An attractive if not very affordable ultra-bright Nikkor 1 portrait lens

Nikon has given its Nikon 1 compact system cameras a big dose of credibility with today's announcement of a new 32mm portrait lens, which is equivalent to 86.4mm in full frame currency. What's really impressive is that this lens has an open aperture of f/1.2, making it the fastest (brightest) compact system camera lens on the market. We'll ignore the Nokton 25mm f/0.95 which is available for Micro Four Thirds compact system camera users as that lens is manual focus and has no communication with the camera, so it has a manual aperture ring as well.

The 32mm f/1.2 Nikkor 1 means that despite the small sensor size used in Nikon 1 cameras, you can realistically get some nicely defocused backgrounds - this lens should be capable of decent 'bokeh'. Shooting at a distance of 5 feet and with the aperture set to f/1.2 the depth of field (distance that will be in sharp focus) is a suitably slim 2.3 inches, which is very handy for creative shooting. This is about the same for Micro Four Thirds and the popular and inexpensive Olympus m.Zuiko 45mm f/1.8 (90mm full frame equivalent). If the aperture on the Nikkor 32mm was f/3.5 the depth of field would be about 6 inches. Of course if you were using a full frame Nikon and the classic 85mm f/1.4, full aperture the depth of field would be just under one inch.

Another point worth noting is that with such a bright open aperture you will be able to shoot in relatively dark conditions without the risk of camera shake. The 32mm doesn't have optical image stabilisation and it really doesn't need it. However, being so bright it's possible that in normal daylight shooting conditions when you want to use the full blur capability of f/1.2 you will run out of shutter speeds, so a good set of neutral density filters might need to factored into the overall costs of owning this lens.

Exactly how well the bokeh turns out will have to wait until the new lens is tested but at £799 it needs to be good!

On page 2 of this article we have the official Nikon press release and below on this page is a gallery of Nikon product images relating to the new 32mm lens. To see a larger view of the the thumbnail, just click on the thumbnail image you are interested in to open a new page with the full-size view.

To return to the thumbnail gallery, click the home arrow at the bottom of the page, or navigate forwards or backwards through the gallery using the backwards/forwards arrow buttons.

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1 NIKKOR 32mm f/1.2 – the fast and portable portrait lens

I AM STRIKING PORTRAITS

RRP: £799.99 / €979

Sales start date: 13th June 2013

London, UK, 14 May 2013

Nikon today launches the ultra-fast 1 NIKKOR 32mm f/1.2 lens and brings large-aperture portrait photography to the Nikon 1 system.

With a focal length that's ideal for portraiture and a compact design, this impressive CX-format lens combines superior image quality with convenience. And, as the first 1 NIKKOR flagship lens to be announced this new lens marks an expanding line-up.

Lenses don't get much faster; whether indoors at a dinner party, or outside making the most of natural light, this lens allows you to capture striking portraits that you can be proud of. From candid shots to staged compositions, you can bring your subject into sharp focus with smooth bokeh, and capture crisp images and movies when you shoot in low light.

Simon Iddon, Product Manager for Nikon 1 Compact System Cameras, Nikon UK says: "Nikon 1 owners will enjoy exploring the creative effects of this new flagship lens and will appreciate the advantages that come with the f/1.2 aperture, such as shallow depth-of-field." He continues: "Nikon is dedicated to developing lenses that make the most of the Nikon 1 system and we're excited about the potential of this new 1 NIKKOR 32mm f/1.2lens that also gives serious portrait photographers a brilliant portable option".

Where the magic happens

Offering speed and range without sacrificing portability, this new 1 NIKKOR makes an excellent portrait lens. The 32 mm focal length is equivalent to approximately 85 mm in 35mm film format, a classic portrait length that allows for tight head and shoulder shots with extreme detail. The ultra-fast f/1.2 aperture enables super-smooth bokeh, so you can single out subjects beautifully, and creates a clear advantage in low-light situations. Ideal for everything from candid portraits to staged shots, this lens lets you catch the best of people in any situation.

Optical Brilliance

Comprising nine elements in seven groups, this lens offers superb image quality. A seven-blade rounded diaphragm opening ensures beautifully rounded bokeh and this is the first 1 NIKKOR lens to feature Nikon's Nano Crystal Coat, which greatly reduces ghosting and flare even in backlit situations. The dedicated Silent Wave Motor (SWM) enables smooth and accurate autofocus, and helps ensure quiet movie recording. For photographers that like to shoot in manual control, this is the first 1 NIKKOR lens to feature a focus ring that lets you control focus while looking into the camera's viewfinder or monitor.

Portraits from anywhere

Remarkably compact for such a large-aperture lens and boasting a high-quality metallic exterior, this lens is a stellar addition to the Nikon 1 system. Available in high-gloss silver and semi-gloss black, the compact new lens combines portability with high-quality performance for stunning portraits that can be captured on the go.

The lens is supplied with a front lens cap and the HB-N107 bayonet lens hood, which helps reduce stray light and minimise flare for images with better contrast and colour saturation. Optional accessories include the CL-N101 soft lens case.

1 NIKKOR range

1 NIKKOR lenses capture life with exceptional sharpness. Combined with the portability, power and speed of Nikon 1 cameras, the small size of 1 NIKKOR lenses truly sets the Nikon 1 system apart. Designed with active lifestyles in mind, the growing range currently includes nine lenses that cover a wide range of scenes, and each lens is optimized for movie recording. For photographers who want to use F-Mount NIKKOR lenses on their Nikon 1 camera, the dedicated FT1 Mount Adapter allows them to do just that.

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