Inon has announced the release of an aluminum housing system for the popular Panasonic LUMIX GF1 micro four thirds camera. The system consists of the X-2 housing, dome and flat ports that support the following lenses: 8mm/F3.5 Fisheye, 20mm/F1.7 Pancake, 45mm/F2.8 Macro, 14-45mm/F3.5–F5.6 Zoom and 7–14mm/F4 Zoom and the M1 grip base tray. The housing will support S-TTL and all the ports use optical coated lenses.

INON INC. releases lightweight aluminum body housing X-2 for GF1 for Panasonic digital SLR camera LUMIX GF1.

Optional leak sensor is available at a time of housing order.

Lightweight and compact corrosion-resistant aluminum alloy body.

A housing body is made from corrosion-resistant aluminum alloy providing comfortable controllability even in high water pressure in addition to reliability and durability as metal body. The front body panel is manufactured by ultra precision casting technique while rear body panel is machined from an aluminum block. The total body is designed to enhance advantages of both manufacturing procedure to balance size, underwater weight and strength.

Ergonomically friendly exterior design.

The body shape and design allows each right hand fingers come to neutral position to take a firm grip and thumb hook on the back panel assists to hold the housing firmly without effort. The X-2 for GF1 requires different shooting style from conventional underwater housing for SLR camera which is equipped with a viewfinder, to see a high-definition LCD monitor thus location/angle of right thumb rest and shutter release lever is specifically designed to support comfortable operation.

Stress-free control layout.

Almost every function of the LUMIX GF1 is operable from housing controls **. You can access to Cursor buttons/Rear dial right away without changing right hand position. The built-in flash can be completely closed by a housing control lever. The back panel has large LCD monitor window not only to see the LCD monitor itself but also provides visual contact with camera’s control buttons to enhance intuitive operation underwater. This large transparent panel also helps to find out accidental flooding in its early stage.

** The drive mode lever is not accessible. The rear dial can be rotated from housing control but cannot be pressed. However almost all settings by the rear dial can be also managed by the Q.MENU button and cursor buttons.

Ample inner space for comfortable camera installation/removal.

A camera is precisely fixed in the housing at the tripod-screw and both shoulder strap eyelets. Since neither of front nor side of the camera contacts with the housing, water-pressure never cause any unexpected operation of the camera. You can put the camera in the housing even with an optional leather panel kit being attached. Spacious inner construction allows you to put fingers between the camera and the housing to pull out the camera easily by one hand, and further helps to gain buoyancy to have less underwater weight.

Fully compatible with time proven “S-TTL” Auto strobe system.

Flooding-free four Optical D Connectors are equipped as standard feature to benefit simple yet reliable “S-TTL” Auto with maximum four external strobes supporting accurate exposure simply by pressing the shutter release button even for high power multi-lighting circumstances allowing you to focus on artistic intention or composition.

Wide variety of lens ports from macro to fisheye.

Compatible lens ports support five different lenses; 45mm/F2.8 Macro, 20mm/F1.7 Pancake, 14-45mm/F3.5–F5.6 Zoom, 7–14mm/F4 Zoom and 8mm/F3.5 Fisheye. All lens ports use optical lens with multi coating to take full advantage of optical performance of LUMIX/LEICA lenses.

Compatible lens ports support five different lenses; 8mm/F3.5 Fisheye, 20mm/F1.7 Pancake, 45mm/F2.8 Macro, 14-45mm/F3.5–F5.6 Zoom and 7–14mm/F4 Zoom. All lens ports use optical lens with multi coating to take full advantage of optical performance of LUMIX/LEICA lenses. Lens ports for 45mm/F2.8 Macro, 14-45mm/F3.5–F5.6 Zoom and 7–14mm/F4 Zoom consist of two components; a universal base port and specific front port for each different lens model where only optional front port is required to use other lens model. Zooming operation and 45mm/F2.8 Macro lens focusing operation uses INON patented MRS (Magnetic Rotary System) Port using magnetic attraction to turn lens barrel with light torque as like controlling a lens on land.

Dome Port 115.

A Dome Port using compact dome glass with 115mm diameter which is ideal for compact 「Panasonic LUMIX G FISHEYE 8mm/F3.5」 lens. Multicoated optical glass suppresses flare/ghost. The protector shades unnecessary light to get clear image in addition to prevent accidental damage on the lens surface. Auto focus (AF) only.

Pancake Port.

