A pocketable flash for under $50? I put the Zeniko ZF08 to the test

The Zeniko ZF08 is a miniature on-camera flash, ideal if your camera doesn’t already feature some kind of built-in flash. Where it differs from normal hot shoe flashes is that it’s far smaller, so it can be packed into a side pocket without adding too much weight or bulk.

What I really like about this flash is that they have kept it really simple. Essentially, it uses the hot shoe trigger, so it will work with any manufacturer’s camera as long as there is a hot shoe. Other than that, there’s no communication between the camera itself and the flash—all it will do is fire when you push the shutter button.

When it comes to brightness, that’s all done manually. You just push the buttons on the back to adjust through the five different brightness options. So, really, the functionality is extremely basic.

However, that’s exactly what you want from a small fill-in retro flash—absolute simplicity—and the ZF08 is certainly that.

What I really like about these small flashes—and there are now quite a few—is just how well built they are for such a simple device. Really, there’s very little to go wrong, and with this particular model, as I’ve seen with the lights from Godox, there’s a small internal lithium battery, which should give you a good number of shots.

The actual physical size is also really nice and small, measuring 40mm by 38mm by 17mm (not including the hot shoe connector) and weighing in at 36g—so really lightweight.

When it comes to the build quality, it’s actually really good—nice and solid despite its full plastic build. Likewise, keeping everything simple, it only has two controls on the entire body of this flash: the power and the brightness option. One push of the power switch turns it on, and one push of the brightness button adjusts the brightness through the five different options. To do a test fire, simply give the power button a quick push, and it’ll test the flash. Other than that, you have the small flash bar at the front, the hot shoe plate on the base, and a USB Type-C port on the side for charging.

When it comes to anything more complex, there isn’t anything—there’s no tilt, no rotation, and certainly no TTL.

Ordinarily, you’d want a lot of features in a photographic accessory to help boost the quality of your images, but with the ZF08, things are kept very simple. There is a built-in rechargeable battery that will give up to 440 full-powered flashes, and it takes about three seconds between each flash for it to recycle. What I like is that when the flash is ready to go, the green LEDs across the top are illuminated, and when it’s recharging or recycling between flashes, they turn red—so you know exactly when you’re ready for your next shot.

When it comes to power levels, there are five adjustable settings, ranging from 1/16 to full power. Now, because this is such a simple flash, there’s no listing of the official guide number, but suffice it to say, you just adjust the power as you see fit depending on the distance from your subject and what the subject is, of course.

One of the other very neat features is the automatic sleep mode—if you leave the flash unattended for 30 minutes (which is very likely), it will switch off automatically, preserving your battery for when you need it.

Most importantly of all, the major feature here is that it has a standardised hot shoe design, so it will slip into the hot shoe of pretty much any camera you try. I’ve used this on digital, mirrorless, DSLR, and film cameras, and it fitted well. However, from experience, I do know that some older film cameras have slightly different thicknesses of hot shoes, so there may be one or two film cameras out there that this doesn’t fit.

But for the Canon F1, Pentax K1000, Canon 90, and Canon 8, this small flash fitted without issue.

When it comes to small, compact flashes like this, it’s not really performance that you’re after—you just want to know that it works. It’s going to add a little bit of fill light when you need it, and sure enough, the ZF08 does exactly that. Simply pop it out of your bag or pocket, attach it to your hot shoe, and take the shot.

Now, as there’s no TTL, you do need to be slightly aware of how the power of the flash is going to affect your images. With digital, you can just take a shot, review the exposure, and adjust the power or your camera settings to compensate. However, on film, you’ll probably need to run a roll or two just to check the settings for this flash, or use a light meter if you have one. Remember, you’ll need a flash light meter, not just an ambient light meter like a Weston V or a Gossen Lunasix 3.

In use, the flash really couldn’t be easier to operate, especially on digital. In this test, I ran it on a Sony A7 Mark IV with great effect. Okay, there’s no actual adjustment for tilt or rotation, and it’s just direct flash—much the same as you’d get with a 1980s or 1990s compact camera. But with that style really in at the moment, the images took on that aesthetic nicely.

Likewise, using it for a little bit of flash photography, it worked really well, just helping to illuminate the subject. However, you do need to be mindful of the distance due to the height of the flash in relation to the camera.

You also don’t have the reach over some longer lenses, so that’s something to be aware of if you’re using this for still life or macro photography. But generally, for portraits, it worked really nicely.

There’s not really a great deal more to say about this flash. If you’re shooting on film, you will need to use a flash meter. If you’re on digital, just take a few test shots to check your exposures and adjust the flash power or your camera settings accordingly. Otherwise, it’s nice and straightforward.

I really like the fact that it works with all kinds of cameras. Another thing I really appreciate is that you can pop this small flash on top of your camera, dial it right down, and use it as an optical master for optical slave flashes. So, if you want a really traditional flash setup with very little control, this is a great option for triggering larger lighting systems.

Ultimately, if you just want a bit of fun with flash, this is a great option. But on the flip side, it can also be useful if you really want to experiment with flash photography and strip things back to its raw basics.

This small flash is an ideal option for any photographer looking for a compact, lightweight flash. Okay, there aren’t a great deal of options—you basically slip it onto your hot shoe, take the picture, and hope for the best. However, once you start using it for a while, you get a sense of how bright the flash is, and you’ll be able to adjust accordingly.

When it comes to the look and style of your images, you do need to take into consideration that this is a traditional-style flash. It’s direct—there’s no bouncing or anything else. If you want to soften or diffuse it, then you’ll need to pop a bit of paper or tissue in front of it to soften the light. That said, it does give that very stereotypical flash look, which is really in at the moment.

If you already use flash or just think it would be a great addition, then this is an excellent option. Considering how affordable it is, it’s a worthwhile investment—especially if you just want a little bit of fill-in light to give your pictures a boost.

However, if you want something a little more advanced, then I would highly recommend the Godox V100 as a solid all-rounder—one that can take you from being a beginner through to intermediate and advanced levels.

Compact flash guns that can be used on almost any camera are growing in popularity – here are just a few of the other mini flashguns we’ve looked at recently:

Godox iM30 Flash Review
A compact, retro-style hot shoe flash with manual control, offering an alternative for photographers seeking simplicity and portability.
https://camerajabber.com/reviews/godox-im30-flash-review/

Godox Lux Elf Flash Review
An entry-level flash that’s compact and easy to use, ideal for beginners looking to enhance their flash photography.
https://camerajabber.com/reviews/godox-lux-elf-flash-review/

Godox XPro-S TTL Wireless Flash Trigger Review
A versatile wireless flash trigger designed for Sony cameras, enhancing off-camera flash capabilities.
https://camerajabber.com/reviews/godox-xpro-s-ttl-wireless-flash-trigger/