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new Retra strobe the Pro Max II

CaolIla
CaolIla
in Lights, Strobes, and Lighting Technique

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Posted

Retra Flash Pro Max II

Shipping starts on 30th June - no delays!

Hummm I'm waiting for my Maxi since... no nothing

$1,799.00 USD¹ 🤪 + 50 % tax in the US ☠️ for the moment 🤣

Edited by CaolIla

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    When I went to the check out screen, I did not see any tax. I live in the United States. Am I missing something? It seems to be a big improvement over the previous version. First the maxi and now this in such a short time. I have been waiting forever for the successor to the Inon Z-330!

    No, you're not missing anything. The USD price is the tax-free price that Retra charge. On the website it explains that import taxes and the like are not included in the price; and that for EU sales, VAT is added at checkout.

    God knows what the US duties/taxes might be. That seems to vary by the day. Or hour. I guess that will be charged by the US-based handling agent for the shipper: DHL usually for Retra, I think

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    Maybe I am not understanding you but I was at the checkout screen where it asked for credit card info.

    May be RETRA offers Pro Max users update on excisting flash for reasonable price. New flash Max II looks mechanically quiet similar so may be there is only exchange of electronic & reflector necessary (just kidding/dream, they want to sell new ones). Anyway would be a great idea to support underwater photographers in future. Also would be great in relation of sustainability. Getting new updates of hardware in short sequence is quiet anoying.

    Br Markus

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    20 minutes ago, Hiloboy said:

    Maybe I am not understanding you but I was at the checkout screen where it asked for credit card info.

    This is the standard way items shipped from overseas are handled. Any business can only collect tax on items sold in country or in this case the EU, they collect this and pay to the government. They can't collect any tax or import duties charged when the item is imported into another country as they are not setup to do this and many jurisdictions will only allow collection at import. That is charged prior to the item being imported being released.

    If you click on the ? next to Shipping, this pops up.

    image.png

    There is also a footnote next to the price which refers to a similar note on that page:

    image.png

    If I was to buy one and import into Australia, the importer would collect 10% GST on the items value including shipping costs. Depending on the item they could also collect customs duties and also their handling fee. You would need to inquire with the importer about how much they would charge.

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    wondering why not switching to lithium.

    Okar response is "II sticks with AA NiMh because they’re travel-safe, everywhere to find, and rock-solid reliable".

    Not really convinced. having to deal with 8 AA on each strobe, plus spare set, mean 32 AA...

    Lithium have proved their usability on video lights, and in most of the new strobes...

    And price (including mandatory power extension) is around 2000$ per strobe excluding VAT. Not cheap...

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    I know we've been over the ground before, but I find the Retras with, as necessary, the Booster work really well with AAs.

    Taking 32 AA batteries is no big deal when you consider just how much gear we are lugging around. And, worst comes to the worst with chargers, AAs are so easily obtainable.

    1 hour ago, FrancoisC said:

    Okar response is "II sticks with AA NiMh because they’re travel-safe, everywhere to find, and rock-solid reliable".

    I agree with Oskar.

    1 hour ago, Muellema said:

    May be RETRA offers Pro Max users update on excisting flash for reasonable price. New flash Max II looks mechanically quiet similar so may be there is only exchange of electronic & reflector necessary (just kidding/dream, they want to sell new ones). Anyway would be a great idea to support underwater photographers in future. Also would be great in relation of sustainability. Getting new updates of hardware in short sequence is quiet anoying.

    Br Markus

    I like the idea, seems a fair way to make customers happy. Maybe @Oskar - Retra UWT can comment on the technical aspect (which would be a prequisite for any upgradeability)?

    I purchased my Promax strobes long before the tariff thing was even discussed. Retra ships to USA via DHL. DHL notified me the strobes were in USA but in a customs hold and I owed something like a 17% duty (supposedly based on the old, item-specific-rules) rules. I sent documentation to DHL that camera flash units were not subject to duty charges and that I had never had any import duties imposed on strobes before ( I have purchased a lot of strobes over the years from overseas sellers). Their response was only that I had something like 7 days to pay the ransom or they would be sent back.

    As Tim has said, who knows what would happen now. That is not Retra's fault, but the combination of how DHL conducts business in the USA and the tariff-of-the-week stuff would be worrisome.

    Although I have several dive lights that require lithium batteries and would not reject a strobe based on it using lithiums, I have a preference for the AA batteries. Lithiums are under scrutiny by airlines and airline regulatory agencies and by some liveaboard operators and others. They are subject to guidelines and limitations on how, when and where they may be charged on some boats and may face future travel limitations.

