Ring lights are so useful to have. They help to vastly improve the overall quality and brightness of a video, and they can be used for many different purposes.
While some people will use them when recording videos or making social media posts, others will use them for photography.
They are the perfect solution for when you want to take photographs or shoot a video in a low light setting.
When it comes to using the ring light, if this is something that is new to you, you may be unsure of how to set up the ring light.
While the majority are fairly straightforward to use, some of them are trickier to set up, especially if they need to be attached to a tripod.
To help you along, in this article, we will be talking you through everything you need to know about ring lights. We will be discussing how to attach a ring light to a tripod, and the purpose of a ring light
What Is A Ring Light?
As its name suggests, a ring light is a type of lighting tool. It can be used by a wide variety of people for different purposes. It is commonly used by photographers and those who record videos to help light up the subject when in a slow lit room.
Ring lights are useful because it means that a photographer or filmmaker does not have to rely on natural light. While natural light is always the best option to use, it is not reliable.
This is not ideal if you are looking to take photographs or videos.
Ring lights are popular for creators that make YouTube videos, and social media posts because the brightness can often be adjusted, and it allows the content to look and feel more professional.
The ring light is made up of either one circular LED strip, or multiple smaller LED light strips.
While the majority plug into the electrics, some are battery operated. Some will be attached to a tripod, and others are standalone.
What Is A Tripod?
A tripod is a useful piece of apparatus that can be used for both photography and video making. It is essentially a three-legged stand that is made using plastics and metal.
It allows you to place the camera, or your photo onto the stand, to make it easier to shoot content.
Tripods can vary in size and height. You can purchase handheld tripods, and larger ones too, depending on the size needed and the purpose. Some will even come with a ring light attached to them.
Tripods are a popular piece of equipment because they allow a person to take more accurate photographs. It steadies the camera, and stops it from shaking.
While you do not have to use them, they are useful, especially when it comes to video making.
How To Attach A Ring Light To A Tripod
When it comes to how a ring light attaches to a tripod, there is not a definitive answer to this question.
This is because there are many different ways a ring light could be attached, it will all depend on the specific tripod and ring light you use.
In a lot of cases, the ring light and tripod are either attached, or are completely separate.
Which option you purchase depends on your needs. For example, if you are looking to purchase a less expensive option, you can choose to purchase a ring light that is already attached to a tripod.
These are useful if you are looking for a quick set-up and one that is easy to transport. You don’t have to worry about attaching the ring light each time you use it to the tripod.
In contrast to this, some ring lights do not enable you to attach them to a tripod. This is because many will already feature their own tripod.
If they are large enough, you can choose to place your camera behind the ring light so that it is shooting through the middle of the ring light. This is a great way to use both types of equipment if they cannot be attached.
When purchasing a ring light, some will come detached from their own tripod. In this instance, you will need to secure it to the tripod using the Z bracket that should come with the tripod.
However, these can be purchased separately if you need one to attach a ring light to a standard tripod.
Using A Z Bracket
If you have purchased a ring light that needs to be placed onto a tripod, this can seem quite tricky to achieve. However, for the vast amount of ring lights, they will come with a Z bracket.
You will need to attach and secure this bracket to the tripod, in order for the ring light to attach.
To do this, you will need to use a screwdriver and have the Z bracket and screws to hand. To begin with, you will want to place the ring light onto a flat surface, with the bulb side face down.
There will typically be two screws on the bottom of the light. You will need to loosen and remove these screws.
Once these screws have been removed, you will then want to line up the bottom of the Z bracket. The two holes on the Z bracket need to be placed over the two holes where the screws were removed from the ring light.
Next you will need to replace the screws, ensuring that you are screwing the bottom of the Z bracket to the ring light evenly, without it being wonky. You want to ensure that the screws are tightened to the bracket.
After you have done this, the ring light can then be attached via the Z bracket to the tripod. This is quick and simple to do. You will just need to remove the quick plate from the tripod by taking out the screw.
Then you will want to line up the z bracket and plate in line, and replace the screw. Ensure the screw is placed back on tightly.
Once you have done this, the ring light will be attached to the tripod. In some instances, you will also be able to attach your camera to the same tripod too.
To do this, you will need to attach the camera to the top of the Z bracket. This is simple to do as it just twists onto the screw at the top of the bracket.
You will need to line up the camera and twist it until it is secure and in the correct position.
It is important to note that every tripod is slightly different, and the steps may vary depending on the tripod and ring light you own.
Summary
We hope you have found this article useful. As you can see, it is fairly straightforward to attach a ring light to a tripod.
While some will already be attached to a tripod, and are separate to the camera, if you need to attach them the steps above are fairly easy to follow. The step may change slightly based on the ring light and tripod.