I had dinner with famed photographer Ebet Roberts, where, in the fashionably dim lighting of a New York City bistro, we unpacked the Lume Cube Light Panel for still and video cameras. I’ve unpacked toothbrushes that took more time to set up, and we did it sipping cocktails. It wowed both of us.

About the size of your average cellphone (c. 2017-2019), we slipped on the included hot shoe, slid off the protective cover, pressed one button and were lit up and ready to go. (It has an attachment for a cold shoe, too.) With a range of about 20 feet, the lighting felt warm and natural. Up-or-down buttons incrementally raise the color temperature of the light from 3200K to 5600K, and another the brightness, which—trust me—at 100%, is pretty damned bright in a bistro. You’ll get attention from your waiter.

A small but readable screen on the back offers status reports on the Light Panel, the most important of which are remaining time of the battery, in hours (which changes instantly as the light output is increased or decreased—brighter light, less time left), and the Color Temperature. Help and advice is offered on www.lumecube.com in video tutorials, but, honestly, it probably gets very few hits, since this is so easy and intuitive.

My ultimate test of cameras and lighting is photographing my dog. Jet black and shiny with one white glove, Michael Jackson is hard to shoot. At another friend’s home we had Lily, another challenge, this time a white dog with gray markings. Too much light, she’ll fade out, but not enough, and Michael Jackson will become a Black Hole. See the results for yourself.

I hadn’t counted on an important bonus. In addition to the two input/charging ports (Micro USB and USB-C), the unit has one mini USB output port, so this light serves as a power bank and can actually charge your phone, headphone or camera, even while the Light Panel is off—a potential lifesaver. The Light Panel itself will hold a charge for more than a week. Of course, it comes with all the necessary cords.

Outstanding lighting, easy to use, ultra portable and helpful in an emergency, the Lume Cube LED Light Panel couldn’t be a better fit for anyone with a still or video camera, professional or amateur. Makes me wish Lume Cube was in charge of our National Grid.

—Suzanne Cadgène