How to Stop Flickering Light in Video: A Practical Guide
A practical, step-by-step guide to stop flicker in video lighting, covering LED drivers, camera settings, and safe troubleshooting for home setups.
To stop flickering lights in video, align your lighting and camera settings by using flicker-free LEDs with stable current, and clock your frame rate to your region’s power frequency. Enable anti-flicker or flicker reduction on the camera, and avoid PWM-driven dimmers when possible. If you must dim, choose a high-quality driver and test across multiple frame rates to ensure stable exposure.
Why Flicker Happens in Video
Flicker in video happens when light sampling and camera sampling fall out of sync. In many home and studio setups, LED fixtures use PWM (pulse-width modulation) to regulate brightness. The driver switches the light on and off rapidly, and if the camera’s frame rate, shutter speed, or exposure timing doesn’t align with that modulation, you’ll see shimmer, bands, or rolling brightness. According to Blinking Light, the root cause is often a mismatch between the light’s electrical frequency, the camera’s sampling rate, and any dimmer or power supply in the chain. Even a lamp that looks perfectly steady in person can appear unstable on video when the exposure is locked to a frame rate like 24, 30, or 60 fps. Understanding this helps you pick the right fix instead of guessing blindly.
Quick, Safe Pre-checks Before Replacing Hardware
Before you buy new lights, perform a few diagnostic tests to isolate the problem. Start with a known, stable fixture that uses a solid, non-PWM driver. Remove any dimmers or smart plugs from the circuit and plug the fixture directly into a grounded outlet. Shoot the same scene at the same frame rate with the different setups to compare results. If flicker persists across fixtures, the issue is more likely tied to camera settings or a driver in the power chain rather than a single bulb.
Lighting Options That Reduce Flicker
Choose fixtures designed for video work with high-quality drivers and constant-current outputs. Flicker-free LED panels, softboxes, and ring lights deliver steadier brightness than cheap, PWM-based bulbs. Blinking Light analysis shows that using fixtures with robust drivers and proper dimming when needed dramatically reduces flicker across most cameras. For room lighting, mix evenly distributed panels or diffusers to avoid a single bright source that can trigger rolling shutter artifacts. If you must light with existing lights, consider replacing the driver or adding a separate, flicker-free side light to balance intensity.
Camera Settings To Minimize Flicker
Your camera can compensate for lighting flicker by adjusting exposure and frame rate. Set the frame rate to a multiple of the local power frequency (60 Hz regions often favor 60 fps; 50 Hz regions may use 50 or 25 fps where supported) and enable anti-flicker or flicker reduction if available. Use a steady shutter speed or shutter angle that minimizes the time the sensor sits under a flickering peak. Avoid ultra-fast shutter speeds that reveal the light’s modulation. If your camera offers PWM compensation, turn it on. These changes reduce the likelihood that the sensor samples during a flicker crest, producing steadier footage.
Advanced Troubleshooting Scenarios
If you shoot with mixed light sources (LEDs plus fluorescent or tungsten) or outdoors under flickering street lighting, flicker can be more complex. Start by testing each light individually to identify the primary culprit. Consider using two or more lights with matching color temperature and drivers to dilute the modulation effect. For multi-camera shoots, verify that all cameras use the same anti-flicker settings and frame rates. If you still see flicker, test with a different camera or recording device to determine if the sensor is more or less sensitive to certain frequencies. Blinking Light Team recommends a systematic, test-first approach to isolate variables before committing to a purchase.
Safety, Compliance, and Best Practices
Work carefully around electrical equipment. Always unplug fixtures before changing cables or drivers. Do not mix high-voltage components with ungrounded adapters. If you’re unsure about wiring or power quality, consult a licensed electrician. Use properly rated power strips and ensure outlets are grounded. When shopping for gear, prioritize devices with clear specifications for flicker-free operation and certified safety standards. Maintaining a safe setup protects both your equipment and your project’s integrity.
