Inon
Type: Strobe and accessory manufacturer Founded: Japan Key products: Z-240, Z-330, S-2000, D-2000 strobes; wet lenses
Overview
Inon is a Japanese manufacturer of underwater strobes and optical accessories. Their strobes — particularly the Z-240 — became some of the bestselling underwater strobes of all time, prized for their reliability, compact T-shape Twin Flash construction, and compatibility with both compact and SLR camera systems.
The Z-240 (Guide Number 24, 100-degree beam, powered by 4xAA batteries) was a “go-to” strobe for an entire generation of underwater photographers. The S-2000, the world’s smallest 4xAA underwater strobe, was designed primarily for compact cameras but saw widespread use across all systems.
Product timeline
- 2002: D-180 strobe shown at DEMA 2002 via MCD booth ([1])
- 2003: D-180, D-180S, and Z-220 strobes; optical converter; lens adapters shown at DEMA 2003 ([2], [3])
- 2003-11: Artist of the Month program launched ([4])
- 2004-01: X-2 housing for Canon 10D announced ([5])
- 2004: Z-220 strobe; UFL-165AD fisheye wet lens; patent dispute on optical converter design ([6], [7], [8])
- 2004: Accessories for multiple housings including Canon WP-DC900 ([9])
- 2004-11: D-2000 Ultra Multimode strobe unveiled at DEMA 2004 — among the first to support digital TTL auto (S-TTL) ([10], [11])
- 2005-02: D-2000 S-TTL strobe reviewed; Mark Rupert ran Inon America ([12], [13])
- 2005-02: James Wiseman named Inon Artist of the Month ([14])
- 2005-06: Z220F strobe replaces Z-220 ([15])
- 2005-09: Chris Parsons named Inon Artist of the Month ([16])
- 2006-03: Z-240 flagship strobe announced — GN24 (20% more powerful than Z-220), S-TTL, 24-step external auto, 13-step manual, 320 full-power flashes per charge with 2700mAh NiMH batteries. Would become one of the bestselling underwater strobes in history. ([17])
- 2009-01: Inon America suspends operations. Founder Mark Rupert announces that Inon Inc. and Seanet Inc. (Japan) unilaterally decided to sell directly to Inon America’s customer base, cutting out the US distributor after 5+ years of building the brand. Employees lost jobs. ([18])
- 2016-01: D-200 strobe announced — successor to D-2000. Reviewed by Adam Hanlon in February 2016.
- 2017-02: UCL-67 close-up wet lens announced. ([19])
- 2017-06: Z-240 discontinued — end of an era for one of the most iconic and bestselling underwater strobes in history. ([20])
- 2017-11: Z-330 sneak preview published. ([21])
- 2017-12: Z-330 full details announced — GN33, 110° coverage, dome diffuser lens. Successor to the Z-240. ([22])
- 2017-12: UCL-90 close-up wet lens ships — +11 diopter for macro photography. ([23])
- 2018-02: Z-330 comparative strobe test alongside Retra Flash and Symbiosis SS2, published by Wetpixel. ([24])
- 2018-04: Retra announces LSD snoot support for Z-330 — third-party accessory compatibility. ([25])
- 2019: Snoot set for Z-330/D-200 ships. ([26])
- 2021-01: High CRI lights released. ([27])
- 2021-06: Z-330 Type 2 and D-200 Type 2 announced — feature new “fly-eye” dome lens for improved light distribution. Available from June 10. ([28])
- 2021-10: Announces X-2 housing for Canon EOS R5 — continues Inon’s own housing line alongside accessories. ([29])
- 2022-12: UWL-95S wide conversion lens ships. ([30])
References
- [31] — editorial
- [32] — editorial
- [33] — editorial
- [34] — editorial
- [35] — editorial
- [36] — editorial
- [37] — editorial
- [38] — editorial
- [39] — editorial
- [40] — editorial
Sources
- Wetpixel article, Jul 22, 2002: Dema 2002 Report ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 7, 2003: Dema 2003 Show Coverage1 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 2, 2003: Inons New D 180s Strobe ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 27, 2003: Inon Artists Of The Month ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 23, 2004: Inon X2 Canon 10d Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 20, 2004: Mcd Inon Z 220 Filter Holder ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 4, 2004: Inon Ufl 165ad Underwater Fisheye Conversion Lens ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 23, 2004: Inon Announces D 100 Optical Converter ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 1, 2004: Inon Announces Accessories For Canon Wp Dc900 Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 2, 2004: Inon D 2000 Ultra Multimode Strobe ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 15, 2004: Dema Show 2004 Report ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 3, 2005: Slave Ttl For Digicams1 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 11, 2005: Inon D 2000 S Ttl Official Explanation ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 4, 2005: James Wiseman Inon Artist Of The Month ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 14, 2005: Inon Z220f Strobe Replaces Z220 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 7, 2005: Chris Parsons Inon Artist Of The Month ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 26, 2006: Inon Announces Flagship Z 240 Strobe ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 19, 2009: Inon America Announces Business Operations Suspended ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 15, 2017: Inon Announces Ucl 67 Close Up Lens ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 5, 2017: Inon Ceases Production Of Z240 Strobe ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 25, 2017: Sneak Preview Inon Z330 Strobe ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 21, 2017: Full Details Of The Inon Z330 Strobe Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 28, 2017: Inon Ships Ucl 90 Close Up Lens ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 19, 2018: Strobe Tests Inon Z330 Retra Flash And Symbiosis Ss2 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 24, 2018: Retra Announces Support For Lsd With Inon Z330 Strobe ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 17, 2019: Inon Ships Snoot Set For Z330 D200 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 24, 2021: Inon Releases High Cri Lights ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 4, 2021: Inon Announces Z330 And D200 Type 2 Strobes ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 28, 2021: Inon Announces Housing For Canon Eos R5 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 2, 2022: Inon Ships Uwl 95s Wide Conversion Lens ↩
- DEMA 2002 report (article) ↩
- Inon D-180S strobe (article) ↩
- Inon D-2000 Ultra Multimode strobe (article) ↩
- Inon D-2000 S-TTL explanation (article) ↩
- Inon Z220F (article) ↩
- Z-240 announced (article) ↩
- Inon America suspended (article) ↩
- Z-240 discontinued (article) ↩
- Z-330 full details (article) ↩
- Z-330 and D-200 Type 2 (article) ↩