Review: Ulanzi VL120 RGB LED video light

Be it for photography or videography, having a multicoloured fill light in your pocket can prove invaluable in countless scenarios. Ulanzi are a Chinese brand known for making great value budget priced and decent quality products.

I was intrigued by Ulanzi’s quirky and cheap VL120, a compact RGB LED video light, and at an RRP of just $39 USD ($60 AUD) I had to give it a shot – primarily as a fill light for tabletop and food photography.

The tech

Measuring 10.6cm x 6.6cm and being around 1cm thick and weighing in at 120g, the Ulanzi VL120 video/fill light is around the size of a smartphone.

It’s made from durable plastic with a built in USB-C charged 3100MAH battery and diffuser, and it has an ¼ screw mount (with a cold shoe adaptor supplied). In addition, it has 42 LED lights that are controlled by an on-off switch and two dials.

The lights are adjustable between 2500K-9000K and can be switched between 20 different modes, from standard colours to flashing and pulsating modes. There is also a charging cable and silicon diffusor included. 

Build quality

Although it’s entirely plastic, there’s no doubt that the VL120 is still a sturdy and robust light. I’ve managed to drop it countless times and so far, it hasn’t even blinked. That said, there’s no promise of any kind of weatherproofing with the Ulanzi, so keep that in mind.

In use

Firstly, the VL120 is extremely easy to use, although the claimed battery life of 1.5-3 hours is slightly stretching it and one of my two lights (yes, I bought two!) does get hot after 30 minutes or so of use.

At first, the changing colours may seem like a gimmick, but boy are they ever fun! I found they led to amazingly creative tabletop photography and video options, as well as being good for my intended use for food-fill light videography.

The colours also well for bold backlighting small subjects, which is why I bought a second.

For tabletop photography, it’s worth noting that the Ulanzi doesn’t emit a hugely powerful light given the size, although this is common with continuous light sources. 

The wrap-up

Cheap, fun and creative – what’s not to like? The Ulanzi VL120 is simply great to use, and perfect if you're into product photography.

The results

Build quality & durability – 4/5

Excellent overall build quality and it has proved very durable. The silicon/rubber diffuser is also good quality.

Features – 4.5/5 

If only it could sing and dance too! The different lighting and colour options are really great to have, like a mini creative wand in your hand.

Image quality – 4.5/5

You can create great tabletop images with this light, especially of you have more than one and play around, although their power and range is limited.

Value for money – 5/5

These are superb value for money, and cost about the same are a second battery for my more expensive lights.