Probably more important than the launch of the Nikon D5 dSLR camera at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is the Japanese company’s first attempt at making an action camera. The KeyMission 360, despite being Nikon’s first such product, has features that could cause other manufacturers turn green with envy.
Nikon isn’t exactly the first optics manufacturer to develop an action camera, as Kodak, Sony and Polaroid have paved the way for that already. However, KeyMission 360 is the company’s first, so it’ll be interesting to see if its performance compares to that of its counterparts. According to Nikon, KeyMission 360 is only the first member of its new lineup of action cameras, so there’ll surely be more models springing up in the near future.
KeyMission 360 has three main selling points, if you leave aside the fact that it’s made by one of the most important developers of cameras in the world. First of all, its ruggedness makes it a very versatile device, as it can withstand physical shocks, low temperatures and exposure to dust. Most importantly, though, it is waterproof, so you don’t have to worry about its safety if you take it with you while surfing, kayaking or diving. Just don’t dive too deep while using it, as it’s only waterproof up to depths of approximately 100 feet (30 meters).
Secondly, the KeyMission 360 can record videos and take still shots in 4K UHD. That definitely has a major impact on the amount of detail you’re going to see in the videos and photos shot with Nikon’s first action camera.
Thirdly, KeyMission 360, as its name strongly implies, can shoot 360-degree videos. This particular feat is achieved by using a lens and an image sensor that are located on opposite sides. Both of these capture images and videos that get stitched together to combine a single 360-degree reflection of reality.
As expected, Nikon’s KeyMission 360 has a companion app that enables you to playback any content that was captured using the action cam. Since the device features electronic Vibration Reduction that can be enabled in the app while playing back the videos or photos, you’ll end up with less camera shake and more crisp and sharp videos.
I can’t help but wonder what innovations will Nikon use in this department in order to stay relevant. For example, Kodak, who already had one of these action cams in its portfolio, has announced one at CES that’s capable of shooting VR videos, assuming that you use a pair of them. I’m sure that Nikon, being the pioneer that it is in imaging equipment, will find things to keep people’s interest alive.
If you are in Las Vegas this week and can’t wait to see the KeyMission 360 in action, check out Nikon’s booth at CES 2016 between today, January 6, and Saturday, January 9. There you’ll get to see the action cam, along with accessories, and other new devices that have just been announced by the optics manufacturer.
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