ngl i'm hunting for the same thing for my R5 right now and it's been pretty disappointing so far. Most of the stuff I've tested feels like cheap plastic or the battery dies way faster than the box says. My last one literally fell apart mid-shoot because the mount was so flimsy. Quick things to keep in mind:

• Skip anything without a metal cold shoe mount if you move around a lot.
• Watch out for flicker at low brightness levels on some budget brands. Currently torn between the Lume Cube Panel Pro 2.0 Full Color LED and the SmallRig RM120 Long-Battery-Life RGB Video Light. Honestly neither seems like a total home run compared to pro gear, but for $200 we might just have to compromise. If you find a hidden gem definitely share it tho!

> Amaran AL-M9's great. Pocket-sized, under $50, and surprisingly bright for the money. Agree that those are solid for backups, but honestly with a $200 budget you can get way more "oomph" for your R5. I’ve been looking at the market lately and the Zhiyun Fiveray M40 is basically the current king of output for its size—its like 40W compared to the 5W or 10W you get with those older pocket lights lol. If you dont need that much raw power, the SmallRig RM120 Long-Exposure RGB Video Light is another great choice that feels a bit more robust and professional. Basically, at your price point, youre better off looking at newer brands like Zhiyun or SmallRig who are really pushing the tech right now. Just my two cents if you want to actually use that full budget for better color accuracy and brightness!

Since you have $200 to play with, you can definitely find something more robust than the entry-level plastic stuff. I have been geeking out over the specs lately and here is what i would look at for long-term use...

• Godox M1 RGB Creative Light. This thing is built like an absolute tank. It has a full metal housing and an articulated arm that is way more reliable than those cheap cold shoe adapters. The CRI is 97 which is great for skin tones.
• SmallRig Pix M160 RGB LED Video Light. This one has a massive 3800mAh battery. It can actually act as a power bank to charge your phone or a mic in a pinch. Plus it comes with a honeycomb grid to help control the light spill.
• Falcon Eyes F7 II Pocket RGB LED. If you want a bit more punch, this is a 12W light. The magnets on the back are super strong so you can stick it to a car or a light pole if you take it off the R5. Basically just avoid anything that doesnt use aluminum for the body. Heat dissipation on the cheap plastic ones is usually terrible, which makes the LEDs degrade way faster over time.

TIL! Thanks for sharing

I've had good luck with the Aputure Amaran AL-M9. Tiny, but throws decent light for its size. I use it for fill when shooting car interiors. Output isn't super high, but for under $50, it's a solid, pocketable option. Battery life is surprisingly good, too. Depends on your needs, but it works for my simple setups.

Instead of pure LED, consider a used Aputure Amaran AL-M9. You can snag one around $80. It's smaller, but the adjustable color temp is a game changer for matching ambient light – saves editing headaches. Light output might be slightly less, but color accuracy is surprisingly good for the price. Think about batteries too; built-in vs. external each have pros/cons.

Amaran AL-M9's great. Pocket-sized, under $50, and surprisingly bright for the money. No complaints!