Viltrox Vintage Z2 Flash Review: Compact TTL Power

March 18th, 2026

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Woman in white cropped long-sleeve top and blue jeans posing against a white wall with geometric shadow.

The Viltrox Vintage Z2 on-camera flash combines value, power, features, and fun in a package designed for photographers who wish to avoid the bulk of the typical external flash.

The Viltrox Vintage Z2 TTL Flash follows the Z1 and features a radical departure in design language. Although the Z2 does evoke some retro vibes, it abandons the "steampunk" look of their previous small flashes in favor of a compact, folding design, which is both stylish and, more importantly, functional.

Design

The Vintage Z2 is designed for photographers who want to use flash but don't want to carry a flash. The small size and weight (52 g), fold-down design, and price make the Z2 a great choice for photographers who travel light and have no desire to add a bulky flash to their setup. The design is spartan and clean, with just a few buttons to do the work, making it quite inconspicuous on the camera, especially when folded down. Beyond the three buttons that control the functions, which include full TTL, the Z2 has a USB-C charging port and an optional plastic diffuser that can be attached to the front of the flash when needed. The flash clicks firmly into place when going from closed to open position, and the black finish adds to the minimalist design.

Features

The Vintage Z2 is a full TTL hot shoe flash and will automatically adjust the output in TTL mode to create proper exposure for your scene. For those who want more creative control, the Z2 can also be set to manually control output in full stops, from full power to 1/16th power. According to Viltrox, on a full charge, the unit will deliver up to 700 flashes. When I tested the Z2, I used it for over an hour, both at full and at various output levels in TTL and manual modes, and I was pleased to see that I barely put a dent in the battery life. The battery is built into the unit and, when plugged in for charging, the lights double as battery indicators to show you the current charge level of the flash. The Vintage Z2's power button doubles as the flash test button, and to switch from manual to TTL control, simply press and hold the minus button on the back of the camera. The Z2 includes a small, hard plastic diffuser that clips snugly onto the front of the flash.

A Note On My Test Images

As a portrait photographer, I must admit that hard, direct flash is not my favorite style of flash photography. So when I was tasked to review the Z2, I decided that in addition to creating images with direct, hard light, I would also see how the Z2 worked as a fill flash. The images were all captured at my Brooklyn studio.

The first way I tested the Z2 was by using it as a fill light, with the windows at camera left, on a gray, cloudy day. I used the Z2 both in manual mode and TTL, and was able to add just enough flash to fill in shadows while avoiding an overly harsh direct look. I was very pleased with how easy it was for me to add or subtract the fill flash, and with the amount of control the tiny Z2 gave me in this lighting situation and the others I used it in.

Next, I wanted to lean into the hard, direct light that an on-camera flash is known for, which I know is a look that can be polarizing among portrait photographers. Aesthetics aside, I used hard flash for these images. With everything from close-up to full-length portraits, the Vintage Z2 provided enough power to give me an evenly lit scene. I purposely placed my model against a white wall to create hard shadows as well. Then, I placed my windows behind my subject, and here the Z2 filled in the scene quite nicely, allowing me to balance the exposure and retain the detail of the scene outside of my window.

Finally, I used the Z2 as a fill flash, but this time I used a Nanlite in an Angler beauty dish for my key light, and then set the Z2 to a low manual power to add just a touch of direct fill. Here too, I found that I was able to control the output easily and effectively; however, in this particular situation, I would have liked the ability to use even less power. (It's not lost on me that most people who purchase a Z2 will not use it in a studio as an added direct fill in this way, however.)

Conclusion

At $35.99 USD, the Viltrox Vintage Z2 is an affordable and fun way to add TTL flash to your setup. If you are a street photographer, low-light photographer, travel photographer, or anyone who has a small camera and sometimes wants a bit of flash, the Z2 offers a lot of options for the price. When mounted to my Fujifilm X-T5, the Z2 is barely noticeable in the closed position, and even when open, it makes for a minimalistic addition to the camera. As I mentioned above, the Z2 has a classic design, but it does not try to be a "retro" product, so the aesthetics do not overshadow the functionality of the unit, which is appreciated.

If you'd like to take your understanding of flash and artificial light further, the Fundamentals of Lighting tutorial is an excellent resource for photographers at any level.

You can purchase a Viltrox Vintage Z2 TTL On-Camera Flash from B&H Photo.