This handy webcam has a built-in ring light, and it's 50% off right now
The Razer Kiyo webcam has been serving me well for a long time and, at a highly discounted price, it could do the same for you.
The Kiyo built-in ring light makes it easy to get quality video for Zoom meetings anywhere.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
I don't have to deal with Zoom meetings all that often but when I do have to open Zoom and have the occasional meeting, I skip over my MacBook Pro and Android phone and turn my eyes directly to my Razor Kiyo webcam. I've had this device for a few years now but it's still available and (currently) selling for $48.71 on Amazon (that's a 51% savings).
It's worth it.
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Yes, there are better webcams on the market, those that can stream 4k video, offer more impressive mic arrays and even include some effects that can be applied. But the Razor Kiyo has one little trick up its sleeve that most other webcams don't…a built-in ring light.
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Razor Kiyo webcam
The Razor Kiyo webcam is currently selling on Amazon for 51% off.
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That little light (which can be adjusted for less or more intensity by turning the outside housing), is capable of lighting me just fine for meetings. Sometimes I'll enhance the lighting with another ring light (which is connected to the boom stand I use) but the built-in light is surprisingly bright. That feature alone sold me on the Kiyo and I haven't regretted it since I purchased the device.
The specs
Before I dive further into my take on this webcam, let's view the specs, which look like this:
Full HD Resolution at 720p 60 FPS/1080p 30 FPS
Audio Codec: 16 bit 48 KHz
Built-In ring light features a 5600K daylight-balanced light with adjustable brightness
Compact, folding design makes it easier to take it on the go
Streamlabs certified for popular platforms such as OBS, XSplit, Twitch, YouTube, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Skype
Supported operating systems: Linux and Windows
Includes threaded standard mounting option or you can clamp it to a laptop lid
You can either screw the Kiyo to a stand or clamp it to your laptop.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
The only caveat to the Kiyo is that I've yet to get it to work on MacOS. It works on Linux out of the box and did the same for my editor on Windows.
The performance
The thing about webcams is that the performance isn't only affected by the quality of the hardware. You also have to take into consideration your network speed, the operating system it's used with, the speed of others in your meeting and their operating system. In other words, you can shell out the cash for the best webcam on the market and still wind up with bad results if OSes or network speeds aren't up to the task.
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In all the years I've been using the Kiyo, I've not had one person complain about the quality of either the video or the mics. In fact, on the rare occasion that I wind up using my MacBook Pro's built-in webcam (instead of my Kiyo on my default Linux desktop), I have had complaints about the quality.
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Part of that is lighting (which is key for anything related to video). The MacBook Pro webcam is notoriously bad in low-light conditions. With the Kiyo and its ring light, there's no such thing as low-light conditions. Turn it on and crank the ring light to full and you're good to go. That feature alone is worth the price of entry. In fact, I often get compliments on the quality of my video when using the Kiyo.
Who is this webcam for?
The Razor Kiyo webcam isn't the best bet for those looking for 4k video streaming. But if you're more concerned about always having sufficient lighting for Zoom meetings, without having to turn to yet another device (such as an LED panel or secondary ring light), this little camera will do just fine. And at $48 USD, you'd be hard-pressed to find a webcam that includes a ring light for that price.
If you're looking for an improvement over your laptop's built-in camera for Zoom meetings, the Razor Kiyo is a great option.
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This $30 'magic arm' is a game-changer for photos and videos
Forget tripods, this is a far better camera accessory.
SmallRig 9.8-inch adjustable 'Articulating Magic Arm' clamp
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
Forget the mini tripods that fall over in the lightest of breezes. The best way to secure your small camera, smartphone, or action camera to get the shot you want is to use an articulated magic arm clamp.
For years I've been using an Ulanzi clamp to attach my action cameras and smartphones (and sometimes much bigger cameras, such as my Sony A7IV mirrorless), but there was one problem with it -- sometimes it wasn't long enough.
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I tried a few different clamps with longer articulated arms, but none had the strength of stability I demanded if I was going to dangle something expensive off of it -- until I came across the SmallRig 9.8-inch adjustable 'Articulating Magic Arm' clamp.
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SmallRig 9.8-inch adjustable 'Articulating Magic Arm' clamp
The SmallRig 'Articulating Magic Arm' clamp features a double 360 degrees Ball Head Articulating design that adjusts any angles based on your needs.
View at Amazon
SmallRig 9.8-inch adjustable 'Articulating Magic Arm' specs
Total length: 10 inches
Max payload: 1.5 kg
Weight: 345 g
Material: Aluminum alloy
Fittings: 1/4-inch on arm, 1/4-inch and 3/8-inch threaded holes on clamp
Clamp jaw size: Can accept rods from 15mm to 40mm
The SmallRig 9.8-inch adjustable (bottom) along with the Ulanzi Super Clamp.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
The primary thing that I look for in this sort of clamp is stability. I want the jaws of the clamp to lock tightly in place, and I want the articulating arm to go from articulating to rock solid. This clamp ticks those boxes.
The SmallRig articulating arm has no problem holding a smartphone.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
With the right attachment, you can connect your smartphone or action camera to the clamp.
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I really like this as a mount for my GoPro Hero11 Black, whether I'm doing something static like capturing timelapses or taking action shots.
This is the most versatile clamp for my GoPro.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
A feature I really love about this clamp is how you can tighten up all the articulated joints using just the wingnut.
This wingnut!
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
That's right, that one wingnut in the middle locks both the elbow in the middle and both ends.
The single wingnut locks the entire articulated arm.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
Once you've tightened that wingnut, everything is locked in place -- the elbow, the joint at the clamp end, and the end that connects to a camera.
Everything is locked in place.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
This is great because the arm is super flexible to allow you to frame up the shot you want exactly as you want it, and then lock up the arm so everything stays where you need it to be with no droop or sagging.
The arm is strong and stable, capable of a 1.5kg payload. Given that a mirrorless camera like the Sony A7IV is about 700 g, this arm can hold a lot more than just an action camera.
Also: The best vlogging cameras to take your videos to the next level
I love the SmallRig 'Articulating Magic Arm' clamp and have used it to get all sorts of shorts, from nighttime star trails to product shorts. It's super versatile, strong, and under $30, so it is perfect for the photographer, action camera user, Instagrammer, and TikToker looking to frame up to get that perfect shot.
For me, the 9.8-inch version is ideal, but if you want a smaller one, SmallRig has a 5.8-inch version with all the same features, just with a smaller arm.
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