Inon Z-XXX Prototype at Paris Dive Show

[Staggs]

Just a fyi - I saw Takuya Torii mention in a Instagram post from yesterday that he will have the first visible prototype of the Z-XXX at the Paris show at I assume the Inon booth.

I had been waiting to see what they were coming up with, but I ended up pulling the trigger on a set of Retra Pro Max's.

https://www.instagram.com/inon_torii_san/  - his second post (as of right now) is where it's mentioned.  Sorry if this was posted somewhere else.

 

 

 

[ChipBPhoto]

I gave up waiting on them and picked up a pair of HF-1s.  Unless Inon comes up with something substantial to compete with the HF-1 or upcoming Retra Maxis, I fear they will be left behind. 

[Chris Ross]

Hopefully we'll see something official soon, wonder if he'll also go to Boot dive show in Düsseldorf?

[TimG]

I’m going to Boot so will keep an eye out. I don’t recall seeing Inon though on the list of manufacturers attending. 

[Giancarlo M.]

It was also not on the list last year, but was present on the stand of PanOceanPhoto, their dealer in Germany.
Most likely it will be like that again this year, it will be on the stand at some retailer.

[hellhole]

look forward to seeing some pic..

[TimG]

41 minutes ago, hellhole said:

look forward to seeing some pic..

 

Assuming there's something to photograph! 😄

[makar0n]

On 1/12/2025 at 12:14 AM, Staggs said:

Just a fyi - I saw Takuya Torii mention in a Instagram post from yesterday that he will have the first visible prototype of the Z-XXX at the Paris show at I assume the Inon booth.

I had been waiting to see what they were coming up with, but I ended up pulling the trigger on a set of Retra Pro Max's.

https://www.instagram.com/inon_torii_san/  - his second post (as of right now) is where it's mentioned.  Sorry if this was posted somewhere else.

 

 

 

 

Wooohoo, finally! Still waiting patiently 🙂 

 

[Floris Bennema]

 

This prototype is depicted at last but I could find no further info. Looks nice and still small with the flastubes in T position like the earlier versions.

 

[Luko]

On 1/12/2025 at 12:14 AM, Staggs said:

first visible prototype of the Z-XXX at the Paris show at I assume the Inon booth.

I was at Paris show, no specific Inon booth.  Although Takuya Torii was on a local distributor booth.

Apparently he told everyone Inon had this new strobe prototype out but couldn't show it... from what I understand his bag had been... lost at Tokyo airport. 😄 

(fortunately located in Amsterdam/Schiphol but could not do it for Paris show)

https://www.instagram.com/p/DEwHSPhIvZR/

Edited January 14 by Luko

[Sokrates]

Interesting.

Of course not seeing it from the back, or have any additional info, its very easy to just speculate for now.

So lets speculate 🤣

T shaped flash tubes and just the general appearance from this one picture gives me Z330 vibes, with nothing new?

Obviously need to see from back if anything has changed (buttons to be better for one?)?

Is it going to be Li-Ion powered or old Eneloop still?

 

Really hope there will be more official or unofficial info soon.

 

[Scuba_Si]

It's still AA powered and backwards compatible with some accessories.  So I think we can assume the same moulding as the Z330. Therefore likely the same control layout and tube configuration.  Torii-san is doing the rounds at the European shows with his bag so more photos will popup this week at BOOT.

[Floris Bennema]

The link broke, there is anothers picture on FB. Also from the front, but now you can see a battery compartment that looks the same as the previous version. Obviously they are trying to create a hype by showing it step by step. Rather irritating :-{

 

Edited January 19 by Floris Bennema

[makar0n]

22 hours ago, Scuba_Si said:

It's still AA powered and backwards compatible with some accessories.  So I think we can assume the same moulding as the Z330. Therefore likely the same control layout and tube configuration.  Torii-san is doing the rounds at the European shows with his bag so more photos will popup this week at BOOT.

 

@TimG BOOT mission goal is clear -  sneak in, infiltrate, report 🤣

[TimG]

6 minutes ago, makar0n said:

 

@TimG BOOT mission goal is clear -  sneak in, infiltrate, report 🤣

 

🤣 No sweat, Marcin. I spent a whole career doing pretty much that.  

[makar0n]

1 hour ago, TimG said:

 

🤣 No sweat, Marcin. I spent a whole career doing pretty much that.  

 

While holding vodka martini in your hand I suspect. Shaken, not stirred.

[TimG]

With Monnehpenneh, of course. 

[bghazzal]

20 hours ago, makar0n said:

 

@TimG BOOT mission goal is clear -  sneak in, infiltrate, report 🤣

 

 

20 hours ago, TimG said:

 

🤣 No sweat, Marcin. I spent a whole career doing pretty much that.  

