buceo 2 Posted November 25, 2017 On some french dealer we can pre-order the new strobe Inon Z330 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisRoss 150 Posted November 25, 2017 Nice specs look good if accurate: Guide No 33 , 110°coverage without diffuser, price unknown?? Looks pretty much the same control layout, but possibly a bayonet mount for diffuser? http://www.photo-denfert.com/inon-flash-z330/ nothing on INON's site as yet Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pavel Kolpakov 72 Posted November 25, 2017 (edited) Looks nice! New diffuser, good changes in front part design. Comparing with Z240, the change in electric specs is GN=33. It would be interesting to look closer Z330 xenon tubes, which discharge twice more energy. Edited November 25, 2017 by Pavel Kolpakov Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tursiops 81 Posted November 25, 2017 Those specs also say it uses AAA batteries! Seems unlikely..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adamhanlon 0 Posted November 25, 2017 We have posted the details that are so far available on the Wetpixel front page: http://wetpixel.com/articles/sneak-preview-inon-z330-strobe On paper at least, they have more power than any similar 4 x AA powered strobe. 110 degree beam angle with no loss of power....those are amazing specifications. The unknowns are recycle times, light quality, colour temperature and battery life. Assuming these are good, this will prove to be a very good strobe.... We will keep posting information about the strobes on the front page and on this thread. There are plans under way to review them as soon as units are available. Adam Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisRoss 150 Posted November 27, 2017 Scubapix, Australian Nauticam distributor now has a price posted $A1169.94 (10% GST included) which is only a little more than the price of the the Z-240 before it was discontinued (believe the asking price was $1090). http://scubapix.com/strobes/inon-z-330-ultra-wide (weitwinkel)-strobe/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adamhanlon 0 Posted November 29, 2017 Here is a video introducing the new strobe by Tim Ho (of Anilao Photo Academy) and Takuya Torii (of Inon.) Adam Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BJF66 1 Posted November 29, 2017 Thanks for the video Adam, only question now is Z330 or RETRA Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
echo2600 10 Posted November 30, 2017 Yeah... that is the question, isnt it? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pavel Kolpakov 72 Posted November 30, 2017 (edited) It is difficult to recognize from the picture .... do the Z330 lamps look bigger than Z240 lamps? Edited November 30, 2017 by Pavel Kolpakov 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adamhanlon 0 Posted November 30, 2017 Pavel-do you mean the tubes? I assume so. For what it is worth, the focus/aiming light is more powerful. Adam Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pavel Kolpakov 72 Posted November 30, 2017 Pavel-do you mean the tubes? I assume so. For what it is worth, the focus/aiming light is more powerful. Adam Adam, thank you. I mean xenon tubes of course. They must be bigger size, because strobe power is doubled comparing with Z240. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ComeFromAway 7 Posted December 1, 2017 (edited) This is exciting! I'm digging the larger control knobs, too. Controlling the knobs on my Z240s with thick neoprene dry suit gloves recently proved impossible... had to find a stick on the river bottom to change settings. Will be interested to see what Inon sets the price at. Edited December 1, 2017 by ComeFromAway Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
errbrr 73 Posted December 2, 2017 Too late, I already bought a pair of retras! The thing that drove me away from another pair of Z240s was the overheating protection. I was sick of burning out tubes and capacitors, especially when Inon's only solution is to replace the whole internals and this service is very hard to obtain in Australia. Hopefully the Z330s have solved the heat problem. The duckbill shade cap also looks like a useful bit of kit. I wonder if it could be retrofitted onto a Z240? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nicool 26 Posted December 4, 2017 Too late, I already bought a pair of retras! The thing that drove me away from another pair of Z240s was the overheating protection. I was sick of burning out tubes and capacitors, especially when Inon's only solution is to replace the whole internals and this service is very hard to obtain in Australia. Hopefully the Z330s have solved the heat problem. The duckbill shade cap also looks like a useful bit of kit. I wonder if it could be retrofitted onto a Z240? I am curious as to why you've burned so many Z240s, cave diving isn't much of an action-loaded photography type i'd imagine?I've been using the same pair of Z240s over last 6 years without any issue (2500-3000 shots per year i'd say), maybe i've just been lucky? