<p>For years, fans of underwater photography have been clamoring for a digital Nikonos camera: an interchangeable-lens camera they could take snorkeling or scuba diving without the need for an expensive, cumbersome underwater housing. Today, they get their wish -- or at least, in part. The Nikon AW1 is the world's first waterproof, shockproof, interchangeable-lens digital camera, and while it doesn't bear the legendary Nikonos brand (or travel quite as far beneath the surface as did the film cameras), it's still big news for the underwater set. It's sort of a digital Nikonos Lite, if you will. And it's also freezeproof, to boot.</p><p>At its heart, the 14.2-megapixel Nikon AW1 is very closely related to the existing Nikon J3 mirrorless, though it's a bit larger and heavier, and does add some new features. These include a built-in GPS receiver, altimeter / depth gauge, electronic compass, and virtual horizon. There's also an Action Control function similar to that seen on the Nikon AW100 compact, which allows the camera's menus and settings to be controlled simply by tilting its body.</p><p>In other respects, though, the Nikon AW1 retains the J3's core features, but places them in a much more rugged body. Both its CX-format, Aptina-produced CMOS image sensor and EXPEED processor are carried over, as are the blazingly-fast 73-point autofocus system, equally swift 60 fps full-res burst shooting, and most hardware features.</p><p>Of course, an underwater interchangeable-lens camera isn't going to work without underwater lenses, and so Nikon has also prepared two new lenses that -- due to their waterproofing -- can be mounted only on the AW1 body. The new 1 NIKKOR AW 11-27.5mm f/3.5-5.6 and 1 NIKKOR AW 10mm f/2.8 lenses are pretty straightforward ports of their existing, dry-land counterparts, but with O-rings to prevent water ingress. Both lenses, too, are shockproof and freezeproof.</p><p><a href="http://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2013/09/19/nikon-aw1-preview-waterproof-shockproof-mirrorless-camera-digital-nikonos">Keep reading...</a></p>