Nikon filed Patent for Nikon 1 AW amphibian wide zoom

[Akira]

According to the "Accomplishment of an engineer" blog, often cited by Nikon Rumors, posted an article on the patent of the amphibian wideangle zoom (7.2-13.6mm/f3.5-4.5) Nikon had filed.  Apparently the amphibian lens is aimed at Nikon 1 AW body.

http://egami.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2015-07-29

(The text is all in Japanese.)

This should be good news in two ways:

1. Nikon may release the wideangle zoom that has long been awaited and is essential to the underwater photography.
2. Nikon is contine to support AW segment of Nikon 1 series.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

Both news are excellent.

Now, were they to add a fisheye UW lens and a AW Micro-Nikkor, my day would be perfect

[Frank Fremerey]

The aw1 just got better and it was very attractive already. Amphibian camera. Coolest thing since NIKONOS.

can anyone tell me how the ONE will behave in salt water?

[Bjørn Rørslett]

Fresh or salt water is the same. AW1 takes it on.

[Bjørn J]

I borrowed Bjørn R's AW1 and took it with me in a small boat. It was very strange seeing the camera lying in the bottom of the boat, splashing in a mix of seawater and fish blood.  Conflicting emotions

[Ilkka Nissilä]

I agree this is excellent news. I look forward to buying a Nikon 1 AW series camera  but first I would prefer to see signs of long term support in terms of development of the rugged/underwater lens line. I find the user interface of the AW1 camera peculiar on first contact but perhaps it is something that one can get used to. 

[Frank Fremerey]

The first body is 700€ plus lenses 2000€ are gone fast. So a long term commitment of Nikon is
ESSENTIAL.

[Ilkka Nissilä]

By the way have anyone here used the underwater flash system that Nikon makes for the AW1 and underwater housings of the 1 series? How is it in use?

[Akira]

I consider 1" format as sweet spot of still/video camera.  I enjoyed J1 and 10/2.8 combo very much.  An AW body with this dedicated wideangle zoom can be good reason to make a return to Nikon 1.  And yes, the long term support is essential.

As for the fisheye, I'm personally sold by the stereographic design employed by Samyang.  I would go for a sper-wideangle with Nikon 1, because Nikon would employ the conventional equidistant design.