SmallRig RM01 Mini LED Light Kit Review: The Toy Photography Game-Changer

If you shoot LEGO sets or miniature tabletop dioramas, you quickly discover an inescapable law of optics: light sources built for human-sized studios are far too big for 4cm minifigures.

On our studio stage, we use big Bowens-mount continuous LEDs and softboxes for baseline illumination. But whenever you want to create drama — carving a hero out of the darkness, throwing a razor-sharp rim light along a helmet, or illuminating a tree trunk without blinding the background — full-size studio panels spill light everywhere.

Enter the SmallRig RM01 Mini LED Video Light Kit (3-Pack).

I bought this kit as an expansion for our toy photography rig, and within thirty minutes of unboxing, it proved to be an absolute game-changer. In this review, I break down why three palm-sized cubes and a box of magnetic modifiers gave us more creative lighting control than thousands of dollars in full-size studio gear.

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SmallRig RM01 Mini LED Video Light Kit (3-Pack) (opens in a new tab)

Three waterproof cube LED lights with magnetic modifiers (silicone diffusers, honeycombs, barndoors, snoots and gels) — our portable 3-point lighting secret weapon for tabletop LEGO and toy photography.

The Role in the Studio: Precision Accents Alongside Big Softboxes

To be clear: the SmallRig RM01s do not completely replace our main studio lighting. On our stage setup, our two large continuous LED lights (the Godox SL60IID and NEEWER CB60B) fitted with gridded strip softboxes still do the heavy lifting from the left and right, creating the foundational cross-lighting that defines the environment.

The problem is that even with grids, a 60x90cm softbox throws a beam measured in feet. When you want to highlight a single 4cm minifigure, light up an internal chamber, or carve a sharp edge on a tiny weapon, large studio panels inevitably spill light where you don’t want it.

The SmallRig RM01 cubes are the surgical additions:

1. The emitter is smaller than a 2x4 LEGO brick. You can position it inches away from a minifigure without blocking your camera lens.
2. The magnetic modifiers actually sculpt the beam. The honeycomb grids cut side-spill entirely, while the rubber snoots turn the beam into a laser-focused spotlight.
3. They hide inside the set. At 63 grams, you can tuck an RM01 behind a miniature boulder, under a LEGO archway, or perch it in the upper canopy.

Hands-On: Staging the LEGO Zelda Great Deku Tree

The real test came when shooting our flagship review of the LEGO The Legend of Zelda: Great Deku Tree (77092). The Deku Tree is a sprawling, sculptural 2,500-piece build with dark bark, pink foliage, and a tiny Link minifigure holding the Master Sword in front of the base.

Here is how we progressively layered the lighting to build the final shot:

Phase 1: The Isolated Key Spotlight (1 SmallRig)

In our first test composition, we wanted Link completely isolated in the dark, mysterious woods. We kept the ambient stage light minimal and aimed just one single SmallRig RM01 with a snoot directly at Link and the Master Sword pedestal:

Phase 2: Revealing the Ancient Tree (2 SmallRigs)

An isolated hero is dramatic, but we wanted the presence of the Great Deku Tree felt in the background. For the second shot, we brought in a second SmallRig RM01 fitted with the silicone dome diffuser, positioned to the left. The diffuser softened the beam into a gentle fill that gently lifted the tree trunk and pink canopy out of the gloom without overpowering Link:

Phase 3: The Full Trio + Softboxes + Smoke (3 SmallRigs)

For the final hero frame, all elements came together. Our main gridded softboxes from the left and right filled the overall diorama with balanced cross-light, while all three SmallRig lights worked in concert:

• Light 1: The focused snoot spot on Link and the Master Sword.
• Light 2: The silicone-diffused fill light accenting the Great Deku Tree’s wise wooden face.
• Light 3: The third RM01 perched high behind the canopy with a honeycomb grid, angled down toward the camera as a rim light.

When we triggered our PMI SmokeNINJA fog machine, that third rim beam pierced straight through the drifting haze:

That top rim light pierced straight through the drifting haze, creating realistic, mystical god-rays streaming down into the sacred grove. You simply cannot pull that off with a bulky studio lamp — it requires a tiny, intense light source tucked precisely above the canopy.

