8 Best Editing Controllers for Photo and Video Work in 2026

Key takeaways

• For mixed photo and video work, start with the TourBox Elite: three haptic dials and 11 buttons you learn by feel, wired or Bluetooth, for $268 ($239 on sale).

• Loupedeck stopped selling its controllers in March 2025, and Logitech, which bought the company in 2023, now sells the MX Creative Console in their place.

• Stream Decks show a label on every key and handle more than editing, but they send keystrokes rather than reading values back from your editor.

• DaVinci Resolve users get the deepest integration from Blackmagic's own Speed Editor and Micro Color Panel, which work with Resolve only.

• Most controllers pay off only after you map your most-used tools, so expect a week or so before you're faster than with a keyboard.

Sources and prices

Specs come from each maker, with reviews from Digital Camera World, PetaPixel, Engadget and Creative Bloq filling in how the controllers hold up. Prices are from the maker's US store and B&H on October 29, 2026; several are time-limited sales.

Choosing a controller

Dials matter most for editing, since exposure, color, brush size and timeline scrubbing are all things you turn rather than press. Haptic feedback lets you feel each step without looking down.

Labeled keys, either LCD keys or an on-screen overlay, make a controller easier to learn. A blind controller like the TourBox is faster once memorized, but takes longer to get there.

Integration depth varies. Native plugins let a dial adjust a specific slider directly, while shortcut mapping just sends a keystroke. Check that the controller has a profile for the apps you use, such as Capture One, DaVinci Resolve or Final Cut Pro.

Wireless control is handy on a laptop; check whether a controller takes AA batteries or charges over USB-C.

The eight controllers compared

1. TourBox Elite: Best overall for photo and video editing

The TourBox Elite is a one-hand controller built to sit next to a mouse or pen while your eyes stay on the screen.

What works: It packs 11 buttons with a knob, a scroll wheel and a dial, all with two levels of haptic feedback, and the TourBox Console software switches presets automatically by app. Official presets cover Final Cut Pro, Capture One, DaVinci Resolve and Clip Studio Paint, along with the major photo editors, and Resolve support adds page recognition and shuttle playback. It connects over USB-C or dual-channel Bluetooth, so you can switch between two computers, and runs up to two months on two AA batteries, according to TourBox.

What doesn't: There are no labels or screens, so expect about a week of memorizing layouts, and Engadget found the build a little cheap-looking for the price.

Best for: Editors who split their time between photos and video and want speed once the layout is learned.

2. Logitech MX Creative Console: Best for an easy learning curve

The MX Creative Console is Logitech's two-piece controller and the successor to Loupedeck.

What works: The keypad has nine customizable LCD keys that show what each one does, with page buttons for more, and the separate dialpad adds a large aluminum dial, a scroll wheel and four buttons over Bluetooth. Logi Options+ switches profiles by app, with native plugins for the major creative apps, including Capture One, and profiles for Final Cut Pro and DaVinci Resolve. It's $199.99, with a sale price of $169.99 at Logitech and B&H in late October.

What doesn't: The keypad is wired, the dial isn't context-aware in every app and Engadget said pros may find the controls limiting. Building profiles from scratch takes time.

Best for: Photographers and editors new to controllers who want labeled keys.

3. Elgato Stream Deck +: Best for labeled keys and dials across apps

The Stream Deck + is Elgato's LCD-key controller with dials added.

What works: Eight LCD keys, four pushable dials and a touch strip cover editing, streaming and system controls from one device, and the Elgato Marketplace has profiles and plugins for Capture One, DaVinci Resolve and OBS. The dials suit video work such as scrubbing, zoom and volume. It costs $179.99, against a $199.99 launch price.

What doesn't: Most editing actions are keystrokes, so a dial can't show you the value it's changing, and Resolve support comes from third-party plugins. It's wired only, and the stand is fixed.

Best for: Creators who edit, stream and automate from one desk.

4. DaVinci Resolve Speed Editor: Best for DaVinci Resolve editors

The Speed Editor is Blackmagic Design's editing keyboard for DaVinci Resolve, built around the Cut page.

What works: A large machined search dial and dedicated keys for edit, trim and camera selection make cutting faster than a mouse, and the integration is native since Blackmagic makes both. It connects over USB-C or Bluetooth with a built-in battery and runs on macOS, Windows and Linux. At $349 on sale, it includes a DaVinci Resolve Studio license, which Blackmagic sells on its own for $236 on sale.

What doesn't: It works with Resolve only and is less useful on the Edit page than the Cut page.

