The Viltrox Vintage Z2 is tiny. Almost suspiciously tiny. The kind of gadget you’d normally ignore because it feels like it can’t possibly do anything meaningful. But after using it for a while, I think this flash solves a very specific problem that most photographers don’t even realise they have.
What is it?
The Z2 is a small, on-camera TTL flash with a built-in battery and very limited controls. There is no built in bounce card, no swivel, no wireless control system and if you’re even dreaming that it may contain high speed sync then prepare to be bitterly disappointed. The Viltrox Vintage Z2 is about as simple as a flash can get. At full power you’re working with around 10Ws, which tells you everything you need to know about where this sits in the line-up of available flashes we have at our disposal. This is not a replacement for a proper speedlight, but equally it is not trying to be.
First impressions
The first thing you notice is the size. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again, it’s tiny. This isn’t “small for a flash”, it’s small full stop and if you haven’t seen one in person, it is going to be far smaller than you’ll expect. It’s the first flash I’ve used where I didn’t have to think about whether I could be bothered taking it with me. And that is actually the biggest selling point.
Most of my flashes only come out when I know I’m going to need them. This is the first one that just stays in the bag because it adds no weight or bulk. for all of you youngsters out there carrying your huge zoom lenses like they were mars bars you maybe won’t appreciate this yet. But as an old man now in my 40’s, my shoulders appreciate not having to carry huge amounts of kit around with me.
In use
Using the Viltrox Z2 is about as straightforward as it gets, stick it on the camera, turn it on, and shoot. TTL works well enough that you don’t have to fight it. It kinda just does the job you’d expect it to do without much fuss. For close-range work, it gives you a clean, usable exposure without needing to dial things in constantly.
Manual mode is there if you want it, with a few simple power steps. Nothing complicated, nothing buried in menus, just straight forward power control which allows you to set how much light you’d like this little flash to put out. I am a manual mode flash user, it’s just engrained into me so I was pleased to see this functionality included.
Recycle time is fine for what this is and at lower power it’s basically instant. At full power you’ll feel it slightly, but realistically you’re not going to be shooting this at full power all day anyway. Again, I’m not comparing this to larger flashes with bigger batteries, it delivered what I expected it to deliver for its price point and size, so I cannot ask much more from it in that sense.
Where it works best is exactly where you’d expect:
– Indoor shots where you need a small amount of extra light or don’t want to raise your ISO as much.
– Fill light outdoors when your trying to soften shadows.
– Situations where the shot would be flat without it and your using the light for styling.
It’s important to note that we’re not trying to light an entire scene with this flash, it’s just adding something that wasn’t there before.
The limitations (and they’re obvious)
This is where people are either going to get it, or completely miss the point of what this flash was designed for in the first place.
– 10Ws is not a lot of power.
– You are not bouncing this off ceilings.
– You are not overpowering sunlight.
And because there’s no bounce or swivel, you’re dealing with direct flash most of the time. That’s fine if you like that look, less so if you’re trying to be subtle. The biggest advice I can give is use it as a fill on lower powers, this gives you far less of an “in your face” flash look.
The build is… OK It does the job, but I wouldn’t describe it exactly as a premium build. It looked a little odd sat on top of my Canon R5 MKII, buut at it’s price point, it is again what I’d have expected. It just feels a bit plasticky, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it picks up marks over time.
What it actually replaces
The easiest way to think about this flash is simple, it replaces the built-in flash that cameras used to have. It does that job much better than any built in flash I have ever used. It’s more powerful, more consistent, and far more usable. If you look at it like that, it this flash makes a lot more sense.
The Viltrox Vintage Z2 isn’t trying to compete with proper speedlights, and it would lose badly if it did. But that’s not what it’s for. This is a flash you carry all the time, not just when you think you’ll need it. And because of that, you end up using it more than you expect. A powerful flash you leave at home is useless, a small one you always have with you isn’t.
Flash Specifications
Power Output: 10Ws
Battery: 3.7V / 420mAh built-in rechargeable lithium
Recycle Time: ~2s (full power), near-instant at lower settings
Flash Head: Fixed 28mm coverage, no tilt or swivel
Wireless System: None (on-camera only)
Modeling Lamp: None
Sub Flash: None
Weight: 52g
Charging: USB-C, ~70-minute full charge