    With Retra superchargesrs I can pretty easily make it through 3-4 dives. or more. Based on a prior thread, for the first time last week I traveled with 8 batteries packed in each strobe and only had to pack another 16 on their own. There are benefits and downsides to both battery types.

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    500 USD flights friday evening to AMS/BRU, saturday morning there, rent car for the day and drive to uwcamerastore buy strobes, sleep in car (its Europe, no problem), sunday morning flight back to US, arrival back home sunday evening.

    Surely works also to London and some UK supplier of the strobes.

    Profit.

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    @Oskar - Retra UWT

    There was previously a suggestion about a possible trade-in program. Building on that idea, I’d like to explore whether it might be feasible to assess upgrade options based on actual usage condition.

    For example, if strobes could be evaluated by trigger count or overall usage condition to qualify for a paid upgrade, it could meaningfully extend the product’s lifespan, reward long-time users, and reduce electronic waste — all in line with modern sustainability goals.

    Given that the Pro Max and Pro Max II seem mechanically quite similar, perhaps an upgrade could be achieved by replacing only the internal electronics or reflector (if technically feasible). I realize this would require internal assessment by Retra, but it could offer real value to existing users while supporting the environment.

    This kind of approach would not only improve the user experience but also reflect Retra’s commitment to long-term sustainability — definitely something I hope we’ll see more of in the future.

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    Hi Everyone,

    Thanks so much for your interest in the Retra Flash Pro Max II strobe!

    Our current pre-order offer includes the Pro Max II strobe, the Booster, and dual USB battery chargers. The strobe comes with a 3-year standard warranty, and with our limited-time pre-order offer, you can extend that to 5 years of full manufacturer coverage.

    As for upgrading from the previous-generation Pro Max, we completely understand the interest. However, it’s neither practical nor cost-effective. To support the increased power, we introduced more power levels and a redesigned mode dial with expanded functionality. Achieving this required a redesign of the electronics, lamp, reflector, mode dial, etc. Upgrading an existing unit would involve fully disassembling and rebuilding it with entirely new components, which is ultimately more complex and costly than producing a new strobe from the ground up.

    For those upgrading to the Pro Max II, the most cost-effective route is to sell your current strobe. Thanks to active communities like this one and platforms like eBay, it's easy to reach interested buyers. This also helps newcomers enter the hobby, often saving 20–40% on a lightly used strobe, backed by a warranty and verified usage via our built-in trigger counter.

    What truly sets Retra apart is the long-term value and factory-backed support. Our transferable warranty means even a used strobe still comes with full manufacturer service, something no other underwater strobe brand offers. With the option to extend coverage up to 5 years, you can confidently sell a used unit knowing the next owner will be fully supported.

    If you have more questions, feel free to post here, I’m happy to help.

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    Yes, I can confirm that the Bumpers and Neoprene Jackets for the Pro Max I are the same size and fully compatible with the Pro Max II. No changes were made to the external dimensions.

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    • Author
    50 minutes ago, Oskar - Retra UWT said:

    Our current pre-order offer includes the Pro Max II strobe, the Booster, and dual USB battery chargers. The strobe comes with a 3-year standard warranty, and with our limited-time pre-order offer, you can extend that to 5 years of full manufacturer coverage.


    I read the mail a second time ... hummm the offer is with booster and and and... not bad. but I order 2 retra maxi.... 😥

    Edited by CaolIla

    2 hours ago, CaolIla said:


    I read the mail a second time ... hummm the offer is with booster and and and... not bad. but I order 2 retra maxi.... 😥

    So sell them through the Classifieds, Hugues, and order new ones. You know you want to…. 😱

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    7 minutes ago, TimG said:

    So sell them through the Classifieds, Hugues, and order new ones. You know you want to…. 😱

    I'm actually considering it... not even 2000 on the trigger counter... question is, would there be an offer that would make it a win win? I'll probably take some pics of the strobes on the weekend and think about a reasonable price.

    10 minutes ago, TimG said:

    Why not? What have you got to lose? As you say, could be a win-win for you and a buyer.

    AND Oskar will be happy too. Can life get any better?

    If the site admins are willing to testify to my wife, that my account was hacked and the IP was from any country but Germany? 😅

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    Is PRO MAX2 65% brighter than conventional PRO MAX about 2/3 step difference?

    It's a huge change in percentage, but in step, it's like two clicks on the camera.

    I think it's time to upgrade from an old Inon Z-330, but the cost is ruthless😂

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    On 5/26/2025 at 7:47 PM, TimG said:

    So sell them through the Classifieds, Hugues, and order new ones. You know you want to…. 😱

    "Problem" solved 🤪

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