Pro Video

New Web-Based Lighting Calculator Offers Required Light Outputs

LightCalc is a very powerful and capable option for a wide range of users.

Jourdan Aldredge • Jun 19, 2025

A new web-based lighting calculator is on the scene to help DPs and gaffers determine the required light output for their camera settings, modifiers, and fixture types.

Designed for students and educators, working cinematographers, filmmakers, and gaffing professionals, LightCalc is a new solution in an important industry.

Despite years of high-quality lighting tutorials, courses, and equipment available for filmmakers and DPs looking to learn the craft of cinematic lighting better, it can still be difficult to grasp how to properly light projects and scenes.

LightCalc is a very powerful and capable option for a wide range of users. It can provide real-time feedback on how gels, diffusion, and subject reflectance can affect exposure. Let’s check out this new tool and explore whether it might be helpful for you and your needs.

Introducing LightCalc

Crafted by industry professionals for industry professionals, LightCalc aims to be the ideal precision lighting tool for filmmakers. It is designed to help filmmakers and creators of all types properly calculate exposure, plan gear, work with real-world camera, light, and diffusion data, and execute lighting setups in minutes.

The goal is to remove all of the spreadsheets and guesswork that usually go into professional lighting for film and video projects. LightCal is set to include over 120 lighting fixtures and over 350 modifiers, all based on real photometric data of industry-standard brands.

Here are some of the LEDS supported in LightCal:

  • Aputure 300D, 300D II, 600D, 1200D
  • Aputure 80C, 1000C, 1200X, Aputure XT26
  • ARRI Orbiter
  • Fiilex Q5 Color, Q8, Q10
  • Godox M 200D, 300D
  • Godox MG 600Bi, 1200Bi, 2400Bi
  • Mole-Richardson Vari-Baby, Vari-Junior, Vari-Tener, Vari-Big Eye
  • Mole-Richardson 400W Vari-Space I & II, 900W Vari-Space I & II
  • Nanlite Forza 300 II, 500, 720

Overall, the web-based calculator offers a clean and intuitive interface, making it a great option for those looking for hands-on learning in addition to the expected technical accuracy.

Price and Availability

Also worth mentioning is that this LightCalc web-based resource could be a nice educational tool, too, as it allows aspiring filmmakers to experiment with lighting setups virtually while learning the physics behind exposure.

LightCal also operates a unique pricing structure: it’s available via a one-time, all-in payment of €39. You can find out more about LightCal on the company’s website here.

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