Nikon 1 AW1 User manual

INTERMEDIATE
Caring for your Nikon 1 AW1
Waterproof Camera
Before Use
Before using the Nikon 1 AW1 waterproof camera under water, it is important that
you attach a 1 NIKKOR waterproof lens onto the camera. [At the time of writing this
article, there are two waterproof 1 NIKKOR lenses, a 10mm and an 11.5-27.5mm
lens.]
If you’ve been using the AW1 with a non-waterproof lens, or if you had the body
cap on the camera, you’ll just need to inspect the O-ring before attaching the
waterproof lens. Make sure there is no dirt or foreign matter on the O-ring; check
that it is correctly positioned and it is not nicked or cracked. Also check the O-ring
seal area of the lens to make sure there is no dust, dirt or foreign matter adhered to
it. If so, clean it off.
Aligning the mounting mark on the body with the lens, carefully place the lens over
the O-ring and press it into position, and then rotate the lens until it stops.
For use underwater, it is recommended that you remove the camera strap that
came with the AW1 and instead use a third-party floating strap. Make sure that the
battery is fully charged and inserted into the camera, and that a blank media card
has also been placed in the card slot. Be careful as you’re closing the battery
chamber door and the media card slot door to make sure that no foreign matter is
adhering to the watertight channels. Clean any dirt with a blower or cotton swab.
Make sure the latches and security locks are fully closed.
FEBRUARY 14, 2020

Before using the waterproof Nikon 1 AW1 and its attached waterproof lens, do a quick
waterproof integrity test by placing the camera in a basin of water and looking for any escaping
air bubbles. After the camera is removed from the water, dry it off and check for leaks.
As a final check, immerse the camera with its waterproof lens attached in a sink or
basin of water to make sure that you don’t see leaks. Turn the camera on and test
the zoom ring and camera controls. Air may escape from the pressure-
equalization vent and microphone and speaker covers, and that’s normal.
If however, you see air escaping from the lens mount or the connector and battery-
chamber/media card slot covers, immediately remove the camera from the water
and dry it thoroughly. Check to see that the O-ring and connector and battery
chamber/media card slot covers are properly sealed. If you find the camera to be
leaking during normal use, consult a Nikon-authorized service center.
If the camera passes the water submersion test, you’re ready to take it shooting
under the sea or in a pool.
After Use

After using the Nikon 1 AW1 underwater, thoroughly rinse the camera in clean water, pressing
the various buttons and extending the built-in pop-up flash to ensure that any salt or foreign
matter is removed from all parts of the camera.
Nikon recommends cleaning the AW1 within 60 minutes of underwater use.
Immerse the camera in fresh water, with its waterproof 1 NIKKOR lens attached to
remove salt or other foreign matter. Leave the camera/lens submerged in a basin
for about 10 minutes. Press the flash pop-up button, rotate the zoom ring if you’ve
got that lens attached and operate the camera’s controls while in fresh water.
After rinsing the Nikon 1 AW1 camera, pat it dry and then let it fully air dry in a cool, shady spot.
Wipe the camera dry. Using a soft, dry cloth, dry the camera and lens barrel.

Let the camera fully air dry before you detach the lens or open the battery door or media card
door.
Let the camera with lens still attached fully dry in a shady spot.
Carefully open the connector and battery compartment/media card slot door and use a soft cloth
to fully dry any water that may have made its way inside.
After confirming that no more water remains on the exterior of the Nikon 1 AW1
and its attached waterproof lens, slowly open the connector and battery
chamber/media card slot covers and remove any water, sand or other foreign
matter using a soft, dry cloth.

After cleaning the camera once it has been used underwater, make sure it is fully dry. Then
remove the lens.
After you’ve confirmed that the lens and camera are dry, detach the lens and
gently wipe the lens O-ring seal with a soft, dry cloth to remove any foreign matter.
There may still be water between the camera and lens, so keep the camera flat
and remove the lens slowly and carefully.
After you carefully detach the waterproof lens from the Nikon 1 AW1, use a soft cloth to fully dry
the rear of the lens where it attaches to the camera.
Using the soft, dry cloth, carefully clean the lens.

Maintenance
Proper care and maintenance of the Nikon 1 AW1’s O-ring is important to keep the
waterproof integrity of the camera and attached waterproof 1 NIKKOR lens.
Carefully remove the O-ring to check it for wear or nicks. You can use either your fingers or an
optional O-ring remover.
When performing routine checks and lubrication of the O-ring, you can remove it
from the camera body either using your fingers or an optional O-ring remover.
While holding the camera securely, lightly stretch the O-ring by sliding your fingers
along either side and remove it from the camera.

