JYk 19 Posted January 4 (edited) Just a FYI for everyone. Inon Discontinued the Z330 Line. My local dealer said, they don't have the chips to build more. (see INON Z-330 Type2 [Overview]). From my point of view, this means there is no comming back. Does anybody knows if Inon will announce a new version soon? I don't wan't to spread FUD but I think we're now missing one of the best strobes when it comes to price/quality ratio. If you need a second one, you may buy now. Edited January 4 by JYk 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
makar0n 60 Posted January 4 (edited) Well, now this would be pretty unusual. Strobes is what Inon is pretty much known for, hence rather strange that they would discontinue that. Perhaps delayed side effect of the whole chip shortage saga that has been plaguing electronic markets for the past years? No announcement on Inon website yet but curiously enough, when one clicks on the "strobes" in the products section of their website, not much is being displayed...could be just a site error though. That said, Z330 is now linked under "discontinued products"... Fingers crossed something new is in the works...still rocking Z240s, those things are absolutely indestructible. Inon definitely lead the pack in terms of quality vs price. Edited January 4 by makar0n Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TimG 62 Posted January 4 Yeah, I agree with makar0n. It’d be a sad loss if they disappear. Watch this space, I guess. Or the Inon website….. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisRoss 150 Posted January 4 When they introduced the Z-330 the Z-240 was discontinued a few months prior to the release. They only have the D200 on their website currently, no mention of the S2000, which is now in the discontinued products list as well. We'll just have to wait and see. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phil Rudin 446 Posted January 5 This is the translating from the Inon.co.jp site. It confirms the Z-330 has been discontinued and that a new flash is being developed. "Production of the underwater strobe "Z-330 Type 2" will be discontinued. After that, please note that only the stock of each dealer will be sold. 「Z-330 Type2」 ¥75,800-(excl. tax)/¥83,380-(tax included) JAN code:4570018120572 Z-330 Type2 We are diligently developing a successor strobe to meet your expectations. As soon as the sale is confirmed, it will be announced on this website. We look forward to your continued patronage of our products." December 21, 2022 Inon Corporation 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisRoss 150 Posted January 5 7 hours ago, Phil Rudin said: This is the translating from the Inon.co.jp site. It confirms the Z-330 has been discontinued and that a new flash is being developed. "Production of the underwater strobe "Z-330 Type 2" will be discontinued. After that, please note that only the stock of each dealer will be sold. 「Z-330 Type2」 ¥75,800-(excl. tax)/¥83,380-(tax included) JAN code:4570018120572 Z-330 Type2 We are diligently developing a successor strobe to meet your expectations. As soon as the sale is confirmed, it will be announced on this website. We look forward to your continued patronage of our products." December 21, 2022 Inon Corporation As I expected , a new model is coming. I poked around on the INON site and also found this for the S2000: http://www.inon.co.jp/news/news574/index.html the translation: Production of the underwater strobe "S-2000" will be discontinued. Please note that after that, only the inventory of each store will be sold. Thank you for your continued support of our products. A successor is under active development. Please stay tuned. September 2, 2022 Inon Co., Ltd. So they are also updating the S2000. Be interesting to see what they come up with. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JYk 19 Posted January 6 Question is, if we just get a small update because they have to change some parts (which are maybe not produced anymore). Or if they will realy inovate. New circular flash tube? Better batteries like 18650? Well we will see. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alex_Mustard 0 Posted January 6 And take off the b*stard button. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisRoss 150 Posted January 6 1 hour ago, JYk said: Question is, if we just get a small update because they have to change some parts (which are maybe not produced anymore). Or if they will realy inovate. New circular flash tube? Better batteries like 18650? Well we will see. I doubt the reason they discontinued was parts supply, they did this last time when they changed from Z240 to Z330 and the relatively minor upgrade from Z330 to type 2 occurred without any disruption to supply. We'll have to wait a few months to see what they come out with. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Architeuthis 138 Posted January 6 1 hour ago, Alex_Mustard said: And take off the b*stard button. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TimG 62 Posted January 6 8 minutes ago, Architeuthis said: Amongst the b*stards, which one is this? