softbox Shooting Cube Kit w/ 4 Colored Backdrops and Carry Case. 24 x 24 x 24 Collapsible – Best Soft Box Diffuser for Your Studio Lights
- 1.10 10 Depthlan Photo Studio Folding 20 LED Lightbox Kit w/Black and White Backdrop (For Small Items) – Best Portable Mini Light Box for Photography
- 2 Best Light Box for Photography Buyer’s Guide
- 3 Got The Best Camera For The Job?
- 4 With So Many Choices, Which Is The Best Light Box For Photography?
Top 10 Best Light Box for Photography In 2023 Reviews
1 Amazon Basics Portable Photo Studio LED Lightbox (Foldable) 25 x 30 x 25 – Best Budget Light Box for Photography
The Amazon Basics photo studio LED lightbox is a capable platform in which to shoot your products. However, you will have to follow the online recommendations for camera settings to get rid of the crease in the background. The crease is due to how the box is constructed and isn’t really a problem unless you are shooting a very light-colored object.
The ins-and-outs…
The lightbox is an all-in-one package that simply unfolds and is ready to use in less than a minute. Then the carry case becomes a 25 x 30 x 25-inch white shooting space with a black fabric overlay to prevent light leakage.
There are three openings in the center of the front panel and one top panel opening to give you various angles to shoot from. They are magnetically sealed and won’t move the box around when opening and closing.
The lights…
The two LED light strips are daylight balanced at 5600K and have a high color rendering index. The main light is fixed at the top and aims down to reflect light evenly throughout the box. Then the second light is angled and used to create a directional highlight. This may show a shadow, depending on the angle of your camera.
The lightbox’s inner walls are a durable non-textured white material that softens and smooths out the light as it reflects it. In the back of the box at the top, there are two hooks so that you can hang a self-created backdrop to give your images a personal flare.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 25 x 30 x 25 inches (opened)
- Weight: 14 pounds
(4.6 / 5)Pros
- Black fabric cover to prevent light leakage.
- Manual for basic camera settings.
- Relatively very affordable.
Cons
- Prone to shadows.
- The lighting setup is uneven.
2 MyStudio MS20 Photo Studio Lightbox Kit w/ 5000K Lighting for Professional Tabletop Product Photography – Best Mini Light Box for Professional Photography
Next up in our best light box for photography reviews is one for the professionals. Or, you can also learn to shoot products with professional-grade quality using the MyStudio MS20 Lightbox kit. However, the MS20 is not a pop-up and fold studio lightbox kit that is easy to carry around. It is an accurate miniature version of a professional studio setup.
The kit is suitably small and can be used and stored safely on a small tabletop. It consists of a cyclorama, a color-corrected main light, and three reflective cards.
The kit…
The cyclorama is the highlight of this kit, as it gives you a perfectly seamless background and allows for depth of field. Moreover, at almost 20 x 20 x 12 inches, you will be able to shoot anything from jewelry to a normal-sized pair of shoes without any problems.
The supplied light is balanced for daylight with a CRI of 92 and will render your product’s true colors. It comes on a height-adjustable aluminum frame with an adjustable overhead reflective card. However, two other reflective cards (9 x 12 in.) are provided in the kit so that you can create contrast on your product while shooting.
What you can really do…
Since it is an open setup, you can add lights and use various materials in front of them to create different lighting effects. You are not limited to shooting from designated openings and therefore can get the perfect angle for your shot.
Specifications
- Dimensions 19.63 x 19.63 x 11.63 inches
- Weight: 9 pounds
(4.1 / 5)Pros
- The lighting system.
- Various reflective cards.
- Cyclorama.
Cons
- A learning curve for proper highlights on the product.
3 HAVOX-Photo Studio HPB-80XD Super Bright CRI 93 Dimmable LED Lighting 32 x 32 x 32 Lightbox – Best Collapsible Light Box for Shooting Large Objects
Photograph objects up to 23.6″ in length, width, and height in the Havox Photo Studio HPB-80XD portable lightbox. The HPB-80XD is a 32″ collapsable box that comes with four rail lights, three backdrops, and a carrying case. Setting up takes around ten minutes, maybe more, but it does not require any use of tools.
What’s in the box?
The shell has a black outer cover, while the inside is a soft white reflective material. Inside are the four rail lights that run along the top. Each light consists of 82 SMD LED photo lights. However, the lights are around 5500K (standard daylight) with a CRI of 93+, so colors will be natural and clean. They are also dimmable and will shine as bright as 26,000 lumens, giving you reasonably quick shooting speeds.
