Speedlights just got a lot better! Neewer Z2 Review.

[@kieranhayesphotography]

If you are thinking about buying the Neewer Z2 then you can save 21% off the price on their website with my Discount Code HAYES21

[@josephpetty2268]

This is most definitely my next flash. Neewer's ecosystem has come a long way and they have a solid lineup.

[@kieranhayesphotography]

Enjoy it, it's an amazing flash. They sure have come on a n lot in the last two years. I am going to be doing a review of the Q200 soon and it again is a great strobe.

[@nickwilliams7867]

I own two Godox V1 but my favourite flash is my Sony 45RM. It's so small compared to these round head flashes. If Godox or Neewer came out with a comparable flash to the 45RM with lithium battery I would buy 2/3 tomorrow. The 45RM so balances so much better on my Sony A1/A9 cameras

[@douglasritchie2836]

Seems to be terrific value, Kieran, I am still using an old Nikon SB-900, which is still going strong, but for the money and output it seems incredible value.

[@kieranhayesphotography]

Hi Douglas, ya, it's amazing value for money for what it does. I always think back to when I started out in photography and I couldn't to buy a camera. It was one of the things I decided on with this channel was to focus on reasonable priced gear and trying to give people value and help them on their way. Not sure how the Z8 fits into that but let's say I let the odd one slip through 😂. I can only hope to be able to provide more discounts and offers or freebies going forward. Thanks for watching and for the feedback 👍

[@douglasritchie2836]

I was the same pleased with the Z7II, but something snapped when the Z8 appeared. Do you think a Z7III with 60 megapixels is on the horizon!!@@kieranhayesphotography

[@kieranhayesphotography]

@@douglasritchie2836 from what I am hearing the Z7ii is going to be 61mp and the Z6iii is a 30mp sensor. Tbh up until about two months ago there was only one strong rumour I was hearing now there are multiple ones. The exact same thing happened three months before the Z8 launch. It sounds like a smoke screen to hide any leaks again. The Z7iii has to be a mp monster as there just isn't room for it in the line up otherwise. Nikon also need one ATM so my money is saying it's true and it also came from the same person who leaked the Z8 specs about 6 months before it was launched. I am just stumped about what I will buy now, the Z6iii or the Z7iii 😂

[@OldguyinBelize]

as with most things in life, i am so far into the godox system, i could not think of changing now. i wish triggers worked across the board with more brands. great review!!

[@kieranhayesphotography]

I am right there with you, we are getting to a stage now of there being so many channels available for transmitters that it should be possible. Wouldn't that make life a lot easier? All a long they kept them different to limit false triggers from other transmitters. Those days should nearly be gone now though. Thanks for watching and enjoy the Godox gear 👍

[@jamesmgreen15]

If this only existed in a bubble it does look super+. The TCM function is nice to have but their triggers don't support TCM, and so whatever slight appeal it did have is lost for my usage. Does the small front modelling (illumination) light switch off when firing? Not sure how much of an issue this would ever be but perhaps it could also be used as slight fill when not set to switch off.......I know Canon do say (assume all their mirrorless but check) that an LED AF can fired on an external flash if so equipped. The camera can use its own if not so equipped (words to that effect). I have the Z1 and am very happy. I'm not sure I need it versus a standard head, but it's a great price at, ''not much more'' and the accessories are very convenient and a nice-to-have pairing, IMO. I can confirm that the V1 will pre-flash for AF assist if I select that (M mode anyway without double checking for rest) OR I can set AUTO LED, which triggers the camera LED. I can obviously select nothing. If the V2 has an easy on/off button for that front light that can also replace the camera's AF assist LED it looks nice to have. It's not that I have run into problems with my set-up, but potentially more powerful could be good and if it does provide some fill (as an option) it's also a why not. TCM is no biggie for me, but their current trigger not allowing it and a now a TCM flash that may or may not be compatible with some future TCM-capable trigger, needing to look into that front modelling lamp capability for Canon still I think and a nicer UI versus the V1 that's been fine I am not ready to "upgrade". I will check to see if the battery offers more pops than the V1 as that could help sway me soon. I feel Neewer are really on track but I am not sure about investing more in their ecosystem until a couple of things get ironed out. Nice to have the choice though.

[@kieranhayesphotography]

Hi James, I have tried shots with and without the modelling light and it has no effect on the image at relatively normal shutter speeds. If you are inclined to shoot multiple flash sequences and longer shutter speeds as a result then you could see some light creeping through then. The TCM switch is very handy and convenient but you can also switch from manual to TTL on the remote triggers. It is a nice unit and the UI is very easy to follow. So far I think it's incredible value for money.

