Elgato Key Light Air MK.2 Review: 15-Inch Panel with Focus Grid

Elgato and streaming lighting—they’ve gone hand in hand for years. Now the producer has reimagined its well-liked Key Light Air. And it’s been revamped so totally that basically solely the identify stays the identical: the compact 20-centimeter panel with a stand has been changed by a 15-inch panel with a desk clamp, whereas the brightness has elevated from 1,400 to as much as 2,100 lumens. It additionally options contact controls on the gadget and versatile USB energy supply, and to enhance this, Elgato is introducing the Focus Grid—the primary gentle modifier for the Air sequence. Officially, the brand new model known as the Key Light Air MK.2. In our Elgato Key Light Air MK.2 evaluate, we take a better have a look at the brand new panel and its honeycomb grid. The spec sheet reveals one disadvantage: To obtain full brightness, the sunshine requires a sufficiently highly effective energy supply, but an influence adapter will not be included in the usual package deal.

Technical Specifications for the Elgato Key Light Air MK.2

Package Contents & Setup

Elgato has been selling its almost plastic-free packaging for a while now—in accordance with the corporate, the speed is 95 p.c. In our expertise, the fact truly exceeds the promoting: Cardboard holds the components in place, and even the panel and small components are enclosed in paper and light-weight cardboard sleeves. No plastic so far as the attention can see. The dedication to sustainability extends to the gadget itself: According to the nameplate, half of the housing is made out of recycled materials.

The Key Light Air field incorporates:

• Key Light Air MK.2 (LED panel)
• Table mount with clamp
• USB-C-to-USB-C cable (250 cm)
• Quick Start Guide

The Focus Grid comes individually in a flat cardboard field with its personal fast begin information. However, an influence adapter will not be included in the usual package deal. For our check, Elgato subsequently supplied us with the suitable P30 energy adapter individually. Anyone who purchases the Key Light Air MK.2 and doesn’t but personal a USB-C PD energy adapter with adequate energy output might want to order one individually. To obtain full brightness, the ability supply ought to present not less than 30 watts. Furthermore, since solely a USB-C-to-USB-C cable is included, older USB-An influence adapters can’t be linked with out an extra cable.

Setup follows a easy precept: Screw the clamp to the sting of the desk, insert the telescoping rod, connect the panel, and also you’re completed. There was one limitation with our height-adjustable desk: Because of the rail underneath the tabletop, the clamp doesn’t fairly match there. That’s not an enormous deal, although—the contact floor is giant sufficient, and the meeting sits securely with out wobbling. If you could have a desk with a base body, you must nonetheless shortly verify the sting beforehand. One well-thought-out element stands out throughout adjustment: A centimeter scale is printed on the rod. Once you’ve discovered your required peak, you need to use it to revive that precise setting at any time—for instance, after transferring the desk or rearranging your area.

What’s new? Almost every part

The identify says all of it: The MK.2 has little in frequent with the outdated Key Light Air from 2020. The panel has grown from a 20.5-centimeter edge size to a 15-inch diagonal—that’s, 38 cm—whereas the brightness has jumped from 1,400 to as much as 2,100 lumens. This brings the Air class near the bigger Key Light, which we’ve already examined with its 2,800 lumens.

The second main change issues the mounting, because the predecessor’s freestanding base has been changed by a desk clamp with a telescoping rod. This saves area on the desk and positions the sunshine larger above the digital camera. Third, the sunshine lastly works with out an app: A contact management panel on the gadget permits for fast changes instantly on the panel, whereas with the predecessor, the Control Center app was the one choice.

The fourth new characteristic is the versatile USB-C energy provide. The MK.2 may be powered by way of a USB-C port, a PD energy adapter, or a PD energy financial institution, making it considerably extra moveable than the earlier Key Light Air and the bigger Key Light. However, there’s one necessary catch: The brightness relies upon instantly on the ability supply. Elgato breaks this down transparently:

We additionally skilled simply how critically Elgato takes this tiered system. When plugged instantly into our laptop’s USB port, the app restricted the sunshine to twenty p.c—that’s, 180 lumens. According to Elgato’s desk, this stage corresponds to an influence provide of lower than 7.5 watts; and from 7.5 watts onward, round 400 lumens are anticipated. At least the app communicates this with exemplary transparency, displaying the discover—together with the limitation—proper on the display screen. The excellent news: A particular Elgato energy adapter isn’t strictly vital. So in case you personal a contemporary PD charger with adequate wattage, you would possibly have the ability to skip shopping for the P30 altogether.

On the opposite hand, the brand new vary of connection choices is a welcome enchancment: The app may be managed by way of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or instantly by way of USB. Wi-Fi pairing, particularly, was a frequent supply of errors with the earlier mannequin.

And the again gives a number of mounting choices. There are three 1/4-inch threads to select from: one within the middle for the included rod, and two extra alongside the underside edge for tripods or various mounts. There’s additionally a MagSafe ring there for magnetic mounts. So if you wish to mount the panel away from the desk clamp, you could have loads of choices.

Control Center & Stream Deck: The Ecosystem

As normal, the sunshine is managed by way of Elgato’s Control Center app for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. There, you may repeatedly alter brightness and shade temperature, and the software program additionally permits you to centrally group a number of lights. But the true standout characteristic is the Stream Deck integration. Turn the sunshine on, enhance the brightness, change presets—all of those actions are assigned to bodily buttons. Anyone already a part of the Elgato ecosystem can seamlessly combine the brand new Air. Setup was actually easy for us. The Control Center app finds the sunshine by way of Bluetooth, after which you enter the Wi-Fi password as soon as. That’s all it takes to pair it. There’s no hint of the Wi-Fi frustrations we skilled with the earlier mannequin. The Bluetooth step in between eliminates the necessity for the outdated setup process. There’s additionally a devoted Wi-Fi button on the again for wi-fi pairing.

