Inon Z-240
Manufacturer: Inon Type: Strobe Year introduced: 2006 Discontinued: Early 2017 Successor: Inon Z-330 Output: GN 24 (air, ISO 100); GN 16 with diffuser (measured) Weight: 670g Batteries: 4x AA NiMH (320 full-power flashes)
Overview
The Inon Z-240 was arguably the most widely used compact strobe in underwater photography, with an 11-year production run (2006–2017). Succeeding the Z-220, it offered approximately 20% more power (GN 24 vs Z-220), S-TTL, 13-step manual power control in half-stop increments, 24-step external auto, and legacy Nikonos TTL for film users. Its compact size, 4x AA battery universality, and 320 full-power dumps per charge made it the benchmark against which virtually every new strobe was compared ([1]).
Alex Mustard’s standardized 2017 strobe comparison measured the Z-240 at GN 16 with diffuser — equivalent to the Ikelite DS-161, Sea & Sea YS-250, and Retra Flash ([2]).
Significance
- The benchmark strobe — every new strobe from 2006–2017 was compared to the Z-240
- 11-year production run with no changes — a testament to the design’s success
- Compact and travel-friendly — 670g with universal AA batteries
- Extensive ecosystem — Inon accessories, third-party snoots (Retra LSD), fiber optic cables from multiple manufacturers
- Drop-in replacement by Retra Flash — same cables, same batteries, same approximate size; the Retra Flash was explicitly pitched as “a straightforward performance upgrade for photographers currently shooting INON Z240” ([3])
Reviews & Discussion
- Announced March 2006 as new flagship ([4])
- Full review published November 2006 ([5])
- Displayed at DEMA 2006 ([6])
- Used by Alex Mustard in Nikon D3 field review (2008) ([7])
- Used by Mustard in Nikon D7100/Subal review in Bali (2013) ([8])
- Adam Hanlon borrowed Z-240s for month-long Nikon D500 review across Raja Ampat and Lembeh (2016) ([9])
- Included in Mustard’s standardized strobe comparison (2017): measured GN 16 with diffuser, narrower beam than Retra ([10])
- Multiple photographers compared Retra Flash to their Z-240s: Josef Litt, Valerie Reid, Peter Berndt all considered upgrading ([11])
Timeline
- 2006-03: Announced as Inon flagship ([12])
- 2006-11: Full review published; displayed at DEMA 2006 ([13], [14])
- 2008: Used by Mustard in D3 review ([15])
- 2013: Used by Mustard in D7100 review ([16])
- 2016: Used for D500 field review ([17])
- 2017 (early): Production ceased — “After Inon ceased production of the well known Z240 strobe earlier this year” ([18])
- 2017-09: Retra Flash explicitly positioned as Z-240 replacement ([19])
- 2017-11: Z-330 previewed as successor — same body, GN 33, 110-degree beam ([20])
References
Sources
- Wetpixel article, Mar 26, 2006: Inon Announces Flagship Z 240 Strobe ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 1, 2017: Preview Retra Strobe By Alex Mustard ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 20, 2017: Field Review Retra Flash By Alex Mustard And Friends ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 26, 2006: Inon Announces Flagship Z 240 Strobe ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 7, 2006: Inon X 2 Housing For Canon 10d 20d 30d Preview ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 15, 2006: Dema 2006 Inon ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 16, 2008: Nikon D3 Field Review In The East Pacific Part 1 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 18, 2013: Field Review Nikon D7100 And Subal Nd7100 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 26, 2016: Field Review Nikon D500 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 1, 2017: Preview Retra Strobe By Alex Mustard ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 20, 2017: Field Review Retra Flash By Alex Mustard And Friends ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 26, 2006: Inon Announces Flagship Z 240 Strobe ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 7, 2006: Inon X 2 Housing For Canon 10d 20d 30d Preview ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 15, 2006: Dema 2006 Inon ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 16, 2008: Nikon D3 Field Review In The East Pacific Part 1 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 18, 2013: Field Review Nikon D7100 And Subal Nd7100 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 26, 2016: Field Review Nikon D500 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 25, 2017: Sneak Preview Inon Z330 Strobe ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 20, 2017: Field Review Retra Flash By Alex Mustard And Friends ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 25, 2017: Sneak Preview Inon Z330 Strobe ↩
- Z-240 announcement (2006) (article) ↩
- Z-240 full review (2006) (article) ↩
- DEMA 2006 Inon booth (article) ↩
- Retra Flash preview — comparative test (2017) (article) ↩
- Retra Flash field review — Z-240 comparisons (2017) (article) ↩
- Z-330 sneak preview (2017) (article) ↩