[@iskaphotography]

I just used mine for the first time last night!

[@kieranhayesphotography]

How did it go? I have used mine a ton since and I am liking it more and more.

[@HeathGriffin]

Hey Kieran, first off, I really appreciate your detailed videos! They've helped me make a decision on what to purchase. Quick question: I'm looking at getting a set of the Q4 strobes, as well a the Z2 speedlight. I understand that it can be put in master mode and set the Q4s to slave to get them all to fire at once, but can it also be used as a trigger that only fires the Q4s? I'm trying to determine if I need to purchase a separate QPro trigger for cases where I don't want to use the speedlight.

[@kieranhayesphotography]

Hello Heath, firstly thanks for watching and for the feedback, it's appreciated. In all honesty I know you can use the Z2 to trigger the other flashes but I have always used the Qpro trigger as it's so versatile and it's incredibly easy to enable and disable a strobe and adjust their outputs individually in a split second. I just quickly tried triggering the Q4s and having the Z2 strobe off and I couldn't get it to work. A work around there might be to have the Z2 on low power and facing straight up so it doesn't affect the lighting in the shot. I hope that helps a small bit.

[@FLindy]

Thanks for the test. Another disadvantage: unfortunately it is sold out. ;-)

[@kieranhayesphotography]

It's only just after being launched for Canon so stocks should be coming in soon again, Sony version is coming on stream soon followed by the Nikon Version I am told. Was it the Canon version you were looking at? It could be available on their Amazon shop also.

[@MosleydollMUA]

Would you say this or the godox v860iii ? Thanks

[@kieranhayesphotography]

That's a very good question, they are similiar units but also very different in ways, the Z2 has the new round head design, it's a 76 watt flash but the recylce times and flashes per charge are the same as the Godox. There are a few more slight differences between the two. the Neewer is also a bit cheaper and has the new sleeker UI on it also. So is one miles better than the other? Not really no, but the Z2 has a few advantages and it's cheaper also :-)

[@DeAngeloSolomon-n5m]

860iii but honestly go with the 860ii instead because of the wheel

[@tombreen7927]

Solid review !!!

[@kieranhayesphotography]

Hi Tom, thanks for the feedback and glad it helped.

[@Slicktune]

Great review, does this work with the X2T? I tried with the neewer z1 and it didnt work so i returned it.

[@kieranhayesphotography]

It will only work with the Q range of flash triggers from Neewer like the Q-pro trigger, while Godox and Neewer Flashes look the similar they have a different triggering system.

[@john-lenin]

Almost a perfect review - but I shoot events and nightclubs with a DSLR - and I need to know how bright and effective the Autofocus assist beam actually is. Is it as good as Canon's?

[@kieranhayesphotography]

That's a question I can't answer as I don't own a Canon flash, sorry I can't be of any help with that.

[@john-lenin]

@@kieranhayesphotography Ok - but how good is it? How bright is it? What does the pattern look like? How does it compare to your Nikons? How does it compare to other 3rd party flashes you own? (Every third party flash I have has shitty autofocus assist - the beam is weak and they have weird geometric patterns rather than a single bright bar for the autofocus to lock on to.)

[@leonfisher]

Z8 + Z2 = sweet

[@kieranhayesphotography]

Hi Leon, ya it's a nice combo alright and they work really well together :-)

[@VisionQuestPLUR]

can you do this vs the godox pro v1

[@kieranhayesphotography]

If I had the Godox Pro V1, I would do that straight away. Unfortunately I don't have it here. I did use the V1 before though and it's a nice unit also.

[@VisionQuestPLUR]

@kieranhayesphotography between those two, which would you recommend more?

[@kieranhayesphotography]

@VisionQuestPLUR they are very similar in ways, the Godox has a USB C charging option and a few more small little touches like that but it is a good bit dearer also. I have used the Z2 a lot and it's a great flash. It really comes down to budget and how much you value those small touches I suppose.

[@VisionQuestPLUR]

@kieranhayesphotography budget may not matter as long as good haha but I have seen pricy that's not good and cheap a sometimes is better

[@kieranhayesphotography]

@VisionQuestPLUR the way I look at is, I don't need a lot of fancy stuff just a good solid light that works. So far I have not had a single issue with the Z2. In fact I just recently completed a book project and it was shot entirely with the Z2 and the Q4. Happy out with it as I say but I also know people swear by the V1 also.

[@ronlemelinphotography]

can you trigger other flashes off camera???

[@kieranhayesphotography]

You can trigger other Neewer flashes that have the Q wireless system built-in. Or you can use the QPro wireless trigger to fire them also if you want.

