A cheap, pocketable LED light that saved my day more than once. In late 2018 I reviewed the Sokani X21, a little light that can rescue a shoot in a hotel room, a taxi or wherever you end up.
Busy times
I'd been away for a couple of weeks: paperwork, a new apartment, a music video to shoot, kids and work. I'd been filming but not editing. This was the first video in a new series, and I gave myself three minutes on the clock to talk about this light (spoiler: I didn't manage it).
What's in the box
The Sokani X21 is very similar to a light Aputure launched a couple of years earlier, which I also own. The company sent me this one a few months before the review, and I'd been using it a lot. What's different from the Aputure is the number of gels: 12 of them, in different colours and temperatures, and they look great. It comes with a nice pouch, charging cables, a hot-shoe mount for your camera and two diffuser covers to soften and spread the light.
The only problem: the gels don't fit in the pouch.
Small but powerful
Don't let the size fool you. You can dim it in steps of ten, and at 100% it's really strong. To prove it, I switched off every other light in the room and lit myself with just this one. It works. You could vlog like that in a hotel room or in a taxi. With the gels you can change the mood completely: my favourite is the blue one.
My verdict
It's basically the same idea as the Aputure, but at a lower entry price, around $49 back then. Whether you're starting a vlog or working with clients in dark places, you really need a light like this in your bag. I know I keep saying it, but it's true.