A compact port for Panasonic LUMIX G20mm/F1.7 ASPH lens. The port edge has M67 screw mount which directly accepts UCL-330, UCL-165M67 close-up lens. Auto focus (AF) only. The Panasonic LEICA DG MACRO-ELMARIT 45mm/F2.8 ASPH./MEGA O.I.S. lens is supported as well in combination with optional EXT. Ring 36 (Auto Focus only).

MRS Base Port.

A Base Port is compatible with three different lenses with interchangeable Front Port. This construction allows you to use the Base Port for different lens only buying optional Front Port, and helps to save luggage space when travelling. Focus operation of a macro lens and zoom operation of a zoom lens uses INON patented “MRS system (patented in Japan and U.S.)” rotating a lens barrel by magnetic attraction without any mechanical contact between a lens and lens port providing stress-free lens operation as like controlling a lens on land.

MRS Base Port（without MRS Control Ring.)

A Base Port without MRS Control Ring for Panasonic LEICA DG MACRO-ELMARIT 45mm/F2.8 ASPH./MEGA O.I.S. lens to use auto focus only in combination with Front Port Macro. Upgradable to MRS Base Port (with MRS Control Ring) with optional MRS Control Ring (60/60II/100UII/100UIII/ Olympus50).

Front Port Macro.

A Front Port to joint on the edge of the MRS Base Port or MRS Base Port (without MRS Control Ring) to use for Panasonic LEICA DG MACRO-ELMARIT 45mm/F2.8 ASPH./MEGA O.I.S. lens. Directly holds INON UCL-330 or UCL-165M67 close-up lens. Optional MRS Magnet Ring DG45 Set is required for manual focusing.

Front Port Wide.

A Front Port to joint on the edge of the MRS Base Port for the Panasonic LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm / F3.5-5.6 ASPH./MEGA O.I.S. lens. Optional MRS Magnet Ring G14-45 Set is necessary for zoom operation. Auto Focus (AF) only.

Front Port Dome 115.

A Front Port to joint on the edge of the MRS Base Port for the Panasonic LUMIX G VARIO 7-14mm/F4.0 ASPH. zoom lens. The protector shades unnecessary light which could cause flare/ghost to get clear image in addition to prevent accidental damage on the lens surface. Optional Magnet Ring G7-14 Set is necessary for zoom operation. Auto Focus (AF) only.

• When using Panasonic LUMIX G VARIO 7-14mm/F4.0 ASPH. lens, first load a camera in a housing then attach the lens and lens port. The camera equipped with the lens cannot be taken in and out from the housing.

MRS Magnet Ring DG45 Set.

The set of Magnet Ring and MRS Magnet Ring DG45 Adapter to attach on the Panasonic LEICA DG MACRO-ELMARIT 45mm/F2.8 ASPH./MEGA O.I.S. lens for manual focus operation. The Magnet Ring is also usable for other MRS Magnet Ring Adapters to support other lenses only with optional MRS Magnet Ring Adapter.

MRS Magnet Ring G14-45 Set.

The set of Magnet Ring and MRS Magnet Ring G14-45 Adapter to attach on the Panasonic LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm / F3.5-5.6 ASPH./MEGA O.I.S. zoom lens for zoom operation. The Magnet Ring is also usable for other MRS Magnet Ring Adapters to support other lenses only with optional MRS Magnet Ring Adapter

MRS Magnet Ring G7-14 Set.

The set of Magnet Ring and MRS Magnet Ring G7-14 Adapter to attach on the Panasonic LUMIX G VARIO 7-14mm/F4.0 ASPH. zoom lens for zoom operation. The magnet ring is also usable for other MRS Magnet Ring Adapters to support other lenses only with optional MRS Magnet Ring Adapter.

INON INC. releases Grip Base M1 on August 11th, 2010. The Grip Base M1 is a strobe arm for midsize underwater housing for micro four thirds digital SLR camera including INON X-2 for GF1housing. For existing D Holder users, D Base M1 is also available to purchase.

Product features.

A base arm specifically designed for midsize underwater housing for micro four thirds digital SLR. Firmly attached on a housing with two tripod screws. Wide variety of INON adapters/bases is compatible with this product and easy to set-up multiple lighting system with dual strobe configuration by attaching extra D Holder. The base is equipped with legs to provide stable placement of combined housing.

Compatible housings.

INON: X-2 for GF1.
Olympus: PT-EP01.

Press release information is as of August 11th, 2010 and subject to change without prior notice.