 

Capital, old fruit – now do be a good chap and give us the lowdown on what Inon’s up to, eh?
We need to make sure the Cousins don’t get wind of it, if you catch my drift. Just sidle over to the Japanese strobemaster – do keep out of sight, mind – and while he’s off on one of his little distractions, grab a few snaps for us eh?
Then, once you’ve got the goods, scurry back sharpish and let us know what’s what.
Keep it neat, keep it clean, and for heaven’s sake, don’t get caught – You know the drill, my dear fellow.
Good man.
 

Edited January 21 by bghazzal

[Loïc35]

Hello everyone,
some information about the new Inon Z-XXX flash:

 

https://www.facebook.com/inon.toriisan

[Sokrates]

On 2/14/2025 at 8:18 PM, Loïc35 said:

Hello everyone,
some information about the new Inon Z-XXX flash:

 

https://www.facebook.com/inon.toriisan

Here is the quick rundown of the post.

 

This is a prototype of the new top end strobe from INON in the hands of INON Roving Ambassador, Takuya Torii. INON is still finalizing the design, but here are a few of the features Takuya has explained to me.

 

Firstly, it’ll be a powerful strobe, with the final guide number still to be confirmed.

 

Secondly, the S-TTL has been further developed. A secondary S-TTL mode is included specifically for macro photography to dampen down overexposure which can sometimes be a problem for many TTL systems.

 

Thirdly, two LED modelling lights are built in, one white for normal use and one red. Red can be helpful for photography of shy animals found lurking in the shadows during the day or are nocturnal and that are disturbed by white light.

 

The new strobe will be compatible with the light modifiers for the Z-330 and D-200, including filters, strobe light shade and snoot. It retains the same battery cap and O ring design as well and continues to operate from just four AA cells.

 

For now, there are no delivery dates or price estimates.

[CaolIla]

1 hour ago, Sokrates said:

as well and continues to operate from just four AA cells.

Wouah  this will probably be the main problem

Powerfull and only 4 AA.....   this can be good together

I see with my 8 AA on the Retra is a "problem" 3 dive max some times only 2 that's mean with 4 AA --> 1 one dive ??? hummm ok if you make only 50 shoot each dive  but who make that  😉

[makar0n]

3 hours ago, CaolIla said:

Wouah  this will probably be the main problem

Powerfull and only 4 AA.....   this can be good together

I see with my 8 AA on the Retra is a "problem" 3 dive max some times only 2 that's mean with 4 AA --> 1 one dive ??? hummm ok if you make only 50 shoot each dive  but who make that  😉

 

Retra seems to have always had a notorious rep when it comes to battery life.

Inon is the exact opposite - while I do not have Z330s, my Z240's last hundreds of photos easily. In fact I no longer bother changing batteries (Eneloop Pro) every day, its usually every 2, sometimes even 3 days with an average of 2-3h in the water per day.

So I wouldn't worry there too much 😉

That said a Li-Ion option would certainly be a nice upgrade...

[Barmaglot]

4 hours ago, makar0n said:

Retra seems to have always had a notorious rep when it comes to battery life.

Inon is the exact opposite - while I do not have Z330s, my Z240's last hundreds of photos easily.

I've seen Z-240 quoted (by someone disassembling one) to have 57 watt-seconds of electrical capacity. Retra Pro has nearly three times that - of course it's going to draw more power.

[humu9679]

12 hours ago, makar0n said:

 

Retra seems to have always had a notorious rep when it comes to battery life.

Inon is the exact opposite - while I do not have Z330s, my Z240's last hundreds of photos easily. In fact I no longer bother changing batteries (Eneloop Pro) every day, its usually every 2, sometimes even 3 days with an average of 2-3h in the water per day.

So I wouldn't worry there too much 😉

That said a Li-Ion option would certainly be a nice upgrade...

 

My Z240s have been good for 4 dives/day using Eneloop Pros with no sign of needing replacement.

[Chris Ross]

16 hours ago, Barmaglot said:

I've seen Z-240 quoted (by someone disassembling one) to have 57 watt-seconds of electrical capacity. Retra Pro has nearly three times that - of course it's going to draw more power.

yes this is true, but only if you use it.  If the Z-240 is giving you enough light then the Retra in the same situation should also draw less as you've turned the Retra down from full power.  So only if you use the extra power the life will go down.

 

There is also variation in how efficiently the strobe uses the power it draws, I recall discussion that the Z330 had higher guide number full power but had very similar number of full power flashes confirmed by someone doing some testing.  It was a long time ago now, so I may have mixed things up.  The only way this could happen is the efficiency of the charging circuit improves.  You have a number of steps in the circuit, first up an oscillator and inverter to increase voltage to capacitor, then the triggering circuit with it's own high voltage transformer and a thyristor to control the cut off of the strobe.  All have thermal losses associated with them.

 

However fundamentally a higher power flash is probably less efficient unless you make change to the circuit charging the capacitor.  If you draw more current you lose more to heat passing through the same resistance by the equation Power = Amps^2 x R.