Nikon launches the world’s first waterproof/shockproof interchangeable lenses (19.09.2013)

Nikon today announces the world’s first water/shockproof interchangeable lenses¹ for dedicated use with the brand new water/shock/freeze-proof Nikon 1 AW1 system camera.

The 1 NIKKOR AW 11–27.5mm f/3.5–5.6 lens is an action-loving 2.5x zoom lens. The 1 NIKKOR AW 10mm f/2.8 lens is a ready-for-anywhere fast wide-angle lens. Waterproof to 15 m and 20 m respectively², shockproof from heights of up to 2 m³, and freeze-proof for temperatures down to -10°C.⁴

Perfect for shooting epic adventures or everyday action, these two lenses combine with the Nikon 1 AW1 camera to give active people—who appreciate the finer things in life a way to have it all. Whether shooting in the city, or out on an adventure weekend away, users will stand out from the crowd and capture photos and movies that are sure to impress.

Jordi Brinkman, Product Manager, Nikon 1 Compact System Cameras, Nikon Europe, says:

“If you have a strong sense of style and a taste for adventure, the new Nikon 1 AW system is your perfect match. It’s fast, portable, and flexible, and the new 1 NIKKOR AW lenses play a huge role in that. Their water-, shock-, and freeze-proof construction has been achieved at no cost to image quality, so you can benefit from the kind of superior results that Nikon glass is renowned for, even when you shoot underwater.”

He continues, “Whether you use the wide-angle or the zoom, there’s a massive sense of freedom in being able to shoot without using waterproof housing, and when you’re capturing the action on land, there’s no need to worry about accidently dropping your gear, either.”

1 NIKKOR concept

1 NIKKOR lenses capture life with exceptional sharpness. Designed with active lifestyles in mind, the growing range covers a wide variety of scenes, and each lens is optimised for movie recording. Combined with the portability, power, and speed of Nikon 1 cameras, the small size of the 1 NIKKOR lenses truly sets the Nikon 1 system apart.

1 NIKKOR AW 11–27.5mm f/3.5–5.6: Ready for anywhere

Come rain, shine, or murky underwater environments, this strong and handsome 2.5x zoom lens makes a brilliant companion on life’s adventures. From casual snapshots to portraits and distant subjects, the 11–27.5mm zoom range (35mm equivalent: 30–74mm) covers most commonly used focal lengths, enabling great photos and movies to be captured at any moment. A wide zoom ring with knurled anti-slip surface facilitates smooth zooming, even when the photographer is wearing gloves. The tough build and luxurious metallic exterior of this lens complements the pristine looks of the Nikon 1 AW camera perfectly. As the standard kit lens for the Nikon 1 AW1 system, it comes in white, black, and silver to match the camera.

1 NIKKOR AW 10mm f/2.8: Fast wide-angle action

On land or underwater, the robust, handsome, and fast 1 NIKKOR AW 10mm f/2.8 wide-angle lens captures stunning wide-angle shots in any environment. Thanks to its large maximum aperture of f/2.8, it’s a great way to bring low-light action to life and single out subjects by capturing images with beautiful bokeh. This lens does a great job of capturing sweeping vistas from the top of mist-covered mountains, and the close focusing distance of 0.2 m makes it ideal for shooting close-ups in murky underwater environments. Available in black, this lens has a tough build and a luxurious metallic exterior that complement the pristine looks of the Nikon 1 AW camera perfectly.

Superior image quality

Both the new 1 NIKKOR AW lenses feature Nikon 1 optics optimised for sharp images across the entire frame. In order to ensure superior resolution and contrast, the zoom lens boasts an aspherical lens element and an ED glass element; the wide-angle lens incorporates two aspherical lens elements. In keeping with the wider range of 1 NIKKOR lenses, both of the new 1 NIKKOR AW lenses maintain the convenient portability of the Nikon 1 system, without sacrificing image quality. When you shoot through Nikon glass, you can be sure that you’re capturing amazingly sharp images with vividly rendered colours and deep contrast.

Fully protected

It takes serious attention to detail to craft lenses that are as compact and robust as the 1 NIKKOR AW lenses are. Both lenses have an extra layer of glass in front of the lens in order to protect against water and dust, and the zoom lens also boasts rubber sealing around the zoom ring. An O-ring around the camera’s lens mount protects the camera’s sensor from water and dust. When shooting with the Nikon 1 AW1 camera and a regular 1 NIKKOR lens, the O-ring protector (supplied in the camera’s body cap) can be used to protect the camera’s lens mount.

The 1 NIKKOR lineup

The new 1 NIKKOR AW lenses are for dedicated use with the Nikon 1 AW1. All regular 1 NIKKOR lenses are compatible with the Nikon 1 AW1 as well as every other Nikon 1 camera in the range. For even more possibilities, you can use a NIKKOR lens in combination with the FT1 mount adapter.⁵

The current 1 NIKKOR lineup consists of 11 different lenses. The ultra-fast 1 NIKKOR 32mm f/1.2 medium-telephoto lens is the current flagship and makes a stunning portrait lens. It sits alongside a bright 18.5 mm lens with fast f/1.8 maximum aperture, a 10–100mm PD-ZOOM lens that’s made to make movies, and an ultra-wide 6.7–13mm zoom lens. Compact kit lenses are available in the same colours as the Nikon 1 camera bodies and cover a wide range of scenes: Like all 1 NIKKOR lenses, they provide the perfect balance of portability, power, speed, and quality, and are optimised for movie recording.

Accessories

Optional accessories for the 1 NIKKOR AW 10mm f/2.8 wide-angle lens include the HN-N103 screw-on Lens Hood (40.5 mm) and the CL-N101 Lens Soft Case.

Optional accessories for the 1 NIKKOR AW 11–27.5mm f/3.5–5.6 zoom lens include the HN-N103 screw-on Lens Hood (40.5 mm) and the CL-N101 Lens Soft Case.

________________________

¹ The new 1 NIKKKOR AW lenses are the world’s first water/shockproof lenses among lenses for digital cameras with interchangeable lenses available (as of 9th August 2013); based on Nikon research

² In-house tests have demonstrated JIS/IEC Class 8 (IPX8) waterproof performance;  when attached to a waterproof camera.

³ Shockproof to resist a drop from a height of 2 m/6.6 ft (Has passed in-house tests to MIL-STD-810F Method 516.5: Shock standard; when attached to a waterproof camera)

⁴ When the lens is attached to the camera, in-house tests have demonstrated JIS/IEC Protection Class 8 (IPX8) waterproof performance  to 15m (1 NIKKOR AW 11–27.5mm f/3.5–5.6) or 20 m (1 NIKKOR AW 10mm f/2.8) and shock resistance to MIL-STD-810F Method 516.5: Shock standard.

⁵ NIKKOR lenses mounted on the FT1 mount adapter have a 2.7x focal length crop factor, so you get a resulting angle of view that’s over twice as long. For accurate information about compatibility with F-mount NIKKOR lenses, please refer to the manual.

<< Back