Below the lights is a diffuser; however, it is thin and should be bolstered by the use of vellum or replaced with a heavier material of the same sort.
A few last words…
There are several openings along the front and on the top to give you a variety of shooting angles for your product. The flaps are held by velcro and over time may become worn and require replacement velcro tabs.
The Havox is a perfect size if you shoot a variety of products. A great space for the larger objects, and it gives you room to create a set for smaller things. The minor issues mentioned are relatively easy to overcome and shouldn’t be a deterrent.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 32 x 32 x 32 inches
- Weight: 15.4 pounds
(4.3 / 5)Pros
- Large size.
- Covered to prevent light leakage.
- Lighting.
Cons
- The diffuser material is too thin.
- The provided black backdrop is reflective.
4 Photography Lightbox Photo Studio Kit, 160 LED 3 Color Lighting Tent w/ 6 Colored Backgrounds and Mini Tripod – Best Affordable Lightbox Kit for Ecommerce Photos
The Photography Lightbox Photo Studio kit may be the answer to get you better, more professional-looking photos for your e-commerce business. The sturdy 16 x 16-inch vellum box snaps together quickly, has three lighting modes and brightness control.
Use it to photograph your handmade cards, models, or other projects. The kit comes with six different colored backgrounds so that you can change the look. It also has a nice mini tripod to hold your phone if used as the camera.
The box itself…
On the top panel sits the 160 LED bead ring light, which is about double that of similar lightboxes. The light has three modes; soft, white, and warm, to give you variations to the look of your product. Interestingly, there is also the ability to dim the light to create further effects.
Hook the different colored backdrops into the box and see how different lighting setups work with them.
The box has a port in the top and front panels for shooting, and you may even open the front panel completely, depending on your needs.
Recommendations…
With a lightbox of this nature, it is crucial to set your camera accurately. Play around and find the perfect white background exposure and record the settings. Use these settings as the starting point so that you can see the real effects of the lighting modes.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 17.7 x 16.3 x 2.8 inches (folded)
- Weight: 2.99 pounds
(4 / 5)Pros
- Easy to set up.
Cons
- Light leakage.
- No outer black covering.
5 Puluz Photo Lightbox Kit. Professional Tabletop Lightbox w/ 64 LED Lights and 6 Backdrops of Different Colors 16 x 16 x 16 – Best Lightbox Kit for Over the Top Ecommerce Shots
An all-in-one portable tabletop photo lightbox kit that folds itself into its own carrying case. It is remarkably straightforward to set up and has the lights built-in where they need to be. The Puluz lightbox is ideal for a business that puts its products on the web.
About the box…
The lightbox is covered in a heavy black material to prevent light leakage, and the front panel opens most of the way to provide various shooting angles. On the top in the center is a port for an over the top shot.
Inside, the back panel is white, while the top and two side panels have a silverish hue and a pebbled surface. Therefore, the silver brightens the light while the pebbled surface disperses the light for even coverage.
Impressive performance…
Though there are only 64 daylight LEDs with a CRI of around 94, it is more than sufficient to light the product and background correctly due to the box’s interior panels. The lights run in two rows along the top and are adjustable for brightness between 3000-6500K.
The provided backdrops are made from thick vellum that has a satin finish and is wrinkle-free. Make use of the six different colors to enhance your photos further and give your e-commerce site a more inviting look.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 16 x 16 x 16 inches
- Weight: 4.24 pounds
(4.7 / 5)Pros
- Interior surfaces.
- Size.
Cons
- Cannot replace lights.
6 SLOW DOLPHIN Folding Photo Studio Lightbox Kit w/ Adjustable 80 LED Ring Light and 6 Colored Backdrops – Best Lightbox Kit for Shooting Very Small Items
Ideal for shooting small items, the Slow Dolphin folding studio lightbox kit is a 31cm cube that can fit on any countertop. The open front makes for hassle-free placement of your product and allows you to shoot from many different angles. The side panels have one curved edge, which gives a cove type effect to the lighting and may require adjustment in your camera settings.
The box is made from a reflective plastic material that uses insertable flaps to fit together and assembles in just one or two minutes.
The lighting…
On the top panel sits the 80-bead LED ring light. The light shoots at varying temperatures giving you a white, soft white, and warm effect. However, you could also use the dimmer switch to change the intensity of the light in the shot.
