Nikon has broadened its range of Nikon 1 system cameras with the launch of the rugged Nikon 1 AW1 - the world's first waterproof and shockproof interchangeable lens camera
Nikon has announced the world’s first fully waterproof and shockproof
interchangeable lens camera – the Nikon 1 AW1. The AW1 has been designed to be waterproof to depths of 15m, shockproof from
heights of 2m and freezeproof to temperatures as low as -10°C.
The Nikon 1 AW1 features a rugged metal body construction.
Using the 14.2MP CX-format CMOS sensor from previous Nikon 1-series models, the
AW1 provides an ISO range up to ISO 6400 and meets the demands of photographers
who’d like to shoot at exceptionally high speeds by featuring Nikon’s EXPEED 3A
image processor, which allows the camera to shoot continuously at up to 60fps,
or 15fps in AF continuous mode.
Two lenses have been produced for the Nikon 1 AW1 – both of which are weather sealed.
With inspiration taken from Nikon’s
fully weather sealed AW100 and AW110 compact cameras, rubber sealing at
critical points on the camera – including a rubber O-ring around the lens mount
– are designed to keep water and moisture at bay and away from the cameras
internals. What’s more, a dual altimeter/depth gauge offers users a clue as to
how deep they are below the surface of the water to ensure the maximum
permitted depth (15m) is not exceeded.
Buttons at the rear have a similar feel to those on the Nikon Coolpix AW110.
Other features include GPS, full access to
PSAM shooting modes and a selection of underwater settings that are designed to
help produce faithful colours depending on the visibility below the surface of
the water.
Note the rubber O-ring around the lens mount that creates the watertight seal.
Although the Nikon 1 AW1 doesn’t feature built-in Wi-fi connectivity it has
been made compatible with Nikon’s WU-1 wireless mobile adapter, while it also
carries across Best Moment Capture – an innovative solution to shooting images
at the perfect moment by capturing up to 20 continuous shots and displaying
them in slow motion on the LCD screen, or shoot up to 20 high-resolution images
before recommending five of the best.
All access doors feature rubber seals as you’d expect on any waterproof camera.
In addition to the body, Nikon has launched
two new NIKKOR all weather (AW) lenses for the AW1. The NIKKOR AW 11-27.5mm
f/3.5-5.6 zoom lens will be sold with the Nikon 1 AW1 in kit form. There’s also
the new 1 NIKKOR AW 10mm f/2.8 wide-angle lens and the option of attaching
other NIKKOR 1 system lenses, though it’s stressed any NIKKOR 1 lens that
isn’t the all-weather sealed type shouldn’t be used below water.
The NIKKOR AW 10mm
f/2.8 will be sold seperately for £949.
The Nikon 1 AW1 will go onsale from the 10th
October at a price of £749.99 with the NIKKOR AW 11-27.5mm f/3.5-5.6 zoom lens.
A twin kit with both the 1 NIKKOR AW 11-27.5mm f/3.5-5.6 and 1 NIKKOR AW 10mm
f/2.8 will also be available for £949.99, and the 1 NIKKOR AW 10mm f/2.8 lens
will be available to buy separately for £299.99.