NEEWER Z2-S 2.4G TTL Round Head Flash Speedlite for Sony

This product was sent to me for review, as part of Amazon Vine. The below is my own real-world experience of using it.

For clarity, I am very new to using this type of equipment, so my review will be coming from a novice angle. That being said, I have done my best to immerse myself in tutorials, to try and understand the device better.

The set is well-presented in the box, and it is quite comprehensive – you are getting the Speedlite, battery, charger, stand, and a particularly useful soft case for the device itself. The pouch has quite a snug fit, but adds a decent layer of protection for the flash (the manual states that it is not weatherproof and should not be used in wet weather, so the case is a much-needed accessory). It would fit into a small-ish camera bag, though that is of course dependent on the space you have available.

Moving on to build-quality, the Speedlite feels quite sturdy, and has a sleek finish. As with similar devices, the bulb head can be angled or rotated – I found the mechanism for this was smooth and quiet, making it easier to fine-tune the positioning of the flash, when needed. The control panel has a set of well-spaced buttons, and all of these provide nice, responsive feedback. Finally, all of the settings are viewed on an LCD screen that is bright and clear (with options to adjust this to your own comfort levels/if the environment requires it).

As this model is specific to Sony cameras, I have been using it with my A77ii, without experiencing any issues. Though the device is somewhat bulky, it does not add too much weight to my camera, whilst the hot-shoe lock is particularly useful – no need to worry about it detaching suddenly, or falling off.

There are all of the features that you would expect to find (such as TTL, Manual, and Multi flash modes), and the dial on the back allows a greater level of control over these. I have quite enjoyed learning and experimenting with all of the different levels of flash available, and have actually been impressed by the speed of the reload – the ‘recycle’ button has stayed lit throughout all of my testing (even with my rapidly pressing the button). The flash itself is extremely powerful and vibrant at the highest setting, though I would have also liked to see some kind of diffuser in the box (a previous version of this set has a ‘dome’ accessory included), because there’s no way to soften the light otherwise.

So far, I have found the battery life to be exceptional – it has barely depleted after at least 30 minutes of use. Re-charging it is also straightforward, using the included power supply (handy for that kind of battery).

In summary, I would recommend it as a great starting point if you’re interested in flash photography, or setting up a studio. A good value item.

The first thing that stands out is the two adjustable modeling lamps, which have been a game-changer for my portrait photography. They provide excellent preview lighting and help me get the perfect setup before taking the shot.
The TTL/M quick switch is incredibly convenient, allowing me to switch between automatic and manual modes seamlessly. This feature, combined with the TCM key, gives me total control and flexibility, making it easier to adapt to different shooting conditions.
At 76Ws, this speedlite packs quite a punch, delivering consistent and powerful light. The 1/8000s high-speed sync (HSS) is a dream for outdoor shoots, letting me use a wide aperture even in bright sunlight without any issues. I’ve been able to capture stunning images with a shallow depth of field, something that wasn’t as easy with my previous flash.
With 480 full power flashes per charge, the battery life is impressive and reliable for long sessions. I haven’t had to worry about the flash dying on me in the middle of a shoot, which is a huge relief.
Overall, this speedlite has significantly improved my photography experience with my Sony Alpha camera. It’s powerful, versatile, and user-friendly, making it an essential addition to my toolkit. Highly recommend it to fellow photographers looking for a reliable and high-performing flash!

I have already reviewed the Nikon version of this here on Amazon so there is little I can add to that review, as such I will paste what I said before here.

**When this was offered to me via the Vine program I was initially hesitant as I’d just picked up a pair of Godox Speedlites for my Canon Sony and Fuji systems and rarely use my Nikon camera, but as this was sent to me for free after 10 minutes of humming and aaahing I thought why not
And boy am I happy I did.

As mentioned earlier I rarely use my Nikon these days and it spends most of it’s time on loan to my son, as such I have been soldiering on with an SB-900 which I was always happy with as it did what I needed.

This is on another level, I won’t go into all the technical specs as I am still learning myself, you can read the listing for that, but two things that stand out for me and, this won’t be big news to everyone, is the dedicated switch to quickly go from M mode to TTL and the very fast recycling.

I’m still meeting to grips with the LCD menu system though it seems fairly simple, though I haven’t had occasion to shoot professionally with it yet so it is on the back. burner as I’m still on the new Godox learning curve.

Would I buy this with my own money?
Hell Yeah**

One thing I dod omit to mention from my initial review was the size, this is by not means a tiny speedlite but is non the worse for that, in fact one of my pet peeves with speedlites is the head drooping whenever I attach anything to it, this hasn’t’ exhibited this behaviour at all which I am putting down to the solid construction.

There are a small group of names that are taking on the big boys and besting them, in my opinion Neewer is spearheading that group.