Best for: Resolve editors who'd buy a Studio license anyway.

5. DaVinci Resolve Micro Color Panel: Best for color grading

The Micro Color Panel is Blackmagic's entry-level grading panel, launched in 2024.

What works: Three trackballs with rings, 12 knobs and dedicated grading keys bring hands-on control to Resolve's Color page, and a slot holds an iPad running Resolve for iPad. It works over USB-C or Bluetooth with a built-in battery. It's on sale for $449.

What doesn't: It's Resolve only, does not include a Studio license and is a specialist tool for people who grade regularly.

Best for: Editors and colorists who grade in Resolve every week.

6. XPPen Pilot Pro: Best new controller of 2026

XPPen, better known for drawing tablets, launched the Pilot Pro in May 2026.

What works: It combines 16 buttons, three haptic dials including a fast-scrolling dial and a joystick that steers color wheels or the timeline, with an on-screen overlay that shows each control's function. It connects over USB-C or Bluetooth with a rechargeable battery, weighs 251 g and has presets for DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro and the major photo editors. It lists at $209.99 and sells for $189.99 at B&H.

What doesn't: Creative Bloq found the left-side buttons hard to reach for small hands, and Camera Jabber said the uniform buttons are hard to tell apart by feel. Its software is newer and less mature than TourBox's.

Best for: Editors who want a joystick for color work alongside dials.

7. TourBox Lite: Best budget controller

The TourBox Lite is a cut-down TourBox with the same software.

What works: Eight buttons, a knob and a scroll wheel cover the essentials, such as brush size, zoom and undo, and it uses the same TourBox Console presets as the Elite. The Bluetooth version also connects over USB-C. It costs $94.99.

What doesn't: There's no haptic feedback, no dial and no D-pad, so it's slower for fine adjustments.

Best for: Trying a controller without spending much.

8. Elgato Stream Deck MK.2: Best for labeled shortcuts on a budget

The Stream Deck MK.2 is Elgato's 15-key Stream Deck.

What works: Its 15 LCD keys show an icon or label for each shortcut, so there's nothing to memorize, and multiple pages and folders hold more actions than the keys suggest. It has a detachable stand and swappable faceplates, and it's $149.99 from Elgato or $119.99 at B&H.

What doesn't: It has no dials, so it triggers actions but can't adjust values.

Best for: Editors who mainly want one-press shortcuts and presets.

For bigger setups, the Stream Deck + XL ($349.99, launched March 2026) has 36 keys and six dials, though PCWorld found it too big for most desks, and the TourBox Elite Plus ($297) adds iPad and Android support for editing on a tablet. Contour's ShuttlePRO v2 ($109 at B&H) still offers a classic jog-and-shuttle ring for video.

Tips for setting up an editing controller

• Map only your 10 most-used actions at first, then add more once they're muscle memory.

• Put adjustments on dials and one-time actions on keys or buttons.

• Use per-app profiles so the same dial changes exposure in your photo editor and scrubs the timeline in your video editor.

• Check for an official or community profile for each app before building your own.

• Keep the controller where your off hand rests, opposite your mouse or pen.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best editing controller for photo and video?

The TourBox Elite is the best editing controller for mixed photo and video work, with three haptic dials, Bluetooth and presets for Capture One, Final Cut Pro and DaVinci Resolve. The Logitech MX Creative Console is easier to learn thanks to its LCD keys, and Resolve users should look at Blackmagic's Speed Editor.

Is Loupedeck discontinued?

Yes. Loupedeck ended sales of all its controllers on March 28, 2025, after Logitech bought the company in 2023, and the older Loupedeck 5.8 software lost support on March 30, 2026. Logitech's MX Creative Console is the successor.

Is a Stream Deck good for photo and video editing?

Yes, for shortcuts and presets. Its LCD keys show exactly what each key does, and the Stream Deck + adds dials. It mostly sends keystrokes, though, so dedicated controllers such as the TourBox give smoother control over sliders.

TourBox vs Stream Deck: which is better for editing?

TourBox is better for adjustments, since its dials and wheel turn values smoothly and you can use it without looking. Stream Deck is better for one-press actions and running several apps, since every key is labeled.

Do editing controllers work with DaVinci Resolve?

Yes. Blackmagic's Speed Editor and Micro Color Panel have native support, and TourBox, Logitech, Elgato and XPPen all offer Resolve presets or profiles, some from third parties.

Do I need an editing controller?

No, but one speeds up repetitive work. If you spend hours a week dragging sliders or scrubbing timelines, a controller with dials saves time and strain once you've learned it.