Alphamarine Photography Ltd

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The S220 Strobe: A Video About INON's Current Underwater Photography Strobe

I recently tested the INON S220 strobe and made a YouTube video about it. Here it is and if you want more details about our prices for the strobe and the accessories available for it you’ll find them below the video.

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Strobe and Filters

Current price from us for the S220 is £464 and includes the Strobe Dome Filter S (SOFT) shown in the video and also the Strobe Dome Filter (ND) which I did mention but didn’t have with the demo strobe I was loaned. If you wish to change the colour temperature of the strobe there are also 4900K and 4600K filters available. Those are sold separately for £10 each. What isn’t included are a fibre optic cable and a mount.

This is one of the two temperatures of filter that are sold separately for the S220. You can see the bayonet design of the filters in this image along with the four ridges that allow the strobe to be stood face down on a flat surface.

Fibre Optic Cables

INON make a range of cables specifically to go with their strobes that include the screw in cable connection. Those are available in four lengths and with or without a set of ‘Sea & Sea’ style rubber bushes to fit on your housing. Cost ranges from £51 for the shortest (24cm) without rubber bushes up to £75 for the longest (110cm) with bushes. We can also build cables for you at a lower cost using replacement INON cables that come without any fittings and provide 3rd party adaptors to give a lower cost option. As an example, the price for a 43cm INON multi-core cable with a coiled section, two right angle rubber bushes and an adaptor to fit the S220 is £57 and only £49 if you opt for straight push on bushes. These compare very well in price and quality to a lot of other brand name cables.

This is INON’s 43cm cable with a coil section and the fitting for their strobe sensors. Strangely on the longer cables the coiled sections are no longer nor is the section from the coil to the strobe fitting. Instead you get a long straight section from the coil to the camera end.

Strobe Mounts

When it comes to mounts INON provide a multitude. The two I sell the most of are the Direct Base III (£14) which is a straight, metal ball mount and the Z Adapter II (£27) which is an angled, metal ball mount with a longer stem than the Direct Base III.Those work well with most brand of clamps for ball ended arm systems. There is also a plastic Z Adapter MV (£14) which I’m less keen on and the Z Joint (£21) which is a YS style mount that can be used with the fittings commonly found on plastic flexi arms. Lastly there are two quick change mounts. The Quick Holder Set S-Z (£34) allows quick changing of the strobe from the arm setup and vice versa. Extra parts to this set can be bought allowing for changing from different sizes of strobes or from one camera rig to another. (£17 each). The Quick Base M6W (£21) stays fixed to the strobe but allows quick placement or removal of one or two INON lights. Both these mounts have a YS style fitting.

Nauticam also make a nice ball mount to fit INON strobes which is similar to the Z Adapter II. That costs £30.

The INON Z Adaptor II on the left and the Direct Base III on the right. The Direct Base III can also be used as a ball mount on the handles of INON’s Grip Base D5 tray.

SNOOTs

As mentioned in the video there is not currently an INON made snoot for the S220. It is possible to get a dock for the Marelux SOFT snoots. The snoots themselves are £499 for the SOFT Lite and £594 for the original SOFT. The docks seem to be priced at £60 each, according to our suppliers website.

Marelux’s SOFT Lite is still a very substantial snoot to add to a diminutive strobe like the S220, even though it is the smaller model to their original.

Thank you for watching the video and reading this far. We’re an equipment dealer for a wide range of underwater photography brands in the UK including INON, Nauticam and Marelux. We don’t have an e-commerce site but instead offer a ‘bespoke’ service to fit your needs and budget. Email us with any enquiries at info@alphamarinephoto.com or use our contact form to get in touch and sign up to our newsletter.

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