Included in the kit are six backdrops of varying colors that easily slide into place. Use these and other props to give your photo an extra unique look or to emphasize your product.
Additional items…
Things you may want to add to enhance your photographs would be a diffuser under the light ring to get rid of reflections and some white, gold, or silver reflective cards to add contrast to your product.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 12.9 x 12.2 x 12.2 inches
- Weight: 1.3 pounds
(4.4 / 5)Pros
- Light and easy to assemble.
Cons
- Insertable flaps for assembly.
- Made of plastic.
7 LimoStudio Table Top Photography Lightbox Kit w/Studio Style LED Lights and 4 Colored Backdrops – Best Lightbox Diffuser Kit for Photography
Have fun setting the stage with the LimoStudio Tabletop Lightbox kit. While this may not be the best light box for photography, the LimoStudio allows you to set the light stands and use the box as the diffuser rather than a reflector.
The carry case unfolds into the shooting tent and comes equipped with two LED lights with stands, a tripod for your phone (8-inch), a phone clip, and two yellow plus two blue filters for the lights. Also included are four colored backdrops, which are made from a washable material.
Using the kit…
The case opens into a 16 x 16 shooting area with the top, back, and bottom covered in black material to help prevent light leakage. The two sides of the box are transparent white material used to soften and disperse the two light sources.
The lights are balanced for daylight temperature at 600 lumens each and come on their own stand. Place them outside of the box so that they shine through the sides of the tent.
It’s worth mentioning…
Make sure to play around by adding sheets of vellum or other materials to the sides of the tent or in front of the lights to get different effects. And, remember that you also have space to add reflective cards to increase the contrast of the product image.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 17.5 x 3.7 x 17.75 inches
- Weight: 4.04 pounds
(4.3 / 5)Pros
- Two stand lights (custom placement).
Cons
- LEDs are weak.
- Backgrounds are slightly bigger than the box.
8 SLOW DOLPHIN 9 x 9 Portable Studio Lightbox Kit w/ 2 Light Strips and 6 Colored Backdrops – Best Mini Photography Light Box
Photograph your miniature models and other small items with this Slow Dolphin studio lightbox kit. The tent is set up to give you a better quality photograph to put on your e-commerce or web page for display.
How it works…
Made of reflective white plastic material, the Slow Dolphin portable studio is no bigger than the size of a paper file when collapsed. Setting up the box is just a matter of snapping the metal buttons together and should take less than a minute or two.
The tent opens to a 9 x 9 shooting area that is lit by two rails of 20 bright white LEDs each. The rails are on the top panel, with one at the back angled straight down to highlight the backdrop and one at the front angled to the position of where the product would sit.
Even highlights…
The lights reflect off the back and sides of the box and provide an even highlight of the product, as well as the background. The top panel has an opening that will allow you to do top-down photographs.
Be sure to follow the suggested camera settings for your phone to get the correct exposure for a white background. Use the same settings for each of the supplied colored backgrounds.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 9.4 x 9.2 x 2.1 inches
- Weight: 8.8 ounces
(4 / 5)Pros
- Easy to set up and carry.
Cons
- Logo is visible on the back panel.
- Really small.
9 Neewer Photo Studio Diffusion Softbox Shooting Cube Kit w/ 4 Colored Backdrops and Carry Case. 24 x 24 x 24 Collapsible – Best Soft Box Diffuser for Your Studio Lights
The Neewer Photo Studio Diffusion Softbox kit is a perfect tool for someone who has a studio light set up available to them. Made of a soft white nylon type of material, it is built to diffuse light from all angles and provide an even flow of light over the subject and background.
About the softbox…
The cube measures 24 x 24 x 24 and is constructed around a flexible metal frame. The frame folds in on itself and fits nicely into the carrying case. Be careful when pulling the softbox from the case, as it will snap open into shape.
The nylon material will wrinkle while being stored in the case and should smooth out over a little bit of time. A few wrinkles will not have a noticeable effect on the lighting, but you will want to let it sit open to smooth itself out if there are excessive or deep wrinkles.
Accommodates most lenses…
The front panel is held on using super adhesive velcro and opens completely, allowing for easy placement of your product. Reseal the front, and there is a large gash that will accommodate most lenses.