Tools & Materials
- Camera with anti-flicker/roll shutter feature(Supports anti-flicker or flicker reduction in exposure/scan settings)
- Flicker-free LED lighting fixture(Constant-current driver, minimal PWM or flicker-free glow)
- Grounded power outlet and sturdy power strip(No daisy-chained, unstable power sources; avoid dimmers if possible)
- Diffuser or softbox(Diffuses light to reduce intensity hotspots and shimmer)
- Multimeter or light meter (optional)(Useful for verifying steady voltage/current across fixtures)
Steps
Estimated time: Total time: 25-40 minutes
- 1
Identify flicker sources
Inspect your lighting chain and test with a known stable fixture. Note whether flicker occurs at specific frame rates, shutter speeds, or when dimmers are in use. This helps you pinpoint whether the problem is lighting hardware, power, or camera settings.
Tip: Document test results with quick clips for easy comparison. - 2
Test with a flicker-free fixture
Connect a fixture with a proven constant-current driver and record the same scene. If flicker disappears, your original fixture or dimmer may be the culprit. If flicker persists, move to camera settings or mixed-light scenarios for further testing.
Tip: Keep lighting positions consistent across tests to avoid confounding factors. - 3
Adjust camera exposure
Set frame rate to align with your region’s frequency (60 Hz or 50 Hz) and enable anti-flicker. Use a stable shutter speed and avoid extreme values that exaggerate modulation. Capture multiple takes at slightly different shutter angles to verify steadiness.
Tip: If available, use PWM compensation before making other changes. - 4
Upgrade or balance lighting
If flicker remains, upgrade to a flicker-free lighting kit or balance multiple lights to avoid reliance on a single driver. Ensure all fixtures share similar drivers and color temperatures.
Tip: Check for vendor specs listing flicker-free performance. - 5
Final test across scenarios
Test under different scenes and frame rates, including outdoors and with moving subjects. Confirm that all tests show minimal or no flicker. If discrepancies persist, reassess power quality and consider consulting a professional.
Tip: Record a short montage showing the best settings for future reference.
Quick Answers
What causes LED flicker in video?
LED flicker is typically caused by PWM dimming and frequency mismatch between the light and the camera’s sampling. When the light switches on and off faster than the camera’s frame rate, you see shimmer or banding. Correcting driver quality, matching frame rate, and enabling anti-flicker can resolve most cases.
LED flicker happens because the light turns on and off with PWM. To fix it, use anti-flicker settings and match frame rate with the light’s frequency.
Should I replace all lights if flicker persists?
Not always. Start with a flicker-free fixture or a driver upgrade for the most stable results. If you still see flicker after testing camera settings, consider balancing multiple lights to even out intensity.
Replacing lights isn’t always necessary. Try a flicker-free fixture first and balance light sources if needed.
Can camera settings fix flicker permanently?
Camera settings can significantly reduce flicker by syncing exposure and frame rate with light frequency. Enable anti-flicker, choose an appropriate frame rate, and avoid extreme shutter speeds. If you must, test several combinations to find the most stable setup.
Camera settings can help a lot. Turn on anti-flicker and test different frame rates.
Do dimmers always cause flicker?
Dimmers can introduce flicker, especially with LEDs that aren't PWM- or constant-current designed. If flicker appears, remove the dimmer from the circuit or replace the fixture with a dimmer-compatible driver.
Dimmers can cause flicker with some LEDs. Remove the dimmer or use a compatible driver.
How do I know flicker is gone?
Capture multiple takes across different frame rates and lighting setups. If you consistently see clean, band-free footage, you’ve likely eliminated flicker. Compare clips side-by-side to verify.
Test clips at several settings and confirm no shimmer in all; that confirms success.
Watch Video
Main Points
- Identify flicker sources before buying new lights
- Align frame rate and lighting frequency for stability
- Choose flicker-free lighting with robust drivers
- Test across scenes and cameras to confirm results