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Architeuthis 138 Posted January 6 (edited) For me, personally, there are, at least, two "b*stard buttons": #1.: the one to switch on the internal focus light (switching the focus light off is, intelligently, not possible with this flash) and #2.: the other one that switches on/off different prepulse cancelling protocols. These two buttons are easily pressed unintentionally, while operating the two bigger main dials (these ones are for switching the strobe on/off (and to different TTL modes) and the other one to control the output power in manual mode)... Yesterday, for instance, I was diving at home in a lake with drygloves (plus warming undergloves) at 5 °C. After having these strobes now since two years, I am trained to avoid pressing these "b*stard buttons" unintentionally and it did not happen yesterday, but certainly 20x the learning curve compared to use a 45° viewfinder (pressing #1 leads to burning of the focus light for several minutes until it switches off by itself (not a real problem, just anoying)), while switching #2 is completely destructive, because the strobe will deliver minimal output only, after the button pops out, and one often notices this only when viewing the photos afterwards). Even the two main dials are difficult to operate with gloves on... => Like Alex, I would regard a major improvement of the "b*stard buttons" to better ergonomics as a real and very important upgrade... Wolfgang Edited January 6 by Architeuthis Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TimG 62 Posted January 6 2 minutes ago, Architeuthis said: For me, personally, there are, at least, two "b*stard buttons": I always found annoying the Z-240 button that you had to twist to keep the focus light on - and then untwist to turn it off. Almost impossible I'd have thought with gloves. Happily as a warm water, non-gloved diver, the pre-pulse button was never an issue. I can sure see the problem though! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
makar0n 60 Posted January 6 (edited) 1 hour ago, TimG said: I always found annoying the Z-240 button that you had to twist to keep the focus light on - and then untwist to turn it off. Almost impossible I'd have thought with gloves. Happily as a warm water, non-gloved diver, the pre-pulse button was never an issue. I can sure see the problem though! Remove that damn giant electrical connection from the middle, nobody sane is using that , that will make it so much nicer with the bastard buttons xD My only gripe is with the right, cancelling one - I always have it on (using LED trigger) and it sometimes unlocks itself and goes off... Edited January 6 by makar0n Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisRoss 150 Posted January 6 Interesting, my button stays locked in. There is a relatively simple solution to the button, undo the switch assembly and obtain a magnet screw (as used in the lower spec INON models) and install it. You can do manual or TTL with the button in, you just don't get the battery saving cancel circuit. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
makar0n 60 Posted January 7 12 hours ago, ChrisRoss said: Interesting, my button stays locked in. There is a relatively simple solution to the button, undo the switch assembly and obtain a magnet screw (as used in the lower spec INON models) and install it. You can do manual or TTL with the button in, you just don't get the battery saving cancel circuit. Thanks! Do you mean screw like this? But would the cancel circuit work correctly then? i.e. like with button pressed in ? As not sure i understand " just don't get the battery saving cancel circuit ". https://www.uwcamerastore.com/inon-magnet-screw-for-s-2000 Well it unlocks mostly in two situations for me: -when fiddling with the power controls when shooting manual, sometimes i brush the button and then it unscrews and pops out (rarer) -when adjusting strobe positions doing macro as arms/strobes are often packed so tight that button rubs on arm/float/housing and again unscrews and pops out (much more common) I was thinking about just using some tape but then would still have to remove it. If i leave it perma locked a salt deposit builds up and then causes issues. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisRoss 150 Posted January 7 8 minutes ago, makar0n said: Thanks! Do you mean screw like this? But would the cancel circuit work correctly then? i.e. like with button pressed in ? As not sure i understand " just don't get the battery saving cancel circuit ". https://www.uwcamerastore.com/inon-magnet-screw-for-s-2000 Well it unlocks mostly in two situations for me: -when fiddling with the power controls when shooting manual, sometimes i brush the button and then it unscrews and pops out (rarer) -when adjusting strobe positions doing macro as arms/strobes are often packed so tight that button rubs on arm/float/housing and again unscrews and pops out (much more common) I was thinking about just using some tape but then would still have to remove it. If i leave it perma locked a salt deposit builds up and then causes issues. Yes I believe that will fit if you remove the locking button The button disables the active cancel circuit, you need the button locked in for manual flash when triggered by manual trigger