As photographers, each of us has different needs, working methods and priorities; for my part, the little Zeniko flash is the perfect fill/catch light for spontaneous, on the street use. That doesn’t mean there won’t be occasions when it will serve as a main light source, however, generally speaking, I’m not a big fan of the on-camera flash aesthetic.The portability, feather weight and the convenience of its rechargeability are the features that make the Zeniko flash so outstanding and the perfect accessory for my needs. It will fit into a pocket, adds less than 2oz of weight when on-camera, and can be recharged by any of the means commonly available today; that is, by a phone charging block, power bank or a car charger. Besides all of that, I like its design aesthetic and its low profile on the camera.According to the seller, the flash will give 440 full power releases on a fully charged battery. I haven’t run it through a full charge yet, nor is it likely I’ll be using it on full power, but after 50 or so exposures the battery indicator still shows it to be fully charged. The sellers claim of a 3-second recycling time after a full power release is accurate, if not slightly understated. Of the five power settings, the lowest three (1/16 – 1/4) recycle instantaneously, and at 1/2 power, less than a second, making it a relatively quick flash ideal for spontaneity.To be clear, the Zeniko flash is compatible with any camera that has a hotshoe. That’s because it has a single connecting pin; on the other hand, it does not communicate electronically with any camera, other than it will fire. This is a manual flash. Ideally, its use requires or is an opportunity to learn some basic photographic technical knowledge.Although most manufacturers of portable flash units, especially those that are manual, will supply a Guide Number (GN), I didn’t find that information provided with the Zeniko. A GN is used to determine proper flash exposure using a simple formula: GN = aperture x distance. For ease of calculation, GN’s supplied by manufacturers are typically calculated using an ISO of 100, from a distance that will return an aperture of f1.0; GN’s are also calculated at full power. So, by using a flash meter on a tripod and a measuring wheel, the Zeniko flash gave a reading of F1.0 @ 22ft with the ASA set to 100. That makes the guide number 22. I tested that result and found it to be accurate.Using the formula is simple enough. If the user estimates their distance to the subject to be 5ft, and the formula is GN = aperture x distance, then aperture is GN/distance, or 22/5 = 4.4, so the aperture is 4.4, or whatever is closest to that on the lens being used. On the other hand, if the user desires to shoot at the specific aperture of 5.6, then the distance needs to be calculated for a proper exposure. To determine the correct distance of flash from subject for a correct exposure at f5.6, if GN = aperture x distance, then distance = GN/aperture, or 22/5.6 = 3.9, or about 4ft. Remember, these calculations are based on 100 ASA, so if 4ft is too close, the ASA can be increased to 200, then the distance (and for all intents and purposes, the GN too) is double as well. And so, it goes.The included pictures are shot on a 28mm lens set at f5.6 from about 4-1/2 feet, with the camera set at 100 ASA (ISO). I wanted to shoot at f5.56, so if GN = aperture x distance, I need to know the distance for a correct exposure. Therefore distance = GN/aperture = 22/5.6 = apprx. 4.5’. The darkest of the pictures is with no flash, then getting progressively brighter as the power is increased from 1/16 to 1/1 using the Zeniko’s incremental (of 1-stop) power control button. Of course, since I’m using it as a fill, the ambient light has to accounted for, which is why the brightest picture is overexposed; when combining ambient and flash light, the two discreet quantities must be added together in the desired proportion for the correct exposure. The brightest picture shows full crop, the rest are cropped by 50%. For my part, I like the exposure with the flash set in the 1/4 power range.Another use for a small portable flash such as the Zeniko is as a defensive deterrent, especially for a woman. When in situations where one might feel vulnerable, with the Zeniko flash secreted in hand and fully charged, quickly flashing it into the eyes of an approaching predator will very likely blind and startle them, providing time for an escape. I provided my wife with a similar small flash for just those occasions.The Zeniko is an awesomely useful little flash that can be carried anywhere. It’s supplied with a USB-C charging cable and a very nice, semi-hard, form-fitted zippered case. I plan on getting a lot of use from it.

Great little flash, love the case! Perfect for sunny days wen you need to fill in some harsh shadows.Quality control might be an issue. The reflector or the lens was install upside down and didn't focus the light high enough so I deducted a few stars which is a shame because I actually ordered two, one was great the other wasn't. (Rated the other purchase 5/5) I ended up carefully taking it apart and flipping the lens which fixed the issue.General things to note: You need to have a short lens for this flash to not cast a shadow. Also, it's a very limited manual flash which means you set the brightness and it only has one flash speed. Still, its super useful and it lives in my camera bag now.

If the number of product offerings in this category is any indication, it would appear that there’s a growing demand for these miniature hot-shoe-mount flashes. That’s a good thing for us consumers, as this demand breeds competition and competition gives us more choices and better products. The Zeniko ZF08 is a good example of that.I’m employing this mini flash on both my mirrorless digital cameras and a couple of film cameras. I’m very happy with the build quality, functions and form factor. Size and weight are especially important when I am in my pocketable camera mode and this guy meets my needs perfectly on those occasions. And, hey… it doesn’t hurt that it looks amazing perched atop my camera. Mounting the ZF08 to the hotshoe is as simple as sliding in place. The positive friction fit is more than adequate and eliminates the need for a locking knob.I’m quite used to using a speedlight when it’s called for, but I find that folks who are uncomfortable being photographed when my camera is sporting a speedlight often don’t have a problem with me just grabbing some fun snapshots, old-school fashion, with this vintage-looking mini flash.While the ZF08 won’t keep up with the power of a speedlight, nor allow you to bounce the flash off a ceiling or wall, it is surprisingly capable and produces a nostalgic light quality that actually has its own group of avid fans. Also, unlike my speedlights, the Zeniko miniflash is totally manual. There’s no TTL or other auto function. But optimizing exposure through balancing the camera’s setting with the ZF08’s five power setting and the flash-to-subject distance is half the fun, and a skill that improves with practice.Power for the ZF08 comes from an internal lithium battery, charged from most any USB power supply. A short USB-A to USB-C cable is supplied. A full charge should permit around 440 full-power flashes.There’s always room for the Zeniko mini flash in my pocket or bag, where the classy little case that comes with it protects both the flash and anything with which it comes in contact. As a result, this little flash is always there when a speedlight is too cumbersome. Add the ZF08’s ease of use, affordability and, of course, its cool retro look, and I’m loving this big little flash.