This is my full review about the Viltrox Vintage Z1 Pro on camera flash. I’m normally not a flash guy, I try to get by with daylight or available light when I can. But sometimes you need to add light. Light to be able to get the shot or to create the ‘look’ you want. But my main speed lights by Godox are big, bulky and heavy units. So I almost never take them with me, and even when I have them with me I don’t like to put them on my camera. That is where the Viltrox Vintage Z1 Pro comes in. It is tiny, looks cool and weighs just 136 grams. In this review I try to find out if it is any good.
Interested to buy? If you use my discount code RICKSREVIEWS on the official Viltrox Shop you’ll receive a 5% discount.
Viltrox already had 2 Vintage Z1 models, the original Z1 and Z1+. This review is about the new Viltrox Vintage Z1 Pro that comes with TTL functionality (there are 4 models, compatible with Sony, Nikon, Canon an FujiFilm – for this review I will use the Nikon version on my Nikon Z cameras) and it has a small OLED display. The Vintage Z1 Pro is available for 59 Dollar or 69 euro.
Viltrox Vintage Z1 Pro looks
The Vintage Z1 Pro stands out with its cool vintage look. It looks like it was made to be paired with the Nikon Zf, since the design matches perfectly. They both look like a relic from the 80’s – retro cool. The main body is painted in the same silver colour as my silver Zf and the top has a similar looking black leatherette cover.
The Vintage Z1 Pro has just a few controls, making adjusting the settings easy and quick to learn. The back has a small OLED screen. When you turn the flash on it shows a quick and cute animation like the unit has two blinking eyes. On the back you will also find the on/off switch, test button, and a big dial to control the output and to switch between TTL and Manual control. On the left side there is a toggle to switch between non-wireless, optical sync (S1) and optical sync with TTL pre-flash correction (S2).
The unit has a USB-C port for charging. One full charge promises up to 10.000 flashes (at the lowest output of course).
Size and weight
The Viltrox Vintage Z1 Pro is a really small unit, it is a 7 by 7 cm rectangle and including the foot it is just 5 cm high. As expected in this price range the body is made of (good looking) plastics. This also helps to keep the weight down to only 136 grams. To put this in perspective, 4 high-end rechargeable AA batteries for my big flash already weigh 120 grams. And the Viltrox Vintage Z1 Pro comes with a built-in battery!
The flash is even small enough to mount on my tiny Ricoh GRIV. And because the Nikon version has an ISO compatible connection it also works on my Ricoh, but only in manual mode of course. TTL is only available on compatible cameras. Because of the fixed 28mm focal length on the Vintage Z1 Pro it matches very good with the GR since that has a fixed 28mm lens.
Functionality and specs
Looking at the small size of the Vintage Z1 Pro you might think it is basic, but it isn’t at all. The new Pro version comes with full TTL support for Sony, Nikon, Canon an FujiFilm and has an OLED screen and a surprising amount of power.
Specs:
- Manual and TTL auto mode
- Output power adjustable in steps between 1/1 and 1/64
- Maximum output 24Ws
- GN 12 meter (ISO 100)
- Focal Length 28mm
- Flash duration T0.5: 1/3,000s – 1/500,000s
- Colour temp 6500K (+/- 200k)
- Sync modes: high-speed sync (up to 1/8000s), front curtain sync, back curtain sync.
- Optical synced flashing
- Battery 800mAh – up to 10,000 flashes on a full charge
- Diffuser included
The Viltrox Vintage Z1 Pro has a fixed head, so no option to bounce the light from the ceiling or walls.
Vintage Z1 Pro – true vintage but only the looks
Besides the vintage look the Viltrox Vintage Z1 Pro itself it also offers the vintage flash look. Because there is no option to rotate or flip the head you will always light your subjects head on. This, combined with the fixed 28mm focal length, gives you that classic flash look that is in fashion right now. So in that regard the Vintage Z1 Pro comes exactly at the right time.
When it comes to using the Vintage Z1 Pro it is completely modern. Because of the TTL functionality you can let the camera and flash arrange the right amount of light automatically. And if the output doesn’t suit you it is easy to adjust the TTL output with the big dial. you can set it from -3 to +3 in 0,1 increments. And when that doesn’t get you the desired result you can quickly switch over to Manual mode for full control.
Results
The Z1 Pro is easy to use but also surprisingly powerful. The 24 Ws might not sound very impressive. But because you will always light your subjects head on that is enough for most applications. The Z1 Pro also has a High Speed Sync function that works up to 1/8000s. But because of the lower maximum output this isn’t always enough in very bright situations.
A big advantage of the Z1 Pro is the built-in battery. Charging is quick with just over one hour from zero to full. But the built-in battery also offers very quick recycling times. After a maximum power flash it will be ready for the next in about 1 second, which is great for situations where you need to take multiple shots after another.
Because of the fixed 28mm focal length the light will be usable with lenses from about 24mm to about 35-50mm. This isn’t the right flash if you are using ultra wide or long lenses. But then again, it is so small it will quickly be shaded by the lens if would you mount a big lens anyway.
Conclusion
The Viltrox Vintage Z1 Pro surprised me, in a very good way. It is way more advanced than I expected a small unit like this to be. With full TTL, High Speed Sync and even optical remote triggering it is every bit as complete as big on-camera flash units. And it offers that in a housing that is smaller than a deck of cards and weighs as little as 4 AA batteries. It is small enough to throw in your bag and just have with you ‘just in case’. The OLED display and easy to use controls are big advantages and the surprisingly low price completes the package.
Of course this isn’t a replacement for a full size on-camera flash. But when you are looking for something small, light, with cool looks and that is still powerful the Vintage Z1 Pro might be the right solution for you. The Vintage look is complemented by the Vintage output and combined with modern ease of use. So it might just be what you need in your bag.
Don’t forget, If you use my discount code RICKSREVIEWS on the official Viltrox Shop you’ll receive a 5% discount.