or camera onboard flash or it won't sync. When it is locked in the flash triggers whenever it sees a flash so a low power flash or an LED trigger will trigger the strobe when in manual. If you switch the strobe and camera to TTL it will be a pure slave and mimic both the pre and main flash pulses with the button locked in. If your camera always emits a pre-flash and your strobe is in manual it will flash twice. All leaving it out does is to allow the strobe to be a slave with ACC active. What this means is the strobe increases the pulse length from the pre-flash fooling the camera into emitting a lower power main flash so it uses less battery, The strobe itself compensates for the expected lower power main flash so the exposure is right. It doesn't actually cancel out pre-flash in either mode. ACC is arguably only helpful with something like an RX-100 which is TTL only and has a smallish battery which you might want to conserve when shooting TTL and improve recycle times, also useful on pre-flash only cameras in TTL that are slow recycling. If you are using an LED trigger in TTL you might as well shoot with the magnet in as the trigger battery is not really limiting you and it will shoot TTL fine with the magnet in. My take is that for many people you might as well leave it locked in and a screw can be tightened so it won't dislodge. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
makar0n 60 Posted January 8 (edited) 21 hours ago, ChrisRoss said: Yes I believe that will fit if you remove the locking button The button disables the active cancel circuit, you need the button locked in for manual flash when triggered by manual trigger or camera onboard flash or it won't sync. When it is locked in the flash triggers whenever it sees a flash so a low power flash or an LED trigger will trigger the strobe when in manual. If you switch the strobe and camera to TTL it will be a pure slave and mimic both the pre and main flash pulses with the button locked in. If your camera always emits a pre-flash and your strobe is in manual it will flash twice. All leaving it out does is to allow the strobe to be a slave with ACC active. What this means is the strobe increases the pulse length from the pre-flash fooling the camera into emitting a lower power main flash so it uses less battery, The strobe itself compensates for the expected lower power main flash so the exposure is right. It doesn't actually cancel out pre-flash in either mode. ACC is arguably only helpful with something like an RX-100 which is TTL only and has a smallish battery which you might want to conserve when shooting TTL and improve recycle times, also useful on pre-flash only cameras in TTL that are slow recycling. If you are using an LED trigger in TTL you might as well shoot with the magnet in as the trigger battery is not really limiting you and it will shoot TTL fine with the magnet in. My take is that for many people you might as well leave it locked in and a screw can be tightened so it won't dislodge. Awesome, thank you for the excellent write up..I can never remember if on switches the circuit off or on xD Shooting fully manual (LED trigger anyways does not support TTL), so I need to have the button pressed. Anyways, time to experiment with the screw then, thank you for the tip! Edited January 8 by makar0n 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mags 4 Posted January 13 On 1/6/2023 at 12:08 PM, Alex_Mustard said: And take off the b*stard button. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mags 4 Posted January 17 Hmmm, Im going to this next Saturday - Could be interesting. Gotta book, only 40 spaces, apparently you register an interest info@inonuk.com INON UK announce free Open Day in Manchester, Saturday, January 21st2023 Understanding the INON Underwater Photography System with Takuya Torii of INON Inc. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TimG 62 Posted January 17 2 hours ago, Mags said: Hmmm, Im going to this next Saturday - Could be interesting. Please do feed back here, Mags. LOTS of interest. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mags 4 Posted January 21 All is not lost for those that love the S2000. There is a sucessor to the S2000 in the pipeline, hopefully launching in the next couple of months, the D220 I think, guide number 22, with ? 3 or 4 different screw on diffusers, also the D200 is available. Problems with sourcing parts for Z330. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
makar0n 60 Posted January 23 (edited) On 1/21/2023 at 9:29 PM, Mags said: All is not lost for those that love the S2000. There is a sucessor to the S2000 in the pipeline, hopefully launching in the next couple of months, the D220 I think, guide number 22, with ? 3 or 4 different screw on diffusers, also the D200 is available. Problems with sourcing parts for Z330. (...) Thanks for the news! I wonder if Inon will be present at BOOT this week ? Hmm those do look small..interesting. And the front mount is back to screws not bayonet? Edited January 23 by makar0n Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
turandot 15 Posted January 30 New photos of the Inon S-220 in this post: 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
