Lighting is one of the most important aspects to take into consideration when you are taking pictures of your sports cards for listing. Good lighting can even make a photo taken from a cell phone look great. Although the best lightning is natural lighting, you can’t always have perfect natural lighting. This is where having a light box comes into play.
With so many different light boxes on the market it can be hard to find just the right one. We sifted through the market and picked out the best light boxes to use for your sports card photos. Some are expensive while some are cheap, but they will all work well.
In our comprehensive guide to the best light box for sports cards, we’ll show you the best light boxes on the market and give you some advice when it comes time to choose. Let’s get started.
IN A HURRY? HERE’S OUR TOP PICKS…
| Name | Our Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|
FOSITAN Photo Light Box | 5/5 | Click for Price |
| Travor Photo Studio Light Box | 4.5/5 | Click for Price |
| Glendan Portable Photo Studio Light Box | 4/5 | Click for Price |
1- FOSITAN Photo Light Box
Our top pick for the best light box for your sports cards is the FOSITAN Photo Light Box. It has high quality LED lights which will give you excellent lighting at all times. There is also a brightness dimming option which you can modify from 1%-100%
This light box also comes with 5 colorful PVC background papers to change the color of the background. The light box is also very simple to set up. It is a one-piece structure design and can be put together in under 5 seconds. When you are done with it, you can simply just fold it up and put it in a storage bag.
This entire kit includes 1 light box studio, a brightness dimmer, power adapter, diffuser cloth, 5 different background papers, and a 12 month warranty.
What we like
- High quality
- Multiple background colors
- Easy and fast setup
What we don’t like
- Very pricey
Check Price and Reviews on Amazon
2- Travor Photo Studio Light Box
Th next light box on our list is the Travor Photo Studio Light Box. This high quality light box is structured to provide multi-angle shooting. It’s made out of metal tubes, upgraded zippers, and has multiple openings which enables you to choose the best angle for your shots.
This light box also provides 4 different colored backdrops to change the background color if needed. There is also an inner reflective fabric that helps minimize and reduce shadows so you can get the clearest photo possible.
This light box size is ideal for small to medium-sized objects which makes it perfect for taking pictures of sports cards.
What we like
- High quality
- Multiple colored back drops
- Multiple openings for different angle shots
What we don’t like
- Very expensive
Check Price and Reviews on Amazon
3- Glendan Portable Photo Studio Light Box
The next light box on our list is the Glendan Portable Photo Studio Light Box. It has built in stepless dimming which can be controlled on a scale of 1%-100%. Multi-angle shooting is also possible as there are multiple openings for you to take pictures from.
Another great feature with this kit is the multiple colored back drops. There are a total of 6 different colored backdrops that can be used. White, black, orange, blue, green, and red. Assembly is also fast and can be done in about 10 seconds. When you are done taking pictures, simply fold it back up and put it away in its waterproof carry bag.
What we like
- High quality
- Affordable price
- Fast setup
- Stepless dimming
What we don’t like
- Flimsy
- Light may not be bright enough
Check Price and Reviews on Amazon
4- PULUZ 9.8″/25cm Foldable Portable Photo Studio Light Box
Another great light box is the PULUZ 9.8″/25cm Foldable Portable Photo Studio Light Box. Its assembly takes under 5 seconds and is portable enough to be stored away in a tote bag for compact storage. Powering the inside of the box are very powerful 5500K LED light beads. These light beads will provide you with a vivid brightness that will help your pictures look natural.
Another great feature included with this kit is the option to change the brightness with a dimming function. The brightness level can be changed anywhere from a 1%-100% value. This is great for saving energy as well as making light adjustments to your photos.
Multi-angle shooting is also possible as this light box has a front window that supports horizontal shooting and a top hole that supports a 90 degree vertical shot.
What we like
- Multi-angle shooting
- Fast setup
- Portable
- Modest price point
What we don’t like
- Feels cheap/flimsy
Check Price and Reviews on Amazon
5- nezababy Photo Box
The last light box on our list is the nezababy Photo Box. This is a great budget light box as it is the cheapest out of all the previous lightboxes. Although it is cheap, it will still be able to hold its own, especially if you will just be using it to take pictures of your sports cards. Assembly is simple, but it will take a bit longer to put together than the others. Setting this light box up will take a little less than 3 minutes.
The light powering this box offers 72 high-quality beads which have the option to be dimmed with 10 different brightness levels. It’s not as customizable as the 1%-100% dimmable light boxes, but will still provide you with great brightness levels for your photos.
Change the background with the 6 included EVA backdrops. The backdrops are easy to fold, crease, and put away in storage.
Taking pictures from different angles is also possible with openings in the front and the top which gives you different perspectives for your photos.
What we like
- Best value
- Multiple openings for different angle shots
- 6 included backdrops
What we don’t like
- Long assembly time
- Low quality
Check Price and Reviews on Amazon
What to Look for in a Light Box
To find the best light box for your needs, consider the following major aspects before finalizing a purchase.
Size
Size is an important aspect when looking for a light box. If you will just be using a light box to take photos of single sports cards or small sports card lots, then purchasing a light box that is at least 9 x 9 should suffice.
Openings
Another factor to take into consideration with a light box are its openings. Some light boxes will have multiple openings. This is useful if you will be wanting to take photos at different angles without having to move or adjust your item.
Multi-Color Backdrops
Some light box kits will come with multiple background colors or background drops. This is highly personal preference as the default color for most light boxes is white. If you want to have a different background color other than white then you may want to take this into consideration.
Dimming
Some light boxes will have LED’s that are able to be dimmed. This type of feature will usually let you change the brightness of the lights on a scale of 1%-100%.
Best Light Box Brands
Fositan
Fositan is a company that specializes in a wide variety of lighting equipment. Their headquarter was founded back in 2006 and they have been focusing on the photography and lighting industry for over 15 years. This makes them experts in their field and they bring quality products that you can trust and rely on.
Fositan has set out to make it their mission to put out high-quality but equally affordable lighting into the hands of consumers and hobbyists alike.
Puluz
Puluz technology is one of the leading manufacturers that specializes in lighting and camera accessories. Puluz is a company that has more than 300 employees that are all working on product design, manufacturing, customer service, and even logistics. Their warehouse operates on a 24/7 schedule and goods are shipped by DHL, post package, and air and sea cargo.
FAQs
How Do You Take a Picture of Sports Cards Without Glare?
Using a lightbox is one of the best and easiest ways to take professional looking photos of your sports cards. Using a light box will help eliminate glare, and also provide you with a high quality photo even if you are using a cell phone.
Are Light Boxes Worth It?
A good light box can help you take professional looking photos even with a poor camera or cell phone. Good lighting is one of the most important elements when it comes to taking pictures. Using a light box is a great way to modify the light on your objects when using natural lighting isn’t possible.
Final Thoughts
Our top pick for the best light box for your sports cards is the FOSITAN Photo Light Box. It’s high quality, can be set up within seconds, comes with multiple backdrops, but does come with a steep price. It’s an overall excellent lightbox if you plan on using it for more than just your sports cards.
The runner up light box that we recommend is the nezababy Photo Box. It’s extremely budget friendly and is great if you are planning on just using it for your sports card photos. The one major drawback to this light box is how long it takes to setup. Setup can take a few minutes compared to just a few seconds like the other light boxes.
Whichever light box you choose for your sports cards, we hope this guide has been helpful in your purchasing decision. Thanks for reading!