As a professional photographer, I am always looking for devices that punch above their weight, especially when it comes to light. When i first met my hands Wiltrox Vintage Z1I believe, its retro aesthetics scratched an itching for me, being an insufficient vintage Aficionado. It is a remarkable light unit, coming in just 116 grams, and only at $ 50, my expectations were tempered.
Nevertheless, during a recent marriage, this unheard flash stunned me, keeping me and then earning something. It produces the quality of light, with a particularly built-up diffuser, is really pleasing-an achievement for such a compact unit. It contains a guide number of 12 (ISO 100, meter) and a rechargeable battery which gives me about 400 full power flash per charge, which I have found completely enough for my needs.
Now, Z1 is a strict manual animal. We are talking about seven power steps, until 1/64 below 1/1, either the hot shoe pin or its optical S1/S2 is triggered by slave mode. This manual-care approach means that there is no fancy high-speed sink (HSS) to save me in bright daylight. I am tied at the ex-link speed of my camera, 1/250 of a second in terms of my Fujifilm X-T5. In an incense afternoon, it usually means crank f/8 or small, which only kills any hope of the shallow depth of the area. HSS will usually be a work -round, but it also increases precious flash power. It is from here that my short secret comes: neutral-ghantva (ND) filter.
ND filter benefits
For me, an ND has an elegant solution Z1Sink speed limits. Just by slipping an ND filter on my lens, I darken the scene of the environment, allowing me to open my aperture without overaxpose. For example, a 3-stop ND filter lets me shoot at f/2.8 instead of f/8, keeping all the shutters on 1/2 200th. In severe, it preserves each watt-second of the 23 WS output of Z1. This additional headroom is invaluable with GN 12 unit; Each stop I can translate more work in the reserve or translate into a low ISO setting.
You are not limited to this particular flash unit to use this method. High-speed sink capabilities cannot be done in any flash, these similar scenarios can be kept for good use, including competitive units like Godox Lux Senior and Junior. I am the owner of both of them (I told you that I was not a vintage-look a walnut, I was not?).
In practice, this technique opens the world of possibilities. When I am shooting portraits in high afternoon, combined with an ND8 filter Z1 With full power, one meter was kept from my subject, completely f/2.8, ISO 100 environment balances light at 1/20th of one second. This gives me the beautiful, staining background that the stock sink speed will normally forbid. I have tested it so far for street photography, I found that I have left myself the power of Z1 in 1/16th. It provides a subtle, a-stop lift on the face, which prevents the harsh shade without blowing the sky-a significant balance for the filth that looks nature.
Creative Freedom: Off-Camera with Z1
The optical slave mode of Z1, S1 and S2, are fantastic for multi-light setup without the requirement of complex radio triggers. My specific workflow includes any hot shoe flash (or even the pop-up flash of my camera, if available) on my camera, set it on low manual power like 1/64. Then, I set the Side switch of Z1 on S1 if my master flash is a single pulse, or S2 if it fires TTL pre-flash. I typically keep Z1 in up to two meters from my master flash, although Viltrox suggests slightly closely in the daylight.
Already darkening the scene with an ND filter, I can keep the glow under the ex-link speed of both cameras. This ensures that optical trigger fire is important for cleaning and steps, which is important for accurate lighting. This setup opens two practical scenarios: a budget-friendly key-and-full arrangement, where on-camera flash acts as a low-power filler, and off-axis Z1 borres the major light fee to shape my subject; Or, reversing the roles, I can indicate my on-camera flash on the subject and leave the Z1 behind to kick a rim light or add a subtle background pronunciation. ND filtration allows me to maintain that wide aperture look in bright day light during remote. Z1 Fire with full force.
After Suraj’s wedding, I was testing Z1, I was able to do the groom and some star portraits of the groom and the groom using slave mode and rear curtain sink to freeze the couple in the frame after a trippe-mounted long exposure. The rear curton sink also came in handy using Dance photos using Z1.
Workflow notes and my tech
Some practical notes from my use: It can be difficult to focus through a dark ND filter, so I always focus first, then mount the filter if I have extra time. For measurement, I always meters the ambient light first, dial to ND strength to achieve my desired aperture, and then adjust the power of Z1. Its click-stop dial makes the strength change incredibly accelerated, without any menu diving. Battery life is also a strong point; On 1/16 Power, the Z1 single 50 minute USB-C charge can exceed 2,000 pop. The color balance is approximately 6,500 Calvin, which is slightly cooled, but I am fully acceptable and easily adjusted in post-processing. Although it covers a 28 mm (35 mm equivalent) lens well, I have noticed that you see some slight witching, and a slight decline on top in vertical-oriented shots gave a slight decline-off-mener Qables.
Finally, my experience confirms that the high speed sink, while convenient, is not the only route for the shallow depth of field flash photography. Wiltrox Vintage Z1Combined with a simple ND filter, is a will for that. It preserves each watt-second of flash power and keeps my exposure within the native sink sealing of the camera. Add Z1 to the S1/S2 optical slave and you get flexible, off-camera lighting control-everyone without breaking the bank. For its price, it is a solid, reliable workheors found in my kit.
Viltrox Vintage Z1 (from my perspective) professionals and opposition
Professionals
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Easy to carry for incredibly light and portable, long shoots.
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Extraordinary value for its $ 50 price point.
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Surprisingly produces good light quality, especially with an underlying diffuser.
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Extremely versatile, integrates well with various camera systems.
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Solid battery life (400 flash per charge; 1/16 more than 2,000 on power).
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Spontaneous, click-stop manual power dial for quick adjustment.
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Reliable S1/S2 optical slave mode of optical slave modes of–camera simplifies the setup.
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When added with ND filters, a powerful delite turns into a tool.
Shortcoming
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Strictly manual operation, no TTL or HSS.
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Reliance at X-link speed can be restrictive without ND filter.
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The color temperature is slightly slightly on the cooler side (6,500 k).
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The slight light fall-off was seen in broad lenses and vertical tilt.
