Viltrox Vintage Z1 Pro: Compact Flash With TTL and High-Speed Sync for under $60

Viltrox has announced the Vintage Z1 Pro, a follow-up to last year’s Vintage Z1 that brings two meaningful upgrades to the retro-styled compact flash. The first one is TTL automatic metering, and the second one is high-speed sync up to 1/8000s. At $59.99, it’s still firmly budget territory, but the added functionality makes it a genuinely more capable tool.

The original Vintage Z1 was already a charming little flash: compact, lightweight, and built with a retro aesthetic. But TTL support was limited to Nikon i-TTL on the base model, and HSS was already present there too, so the Z1 Pro’s main additions seem to be broader multi-system TTL support across Sony, Canon, and Fujifilm, plus the new circular color touchscreen that replaces the more conventional interface.

HSS up to 1/8000s is the headline feature here, and it matters most if you’re shooting portraits outdoors with a wide aperture. With HSS, you can shoot wide open and still use flash to fill in shadows or freeze motion. For street photographers and travel shooters, that flexibility is a great addition at this price point. The two optical trigger modes (S1 and S2) also make it easy to drop into an off-camera setup without needing a dedicated trigger.

Where the Z1 Pro lacks versatility is the fixed flash head. For run-and-gun shooting, that’s fine, but if you want to bounce light off a ceiling or walls, you’re out of luck. Another downside is that 28mm coverage means you’re cropping light on anything wider, which limits its usefulness with ultra-wide lenses. But hey, for 60 bucks… I still think it’s more than capable.

Viltrox Vintage Z1 Pro Specs

Specification	Details
Flash Head
Guide Number	39.4′ / 12 m at ISO 100
Coverage	28 mm
Auto Zoom Head	No
Bounce/Vertical Adjustment	No
Swivel/Horizontal Adjustment	No
Flash Duration	3000 to 50000 Second
Recycle Time	Approx. 1 Second
Secondary Illumination	No
Exposure Control
Exposure Control	Nikon i-TTL, Manual
Flash Modes	Hi-Speed Sync, Second-Curtain Sync
Power Range	1/1 to 1/64
Power
Internal Power	1x Rechargeable (Built-In)
General
Mount	Shoe
Mobile App Compatible	No
Dimensions (W x H x D)	2.9 x 2.7 x 2″ / 7.3 x 6.9 x 5 cm
Weight	4.8 oz / 136 g

Pricing And Availability

The Viltrox Vintage Z1 Pro is priced at $59.99 and available for Canon, Fujifilm, Sony, and Nikon. Availability details have not yet been announced, but you can already place your preorders, so I assume it will starts shipping soon, too.

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