[@ronlemelinphotography]

@@kieranhayesphotography only Newer?

[@kieranhayesphotography]

@@ronlemelinphotography only Neewer Q wireless flashes, it won't work with the Godox system. They all have their own control signals to avoid interference or false triggering.

[@RelaxingBrainAndMind]

Can i use godox trigger for this flash?

[@kieranhayesphotography]

Hi, I haven't personally tried it but I am told no, they are not compatible.

[@leonfisher]

For those interested in this speedlight, Amazon has them now at $150.

[@kieranhayesphotography]

That's just crazy stupid money for a light of that quality.

[@leonfisher]

@@kieranhayesphotographyIt was too good a deal for me to pass up. Thanks for your review that put it on my wallets radar.

[@kieranhayesphotography]

@@leonfisher I told three people about that offer since you mentioned it. That's a real bargain. Let me know how you get on with it. I was using mine today on a product shoots with the Q4, they work beautifully together.

[@princebanton9136]

Are you Australian? Your language is very great!!!!

[@kieranhayesphotography]

Thank you, I am Irish, living in the South West of Ireland.

[@julianroberts9544]

Can't get TTL to work whiten the QPro-C trigger

[@kieranhayesphotography]

Is the M/TTL switch in the TTL position? What model camera are you using?

[@julianroberts9544]

​@@kieranhayesphotography Hi. I've tried with the Z2 set to TTL & M - no difference. I'm using a Canon R5 & R6. Manual works fine, bit no joy at all with TTL

[@kieranhayesphotography]

@@julianroberts9544 that's a bit odd, have you tried the Z2 on the cameras hot shoe and does TTL work then? On the QPro is TTL showing up on the group the flash is assigned too? If not just press the group letter to select it and then press the mode button to toggle through the settings. It might be worth while checking for a firmware update for the Q Pro trigger if the flash works on the camera and TTL is enabled on the trigger.

[@julianroberts9544]

@@kieranhayesphotography Thanks Kieran. Yes - TTL seems to work on-camera. The QPro and Z2 are set to the same Channel & Group. Firmware is also up to date. I’ll try to contact Neewer Support. It’s not the end of the world, as the QPro doesn’t support TCM (TTL to Manual) anyway - unlike the Godox XPro. I bought the Z2 as it’s dial is more solid than the Godox V1 - and I think the colour temperature is more accurate for daylight

[@julianroberts9544]

@@kieranhayesphotography Here's the response Ice received from Neewer: "Sorry, this is the design of this product. This design follows the original factory practice. The exposure compensation of TTL mode on QPro will not be synchronized to the receiving end Z2, because the exposure compensation of +/-3EV can also be set on the Z2, which is a superimposed effect with the TTL exposure compensation +/-3EV on QPro. Thank you." - To my mind this doesn't make sense, as they could easily give priority to the QPro's FEC setting - just like Godox...

[@unique93obr]

I'm trying to understand how no one can make flash with af assist that can work on mirrorless...is it really that hard to make green light patern that activates when you press shutter button? I understand that most of mirrorless users use their camera in af-c mode, but, when is really dark, just option to havev af assist in af-c mode is sometimes lifesaver.

[@kieranhayesphotography]

My understanding is that making the assist assit beam is fairly straight forward the issue is that the mirrorless cameras don't output the signal on the hotshoe to the flash to tell it to switch on the beam. You can get DIY systems out there that can be triggered by the cameras assist beam via light detector positioned over the assist light, which then fires an external assist beam from a suitable unit. It's a clever work around but really it shouldn't be needed in this day and age. The constant light on this flash does help a lot and with starlight mode on the Nikon Z8 it focuses in a pich black room really quickly thanks to the light from the modeling light which I set to the lowest intensity. As I mentioned though it's a small light source and is very bright so a small bit of diffusion would really help take the harshness out of it.

[@thedadjokesfordays]

I could listen to you read the phone book! 😂

[@kieranhayesphotography]

Funnily that's what the next video is about 😉 Thanks for watching 🙂

[@DeAngeloSolomon-n5m]

Don’t buy this flash I will short out on you. Mine lasted a little over a month.

[@kieranhayesphotography]

Hi, sorry to hear you had issues with the Z2. How do you mean "short out on you"? Did you contact Neewer? Did they replace it? How did you get on with it since? Any product can give trouble, most manufacturers aim for a .8% failure rate in the first 12 months so that's nearly one in a hundred. You could have just been an unlucky customer. Personally haven't heard of anyone else having this issue. Have you heard of it happening to other people you know?