First impression: Lights on

In phrases of construct high quality, Elgato stays true to its model: Everything matches collectively neatly and nothing creaks. Despite its dimension, the panel is surprisingly gentle, which works to the benefit of the mechanism, because the rod and hinge maintain it effortlessly in any place. But issues actually get thrilling when you flip it on. The edge-lit panel delivers a large, gentle gentle with no particular person LEDs exhibiting via. Instead, the multi-layer diffusion distributes the brightness evenly throughout the complete floor, so there aren’t any seen hotspots.

And this floor actually packs a punch. The 2,100 lumens make a press release: at full brightness, the Air simply illuminates even bigger desk setups, whereas a fraction of that’s adequate for a typical video name. In between, the brightness may be finely adjusted to swimsuit the state of affairs. The identical applies to the colour temperature, which ranges from heat white to chill daylight white: from a comfortable night stream to an office-style setup, something is feasible.

The contact panel additionally does its job effectively. You can alter the brightness and shade temperature instantly on the panel utilizing the contact surfaces. The controls reply reliably, making the app pointless for fast changes. This is particularly handy for anybody who activates the sunshine spontaneously for a video name—it saves you from having to achieve in your smartphone.

However, an important check is—and all the time will likely be—trying via the webcam. When you activate the Key Light Air, the picture adjustments considerably: The face is illuminated extra evenly, picture noise visibly decreases, and the digital camera not has to compensate as a lot electronically for the dearth of brightness. It is exactly this distinction that demonstrates simply how a lot the correct lighting can enhance picture high quality throughout streaming or video calls.

Focus Grid: The Honeycomb Grid for Directional Light

Let’s transfer on to probably the most thrilling a part of our Elgato Key Light Air MK.2 evaluate: the equipment. The Focus Grid is a honeycomb-structured gentle modifier that Elgato is providing for the primary time within the Air sequence. Such grids are acquainted from the world of pictures and video, as they focus the sunshine in a single course and scale back stray gentle to the edges.

The grid can be a primary: With the Focus Grid, Elgato is providing its personal gentle modifier for the Air sequence for the primary time. According to the packaging, the grid is suitable completely with the MK.2, which means homeowners of older fashions are omitted.

Installation is straightforward, because the versatile grid attaches magnetically to the panel and stays securely in place as quickly because it’s positioned on prime. It may be eliminated simply as shortly once you need to change it out. In follow, the Grid noticeably alters the sunshine. The space behind and to the facet of the sunshine stays considerably darker, whereas the sunshine is focused on the face. Anyone trying instantly on the gentle can be much less prone to be dazzled. However, some brightness is misplaced via the grid. With 2,100 lumens to spare, nevertheless, that’s a minor sacrifice.

The grid is especially attention-grabbing for anybody who streams and lives in the identical room. Less stray gentle means much less glare on the partitions, fewer reflections on the monitor, and a calmer total surroundings. On the opposite hand, if you wish to use the complete room as a gentle gentle supply, merely depart the grid off.

Who will profit from this setup?

The target market is broader than the “streaming” label would possibly recommend. Sure, streamers and YouTubers are the core clientele—for them, a key gentle is a must have anyway. But anybody who usually participates in video calls will profit simply as a lot. The distinction between a ceiling gentle and a directional key gentle is simply as noticeable in a Teams assembly as it’s on Twitch. And because of USB and energy financial institution operation, the brand new Air even works as a conveyable gentle for shoots away out of your desk.

The Focus Grid, then again, is aimed toward a extra specialised group. If you’re streaming from a nook of your lounge and need to hold the remainder of the room darkish, that is the correct device for you. Depending on the way you place it, it could possibly additionally scale back reflections on screens or eyeglass lenses. Casual callers, then again, can save themselves the additional price.

Where does the brand new Air slot in?

With its improve to fifteen inches and a pair of,100 lumens, the brand new Air slots in between the earlier fashions. The giant Elgato Key Light from our check stays the flagship for optimum brightness at 2,800 lumens. The new Air counters with contact controls, USB operation, and the optionally available Focus Grid—options that the bigger mannequin doesn’t provide. Elgato has already discontinued the outdated Key Light Air. So, anybody wavering between the 2 Key Light sizes will now be selecting between uncooked brightness and fashionable options.

A sensible tip for patrons: Retailers are prone to nonetheless have some remaining inventory of the outdated Key Light Air from 2020 for some time, so the quickest solution to verify is to search for the “MK.2” suffix—although “15 inches” or “2,100 lumens” can even point out the brand new model. If it says “1,400 lumens” and has a freestanding base, it’s the outdated mannequin in your buying cart, which is why it’s price taking a re-examination—particularly with supposed bargains. At the time of testing, Elgato additionally gives the MK.2 as a “Lights only” model with out a mount, whereas it’s additionally accessible in bundles with the Focus Grid or an influence adapter.

Conclusion of the Elgato Key Light Air MK.2 Review

The new model of the Key Light Air is way more than only a facelift; with a bigger panel, extra gentle, contact controls, USB energy, and—for the primary time—an identical gentle shaper, Elgato has made enhancements in all the correct locations. In our check, the gentle, wide-area gentle was notably spectacular, however the brand new flexibility in mounting and energy provide additionally stood out positively. The Focus Grid additional rounds out the package deal—particularly for individuals who need to direct their gentle exactly reasonably than flood the room. However, there may be one vital criticism concerning the contents of the package deal: The normal package deal doesn’t embody an influence adapter. The P30 energy adapter used for our check was despatched to us individually by Elgato and should subsequently be bought individually.

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