Compact flash

The other day, a friend invited me to a wonderful restaurant.

The atmosphere and food were both fantastic. I was in high spirits, and the conversation with my friends was lively. I was so charmed by the smile of the staff member who was assisting us that I asked her, perhaps rather boldly, if I could take her portrait.

Fortunately, I had my Sony α6400 with me that day. Even five years after its release, I'm still completely satisfied with its performance — it's the perfect APS-C camera for someone like me who prioritises user experience. I used a 30 mm f/3.5 macro lens. I hadn’t planned on taking portraits, so I hadn’t brought a flash. However, once I started shooting, I found that the restaurant was quite dim, and that my lens (equivalent to 35 mm at f/5.2) was struggling. I usually avoid heavy editing, but this time I had no choice.

There are restrictions on the equipment I can take to Moscow — I take one GN60 flash, a radio slave and one LED — but I don't usually take lights with me outside of photo projects as they count as baggage.

Having missed opportunities like this one, I decided that I wanted a pocket-sized flash or LED light. Then a recommended YouTube video popped up, and I knew it was just what I needed.

Recently, there has been an influx of gear from Chinese manufacturers, but much of it isn't available in stores to try out. Buying based on YouTube reviews is often the best approach, though. As I already owned the Ulanzi SL02 flash, I was looking for a mini flash for off-camera use. That’s when I found the Tarion SL01: GN13. It weighs 128 g, has a shutter speed range of 1/128 to 1/1, and is priced at just ¥3,500. I ordered it immediately.

It is truly pocket-sized. You won't hesitate to carry it around and can simply leave it in your bag. The light output is as expected, and it works well with a camera flash. The only drawback is that it won't fire unless the sensor is facing the camera, which limits its use. For this reason, I wouldn’t recommend it as your only flash. Also, despite using USB-C, it doesn't support fast charging.

It's another solid piece of street-friendly gear to add to my kit — I can't wait to shoot with it!