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DDT uk 4 Posted December 4, 2017 I have never had issues with overheating on any of my Z240s but I have problems with the silly push lock on the 1 or 2 preflash button. On a couple of my Inons this just doesn't hold and there is nothing more annoying than shooting away and discovering the button has popped and is out of sync and not firing when you want it to. That and the modelling light button just seem like bad design (I am always accidentally putting the modelling light on temporarily when I don't want to). It is a real shame that they haven't taken this chance, as it will stop me buying the new version. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rollin 12 Posted December 5, 2017 This is exciting! I'm digging the larger control knobs, too. Controlling the knobs on my Z240s with thick neoprene dry suit gloves recently proved impossible... had to find a stick on the river bottom to change settings. There is a cheap solution for that Extra large glow in the dark buttons Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adamhanlon 0 Posted December 5, 2017 Some more thoughts and updates on the strobe's specifications from Jovic Santos of Splash Underwater Imaging about the Z330. He was able to handle the new strobes during the recent Anilao Underwater Shootout. Here is an Inon update for the well awaited INON global Z-330 strobe. Apart from the common knowledge that this is a guide number 33 in meters. Here are some thoughts on the new strobes advantage for the underwater photographer. - Stronger guide number from 24 for Z240 to now 33. In actual use, it’s a +/- a meter gain in distance capability depending of course on camera settings. - Color temp is the same as the Z240, so your settings will not change. - Dome acrylic front - wider coverage of light vs that of Z240 - Power control knob - less confusing to use as now the knob stops at lowest power or maximum power. Z240 control continuously rotates and needs to be visually verified on where it is set. The new control allows you to feel the clicks and set accordingly. Plus it has a bigger control knob especially when your fingers are soft from too much diving. Is there such a thing as too much diving? - Although not a major issue if you know how to use your light when edge lighting, the rotating flanges helps to minimize back scatter if you are pointing your strobe directly to subject. - Previous Fiber optic cables and mount s are still compatible, but at this point the inon snoot and diffusers are not compatible as the mount ring is different. Probably they will release an adapter for it in the future. Kelvin diffusers are still not available at this point but maybe available when strobes are released. - External auto feature has been removed and only STTL, Low and Manual have been retained. Prices have not yet been finalized but will probably be in the 700 USD price range. Actual availabilty will be announced soon. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
echo2600 10 Posted December 6, 2017 This certainly puts the Z330 in strong competition with the Retra... especially, if it comes in close to $700 USD. Is there any scuttlebutt ona release date? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adamhanlon 0 Posted December 6, 2017 I know that Inon have stated that they want to start shipping them in 2017...so soon. Of course, production schedules are hard to predict accurately. Wetpixel will be using a pair for testing soon... Adam Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BJF66 1 Posted December 6, 2017 Adam, would be great to get a direct comparison against the RETRA as the cash is burning a hole in my pocket and not sure which option to choose 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adamhanlon 0 Posted December 8, 2017 So today the UPS man delivered a very interesting box from Japan.. Testing will begin in earnest tomorrow. Sadly, a side by side comparison with the Retra Flash is looking unlikely for a while. Adam Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
echo2600 10 Posted December 9, 2017 Out if curiosity, do you know how the Z-330 compares physically to the Retra? Are they very similar in size, or is one larger than the other? My current setup packs fairly tightly into a Pelican case, so new strobes might mean a luggage... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Balage_diver 4 Posted December 9, 2017 So today the UPS man delivered a very interesting box from Japan.. z330_ah-01.jpg z330_ah-02.jpg z330_ah-06.jpg z330_ah-07.jpg z330_ah-10.jpg Testing will begin in earnest tomorrow. Sadly, a side by side comparison with the Retra Flash is looking unlikely for a while. Adam Looks so nice! We are waiting for the test results! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pavel Kolpakov 72 Posted December 9, 2017 (edited) Adam, that's good news! It would be interesting to compare how much are changes of Z330 light beam angle and uniformity compared to Z240 (on the same power, without diffuser). Could you please show us the beam shots, if possible? Edited December 9, 2017 by Pavel Kolpakov Share this post Link to post Share on other sites