01/10/2025
The Journey of ONEUW Comes to an End
The time has come to say goodbye, ONEUW’s journey comes to a close.
Although showing a positive net wort, being debt-free and financially solid, I have made the voluntary decision to end operations. This is a forward-looking choice, made after careful reflection.
Several factors led to this decision, starting with an analysis of the current underwater photography market. The growing adoption of mirrorless cameras has significantly increased the cost of camera bodies, lenses, and their dedicated housings and accessories, inevitably limiting the budget available for strobes, which unfortunately are often treated as the final link in the purchasing chain.
At the same time, the market has seen an incoming stream of mid-level strobe models, showcasing impressive performance like power and guide numbers. These products all share a common country of origin and offer prices that are simply unattainable for those of us who manufacture entirely in Europe.
A fair and meaningful comparison should consider factors such as technical expertise and acquired know-how, product quality and after-sales support. Yet, in many cases, the final price tag tends to overshadow these critical aspects, including safety and long-term reliability.
From my prospective, the current range of strobes, both in terms of brands and models, is disproportionate to actual market demand and, regrettably, has created a confusing landscape for end users. Under these conditions, it’s easy to be misled by non-objective comparisons between mid-range and high-end equipment.
As the conditions are no longer in place to continue growing this project, particularly in terms of investing in R&D, I have chosen to end my path in this field here.
That said, I want to offer full commitment to my clients: support and spare parts, such as battery packs and cables, will remain available. Both electronic and mechanical servicing will continue, backed by stockpiled components to ensure long-term assistance.
To all customers and distributors who placed their trust in me, thank you. Your support made it possible to bring ONE160x and the MkII version to life.
To all photographers, regardless of brand, I wish you continued passion and inspiration as you pursue your creative vision, capturing images lit by the most personal and expressive light possible.
With sincere gratitude,
and a warm handshake.
LC
ONEUW Srl
[email protected]