Viltrox Vintage Z1 On-Camera Mini Flash: Much to be desired

Having tested several mini on-camera flashes recently, I’ll admit I’ve been spoiled for choice. There are some excellent compact flashes on the market right now—unfortunately, the Viltrox Vintage Z1 On-Camera Mini Flash just isn’t one of them.

The Viltrox Vintage Z1 boasts a retro aesthetic that initially caught my attention. Its compact size and vintage design make it an attractive accessory for classic-styled cameras. However, my experience with its performance was disappointing.

Please note: While Viltrox sent me this product to review, all thoughts are my own.

Viltrox Vintage Z1 — Key features

• Design & Build: The Z1 features a matte silver metal body with leather-like accents, reminiscent of classic film cameras. Its compact dimensions (68.5 × 50.2 × 74 mm) and lightweight build (116g) make it highly portable.
• Manual Control: Equipped with a mechanical dial, the flash offers seven power levels ranging from 1/1 to 1/64, allowing for precise manual adjustments.
• Performance: With a guide number of 12 (ISO 100) and a 28mm coverage angle. Its flash duration spans from 1/5000s to 1/50000s, and it boasts a recycle time between 0.2 to 3.5 seconds.
• Battery & Charging: The built-in 1100mAh battery supports between 400 to 10,000 flashes per charge. Charging is facilitated via a USB-C port, taking approximately 50 minutes for a full charge.
• Additional Features: The Z1 includes S1 and S2 optical slave modes for off-camera triggering and comes with a white diffuser to soften the light output.

Pros

• Attractive retro design
• Compact and lightweight (116g)
• Affordable price point

Cons

• Colour Rendering & Lighting Quality
  Despite its 6500±200K colour temperature, the flash produced a harsh, cold light that rendered skin tones unnaturally. Even with the included white diffuser, the lighting was unflattering, leading to noticeable vignetting and uneven exposure across the frame.
• Limited Power & Flexibility
  With a Guide Number of 12 (ISO 100) and a fixed 28mm coverage angle, the flash struggled to adequately illuminate subjects beyond close range. The lack of a tilting or swivelling head further limited its versatility, making bounce flash techniques impossible.
• Manual Operation Only
  The Z1 operates solely in manual mode, offering seven power levels from 1/1 to 1/64. While this provides some control, the absence of TTL (Through-The-Lens) metering means constant adjustments are necessary, which can be cumbersome in dynamic shooting environments.
• Recycle Time & Battery Life
  The recycle time ranges from 0.2 to 3.5 seconds, depending on the power output. While acceptable, it’s not particularly fast.

Viltrox Vintage Z1 — Technical specifications

• Guide Number: 12 (ISO 100, meters)
• Flash Output Levels: 7 (1/1 to 1/64)
• Flash Duration: 1/5000s to 1/50000s
• Recycle Time: 0.2s to 3.5s
• Color Temperature: 6500±200K
• Flash Coverage: 28mm
• Battery: Built-in 1100mAh, USB-C charging
• Dimensions: 68.5 × 50.2 × 74 mm
• Weight: 116g
• Modes: Manual (M), S1, S2 optical slave

Viltrox Vintage Z1 — Sample images

While it handles outdoor garden shoots fairly well, I found in the studio it just did not compare to other mini flashes or studio lights. I could not say that this IS a professional flash for a studio at all. While the price is drastically cheaper than pro grade studio lights, the quality is even further distanced, as seen in the comparison below. The images on the left are with the Z1, and the images on the right (same camera, same lens, same settings) are with Godox speed Lights and a softbox.

Also, check out my video review over on YouTube:

Conclusion

While the Viltrox Vintage Z1 is aesthetically pleasing and budget-friendly, its performance leaves much to be desired. The combination of harsh lighting, limited power, and lack of flexibility makes it unsuitable for serious photography needs. It’s more of a decorative piece than a functional tool.