Inon Focus and Video Lights

Manufacturer: Inon (Japan) Type: LED focus lights and video lights Years active: 2011–present Key models: LE700-S, LE350, LF1000-S, LF1300-EWf, LF3100-EW, LE600h

Overview

Inon’s LED light lineup represents a distinctly different design philosophy from competitors like Light & Motion Sola and Fisheye FIX Neo. Where Sola uses sealed proprietary Li-ion batteries and FIX Neo uses swappable custom packs, Inon built its entire light range around standard AA batteries — the same cells used in their market-leading strobes (Z-240, Z-330). This meant underwater photographers already invested in the Inon ecosystem could share batteries and chargers between strobes and lights, reducing travel weight and complexity.

Inon offers two series: the LE series (compact focus lights for still photography) and the more powerful LF series (2014+, with interchangeable light heads and higher output for video). A 2019 “h” series revision introduced 6500K color temperature and higher CRI for improved color accuracy.

The LF1300-EWf (2017) introduced a unique shutter-linked AUTO-OFF feature — an onboard incident light sensor detects strobe flash and cuts the continuous light for 0.2 seconds, preventing light contamination in still images while maintaining focus illumination between shots (^[1]).

LE Series — Compact Focus Lights

The LE series are small, AA-powered lights designed primarily as autofocus assist and subject-spotting tools for still photographers.

LE700-S (May 2012)

Announced May 25, 2012 (^[2]).

• Output: 700 lumens
• Beam: 30° spot (60° with included wide filter)
• Batteries: 3× AA (NiMH recommended)
• Burn time: 110 min
• LED: Cree XM-L
• Body: Aluminum, rotary switch
• Features: Full filter set included (wide, color temperature, diffuser)
• Predecessor: LE550-S

LE350 (October 2012)

A more compact focus light for macro work (^[3]).

• Output: 350 lumens
• Beam: 30° (60° with filter)
• Batteries: 3× AA
• Burn time: 165 min
• Features: Red filter included for light-sensitive subjects

LE600h-S and LE600h-W (January 2021)

High-CRI revision of the LE series (^[4]).

• Output: 600 lumens
• Beam: 30° (S model) / 75° (W model)
• Batteries: 3× AA
• Color temp: 6500K
• CRI: Ra90
• Significance: First Inon lights to emphasize color rendering index, addressing the growing demand for accurate color in both video and still work

LF Series — Interchangeable-Head Video/Focus Lights

Launched May 2014, the LF series uses a modular system where the light body accepts different heads, allowing photographers to upgrade or change beam characteristics without buying a complete new light.

LF1000-S (May 2014)

The first LF model (^[5]).

• Output: 1000 lumens
• Beam: 30° (40° with filter)
• Batteries: 3× AA
• Burn time: 50 min at full
• Features: Two power settings, red + wide filters included
• Color temp: 5000K

LF1400-S (August 2014)

Highest-power spot model using 6× AA (^[6]).

• Output: 1400 lumens
• Beam: 30°
• Batteries: 6× AA
• Color temp: 5000K

LF1100-W (October 2014)

First wide-beam LF for video work (^[7]).

• Output: 1100 lumens (LOW: 300)
• Beam: 85° (95° with filter, 105° with Dome Wide Filter)
• Batteries: 3× AA (Cree XM-L2 LED)
• Burn time: 50 min full / 235 min low
• Color temp: 5000K
• Features: Optional Dome Wide Filter expands beam to 105°

LF800-N (December 2014)

Ultra-narrow “pointer” light (^[8]).

• Output: 800 lumens
• Beam: 5° (super narrow)
• Batteries: 3× AA
• Color temp: 5000K
• Features: Optional Condenser Lens for ultra-macro illumination; Blue Filter for underwater color correction
• Use case: Snoot-like spot illumination, guide pointing, macro subject isolation

LF3100-EW (2017)

Inon’s flagship video light. Shown as prototype at ADEX April 2017, shipped late 2017/early 2018 (^[9]).

• Output: 3100 lumens
• Beam: 100° (“Extra Wide”)
• Batteries: 6× AA
• Color temp: 5000K
• Features: 12-step power control, dome lens
• Significance: Inon’s most powerful continuous light, though still modest compared to Keldan 8000+ lumen units or FIX Neo Aquavolt 10000

LF1300-EWf (September 2017)

The community favorite, featuring the unique AUTO-OFF system (^[10]).

• Output: 1300 lumens (LOW: 350)
• Beam: 100° (dome lens, “Extra Wide”)
• Batteries: 3× AA
• Color temp: 5000K
• Key feature: Shutter-linked AUTO-OFF — an optical sensor detects strobe flash and cuts the light for 0.2 seconds, preventing continuous light contamination in strobe-lit still images. The light resumes automatically after the cut. This solved a persistent problem: focus lights that stayed on during exposure would mix color temperatures and add unwanted fill.
• Accessories: Light Shade (blocks flare from entering lens), Dome Red Filter included

”h” Series — 6500K High-Quality Variants (2019)

The “h” designation indicates higher color temperature (6500K vs. 5000K) and improved color quality (^[11]).

• LF2400h-EW — 2400 lumens, 100°, 6× AA (based on LF3100-EW; 15–25% less output for better color)
• LF1100h-EWf — 1100 lumens, 100°, 3× AA, with shutter-linked AUTO-OFF
• LF650h-N — 650 lumens, 5° narrow, 3× AA

Design Philosophy: AA Batteries

Inon’s commitment to AA batteries was both a strength and a limitation:

Advantages:

• Shared battery pool with Inon Z-240/Z-330 strobes — one charger, one battery type for entire system
• Universally available worldwide — no proprietary charger needed on remote dive trips
• User-replaceable (no sending light away for battery service)

Limitations:

• Lower energy density than Li-ion — less output per gram and shorter burn times
• Larger body required to accommodate AA cells
• Not competitive with Li-ion competitors at the high end (Keldan 8X at 9000 lumens from a compact sealed body was impossible with AA architecture)

Forum users valued the pragmatic trade-off. User timg switched to an Inon LF1000-S because “it uses the same AA batteries as my strobes so avoiding additional chargers and is neatly pocket-sized and can be used as a dive light” (^[12]).

Community Reception

The Inon lights were respected as solid, reliable focus lights but not considered competitive as primary video lights against Sola, Keldan, or FIX Neo for serious video work. The community used them primarily for:

1. Autofocus assist — the LE series as compact AF illuminators
2. Subject spotting — the LF800-N’s 5° beam for pointing out subjects to dive guides
3. Light-sensitive work — red modes for nocturnal subjects
4. Still photography supplement — the AUTO-OFF feature of the LF1300-EWf made it ideal for photographers who wanted continuous illumination between shots without it affecting their strobe-lit exposures

No formal reviews of Inon lights appear in the Wetpixel archive — only product announcements and community discussion. This contrasts with competing lights (FIX Aquavolt 7000 and Sola 600 both received full Wetpixel reviews).