What’s in the Box: Modifiers Galore

Most budget mini LED lights arrive with a plastic diffuser and a charging cable. SmallRig went in the completely opposite direction here. The RM01 3-Pack ships in a rugged, zippered hard case that feels like a miniature Pelican case, packed with magnetic accessories:

• 3x Silicone Dome Diffusers: The MVP modifier. Stretches over the cube face and turns harsh point-source LEDs into buttery soft fill light.
• 3x Honeycomb Grids: Snaps into the magnetic frames to constrain the beam angle to roughly 30 degrees, killing side spill.
• 3x Rubber Snoots: Funnels the light down into a tight, dramatic pencil beam. Perfect for highlighting a lightsaber, a torch, or a treasure chest.
• 3x 4-Leaf Barndoors: Traditional barn doors for cutting rectangular light slits.
• 8x Color Gel Sets: Pre-cut red, blue, green, yellow, and orange filters. We used the warm gels to simulate campfire glow and blue gels for sci-fi moonlit night shoots.
• 3x Mini Tripods & Cold Shoes: Metal mini-tripods with ball heads, plus standard 1/4”-20 threads on the bottom of every light.

Having three complete sets of modifiers means you never have to choose between diffusing your key light and spotting your backlight — each light can be dressed with whatever modifier the shot demands.

Battery Life and Practical Workflow

Each RM01 contains an 800mAh battery recharged via standard USB-C:

• Level 4 (100%): ~60 to 70 minutes of continuous runtime. The aluminum-alloy casing warms up slightly, but never gets hot to the touch.
• Level 2 (Medium): ~2.5 to 3 hours.
• Level 1 (Low): Over 4.5 hours.

In tabletop toy photography, you shoot on a sturdy tripod (like our Leofoto carbon rig) with exposures typically between 1/10s and 2 seconds at f/8 or f/11. That means you rarely need 100% power. We ran our three lights on Level 1 and Level 2 for a three-hour shooting session and finished with battery bars to spare.

If you do run a marathon studio day, the lights can be powered continuously while charging via USB-C from a standard multi-port power bank.

Weatherproofing: Ready for the Outdoors

The RM01 cubes are sealed to an IP65 rating (waterproof and dustproof). The USB-C port has a snug rubber gasket, and the physical push buttons are fully sealed membrane switches.

While our initial testing has been inside our tabletop studio, this weather sealing opens up huge creative possibilities. For our upcoming outdoor shoots — placing minifigures in real forest moss, muddy trails, or shallow mountain streams — we can submerge these lights directly in puddles or leave them in the pouring rain without frying the electronics. An outdoor field test is coming next.

Why are the SmallRig RM01 lights better for LEGO photography than big softboxes?

Scale. A standard 60x90cm softbox throws a massive wall of light that inevitably spills onto your backdrop and washes out the dark, cinematic mood of a tabletop diorama. The SmallRig RM01 lights are just 38mm wide, and when paired with the included honeycombs and snoots, they can throw a tight beam directly onto a 4cm minifigure without shedding a single lumen where you don’t want it.

How long does the battery last on the SmallRig RM01?

Each cube has an 800mAh internal battery that charges via USB-C. At full power (Level 4), they run for approximately 60 to 70 minutes. At Level 1 or 2, which is usually plenty on a dark tabletop diorama shot with a tripod and slow shutter speed, they easily run for 3 to 5 hours.

Can you change the color temperature of the SmallRig RM01?

The bare LEDs are daylight-balanced at 5600K (CRI 95). While there is no electronic bi-color dial, the kit includes 8-color gel sets that clip directly onto the magnetic frames, allowing you to quickly warm up the light or create dramatic sci-fi washes.

Can the SmallRig RM01 lights be used outdoors in the rain?

Yes. They are rated IP65 waterproof and dustproof. While our initial testing has been inside on our tabletop studio stage, the rugged sealed housing means you can submerge them in puddles or shoot in the rain without worry — an outdoor forest shoot is next on our testing schedule.