Check the integrity of the O-ring, looking for nicks or other signs of wear. The O-ring is what
keeps the waterproof integrity of the camera, so it is important that it is cared for correctly.
Check the O-ring for nicks or cracks, and thoroughly wash it in fresh water, drying
it thoroughly.
Do not use benzene, thinner, alcohol, soap, neutral detergents, or other cleaning
products, as these could damage or weaken the O-ring!
Using a bulb blower, carefully remove dust or foreign matter that may be adhering to the O-ring
or the O-ring guide channel.
Check the O-ring guide for foreign matter and use a blower or cotton swab to clean
off any dirt. Be sure to remove any threads left behind from the cotton swab.
To grease the O-ring, use only the silicon grease that is designed for use with the camera. Place

a small amount of grease in a baggie.
To grease the O-ring, use the silicon grease that came with the Nikon 1 AW1 or
with the optional WP-G1000 silicon grease. Place a bead of the silicon grease in a
plastic bag and use your fingers to spread the grease around inside the bag.
Do not use the lubricant that is used for COOLPIX or NIKONOS underwater
camera’s O-rings!
Once the silicon grease has been inserted into the baggie, place the O-ring inside and using
your fingers, thoroughly cover the O-ring.
Then insert the O-ring in the bag and massage the bag to fully coat the O-ring.
This prevents wear on the O-ring and makes it easier to attach and remove the
waterproof lenses from the Nikon 1 AW1.

Carefully replace the O-ring, making sure that it sits correctly in the channel, and is not stretched
or bulging.
After making sure that the O-ring and the guide are free of foreign matter, place the
O-ring so that it runs evenly at the same level, all the way around the O-ring guide.
The O-ring should not be overly stretched, nor should it protrude from the camera
body.
Using the AW1 with a non-waterproof 1
NIKKOR lens
The Nikon 1 AW1 is a waterproof camera, when used with its waterproof lenses.
You can also use the Nikon 1 AW1 with non-waterproof 1 NIKKOR lenses with the
caveat that the camera will not be waterproof with a regular lens attached.
To use the Nikon 1 AW1 with a regular, non-waterproof 1 NIKKOR lens, you will
have to protect the O-ring on the camera with the supplied O-ring protector.
When you are using the Nikon 1 AW1 with a waterproof lens, place the O-ring protector on the
body cap that came with the camera for safe keeping. This way, you always know where it is
when you need it.
The O-ring protector is supplied with the camera and should be kept on the body
cap of the AW1 when it is not being used.

Because the O-ring ensures the waterproof integrity of the Nikon 1 AW1 and its waterproof lens,
it is important to protect the O-ring when you are not using the camera with a waterproof lens.
Place the O-ring protector over the O-ring before attaching a non-waterproof 1 NIKKOR lens on
the camera.
To place it on the camera, simply remove the O-ring protector from the body cap,
and place it over the O-ring, on the AW1 camera body.
With the O-ring protector covering the O-ring, you can now attach a non-waterproof 1 NIKKOR
lens to the Nikon 1 AW1 camera.
With the O-ring protector in place, the O-ring is protected from dirt and damage,
and you are now able to place a non-waterproof 1 NIKKOR lens on the camera.
To do so, just make sure you’ve got the mounting mark on the lens and on the
camera body lined up, and position the lens on the camera. Then rotate the lens

until it clicks into place.
When you want to take off the non-waterproof 1 NIKKOR lens and go back to
using a waterproof 1 NIKKOR lens, turn the camera off, and press and hold the
lens release button while turning the lens. Then remove the O-ring protector and
clean any foreign matter from the O-ring, and attach the waterproof lens to the
AW1 camera.
You can also choose to put the camera’s body cap on the camera body, and not
attach a lens at this time. To do so, attach the body cap to the AW1 and place the
O-ring protector on the camera’s body cap.
For more detailed instructions, please consult the User’s Manual for the Nikon 1
AW1 waterproof camera.
TIPS:
1. Use a high capacity memory card and fully charged battery to get the
most use out of your Nikon 1 AW1 camera underwater. It is no fun to
begin seeing great subjects to photograph and finding the battery is
dead or the card full.
2. Before getting into the water, always double check that the battery
compartment door and media card slot door are securely shut.
3. When traveling, make sure you take along extra silicon grease and an
extra O-ring.
4. Replace the O-ring at least once a year, as preventative maintenance.
Use only the Nikon O-ring specifically designed for the Nikon 1 AW1
waterproof digital camera not for waterproof COOLPIX or Nikonos
cameras.