Today, I’m diving into the JOBY Beamo Studio Creator Kit, an all-in-one solution designed to enhance your smartphone video production. Whether you’re a budding content creator, a professional looking to streamline your setup, or just someone interested in improving your video calls, this kit might be what you’re looking for. Let’s explore its features, pros, cons, and alternatives.
What’s in the Box?
The JOBY Beamo Studio Creator Kit includes:
- Tabletop Stand: With a weighted base and adjustable height.
- Key Light: USB-powered with soft lens diffusion, three color temperature options, and 10-step brightness adjustment.
- Background Light: USB-powered with 10-step brightness levels and 12 color options.
- GorillaPod Style Arm and Phone Holder: Attaches to the tabletop stand.
- JOBY Wavo Mobile Microphone: Comes with cables for smartphone and camera, plus a dead cat windscreen.
Using the Kit
- Setup: Simple and straightforward. Just screw everything together and clip your phone in.
- Power Source: Both lights are USB-powered, requiring a power bank, laptop, or phone charger plug.
- Target Audience: Aimed at younger creators or those new to video production, especially for social media content.
- Video Calls: Ideal for enhancing the quality of video conference calls.
Limitations and Considerations
- Key Light Output: Best suited for indoor use in a dark room. It lacks the power to compete with outdoor lighting.
- Background Light: Could benefit from more power and saturation for more vibrant backgrounds.
- Distance from Background: Requires enough distance to prevent key light spill onto the background.
- Power Source: Does not include a power bank or charger.
- Microphone: The included JOBY Wavo Mobile is good but may not be the best choice for all scenarios. A lavalier mic might offer more versatility.
Alternatives
I explored alternative products to see if I could match the kit’s offerings with more flexibility:
- LED Softbox Kit: Larger light source, more flattering, and versatile.
- Budget Tripod: Separates the phone/camera from the key light for more positioning options.
- Boya BY-M1 Lavalier Microphone: Affordable, offers better audio quality and flexibility.
- Ulanzi RGB Background Light: Battery-powered, similar to the kit’s background light.
Final Thoughts
The JOBY Beamo Studio Creator Kit is a great off-the-shelf solution for those looking to quickly and easily enhance their smartphone video production. It’s compact, affordable, and delivers pleasing results. However, if you’re serious about video production and seek long-term flexibility, investing in individual, higher-quality items might be a better route.
Watch the Video
For a more detailed review and to see the kit in action, check out my video on the JOBY Beamo Studio Creator Kit here.
This blog post is an accompaniment to my YouTube video. Dive into the video for a comprehensive look at the JOBY Beamo Studio Creator Kit and my thoughts on its use in various scenarios.
Keep creating and exploring the world of video production!