The white, black, blue, and red backdrops that are provided in the kit are held up using the reusable adhesive fastening tape.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 11.06 inch x 11.02 inch x 1.97 inch
- Weight: 1.69 pounds
(4.3 / 5)Pros
- Great usability.
Cons
- Need studio lights.
10 Depthlan Photo Studio Folding 20 LED Lightbox Kit w/Black and White Backdrop (For Small Items) – Best Portable Mini Light Box for Photography
The Depthlan Folding Photo Studio is a simple, take it with you on the go type of product. Made of light plastic, the Depthlan folds into a carrying case that is no bigger than a small stack of A4 size paper. It is an excellent addition to help you photograph the smaller products that you may display in your e-commerce business on the go.
Ease of use…
Setting up the tent is easy and simply requires you to align the holes and snap them together. It opens into a 9 x 9 shooting space with an open front panel for comfortable shooting.
Maximum light and reflection…
The lighting is a row of 20 white LEDs that are located at the front on the top panel. The lights angle to the background to get maximum light and reflection that can be accomplished in this type of set up.
The kit comes supplied with attachable white and black backgrounds. It is suggested to play around and find the best exposure settings for your camera so that you can get the perfect shot.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 9 x 9.5 x 9 inches
- Weight: 9.6 ounces
(4.1 / 5)Pros
- Easy to assemble.
- Folds up nicely.
Cons
- Very small.
- Gaps in the construction.
- Short USB cable.
Best Light Box for Photography Buyer’s Guide
There are a variety of portable lightboxes for photography that are available on the market. Each type or style has its place and can be of value to a specific user. However, this is a market where you get exactly what you pay for, so you need to know how you are going to use it.
What Is Important?
Size is the most critical aspect when it comes to buying a photo lightbox. You need to have enough room on the inside so that you can not see the side walls or how the background hangs. Also, the size of the box has to be suitable for the size of the object you photograph. Too big or too small creates problems.
- Materials
Materials that make the lightbox are another significant factor. Dark heavy material on the outside is best to keep the light from leaking when the lights are inside the box. Inside the box, the material should be reflective white material that breaks up the light and spreads it evenly throughout the box. Or, the side panels could be a textured, light silver surface that does the same thing.
- The lights
Lights are assembled and placed in a variety of ways depending upon the manufacturer. The most important thing about the lights is that they should be daylight temperature around 5500K to render colors correctly. Whether they have different modes and can be dimmed is of no real consequence and is simply a feature to have fun with and create other effects on your photo.
- Types of lightboxes
There are basically three types of portable lightboxes; enclosed, partially enclosed, and shoot-through. Each is valuable and has specific applications.
An enclosed photo lightbox is going to provide you with the most light and get you photos that really snap. They usually have several openings to offer you various shooting angles.
Partially enclosed…
A partially enclosed lightbox may be great or not; it depends on the number of lights and how well the material evenly spreads the light around the shooting platform and background. These types of boxes could be ideal for someone interested in getting a better image of their products on an e-commerce page.
Shoot-through boxes…
The shoot-through boxes may be wholly or partially uncovered. The sides are a translucent white fabric that softens the lights evenly throughout the photograph’s visual field. They require outside lighting sources, though some brands may provide them in their kits. These types of lightboxes give you complete control over what you do with the lighting.
With that in mind, we wish you well in shopping for the best photo lightbox for you.
Got The Best Camera For The Job?
If not, then take a look at our in-depth Best Mirrorless Cameras Reviews, the Best DSLR Camera Reviews, the Best Compact Cameras Reviews, the Best Waterproof Camera Reviews, our Best Cameras for Beginners Reviews, our Best Camera Phone Reviews, the Best Smartphone Tripods Review, and our Best Memory Card for Camera Reviews for 2023!
And if you’re going to print your photos, do check out our latest Best Printers for Photos Review, the Best Printers for Art Prints, or our Best Portable Photo Printers Reviews!
Back to the best portable photography lightboxes…
With So Many Choices, Which Is The Best Light Box For Photography?
Each portable lightbox in this review has its use and value for someone. With all of the different types, we decided on one that is excellent and truly fulfilled its purpose. However, it requires some real photographic skills and is not easily portable.
If that’s suitable for you, our recommended choice here is the…
Puluz Photo Lightbox KitWe chose the Puluz for its size, materials, and construction. It is the best light box overall because it will help you shoot consistently good shots, and you will have enough room to play to create better photographs.
Happy shooting!
