Soft Shutter Release AR-11 for use with the Df digital SLR camera

June 26, 2014

Adoption of ebonite resin for an elegant look and feel that creates a unique and rich texture over time

TOKYO - Nikon Corporation is pleased to announce the release of the Soft Shutter Release AR-11, developed for use with the Nikon Df FX-format digital SLR camera.

The AR-11 is an optional accessory that may be attached to the camera by screwing it into the release socket on the camera's shutter-release button. Adoption of ebonite resin for the top surface of the AR-11 allows users to enjoy a soft and light feel when pressing the shutter-release button. Ebonite resin creates a unique and rich texture over time that melds with the finger. It is often used in high-end fountain pens and the mouthpieces of wind instruments such as saxophones and clarinets.

The combination of adoption of a material with a soft and light feel for the AR-11, and the utilization of a magnesium alloy for the elegant body and large metal mechanical dials, excellent in their ability to offer simple visual confirmation of settings, for the Df increases the superior look and feel of the camera as a precision instrument. Users can further increase their enjoyment of owning the Df with the texture and operational feel of their own camera that changes according to the way they use it.

The Df digital SLR camera

The Df was developed to represent the concept of the fusion of intuitive, responsive dial operation with the superior image quality of an effective pixel count of 16.2-million pixels over a broad range of ISO sensitivities in the smallest and lightest FX-format body, which makes the camera extremely portable. Since its release in November of 2013, it has been extremely well received for its unique concept and design. The great popularity of the Df has been proven by the many prestigious awards it has won. It was the recipient of the Camera GP 2014 Camera of the Year and Readers Award, sponsored by Japan's Camera Journal Press Club, as well as the globally prestigious photographic and imaging awards TIPA Awards 2014's Best Premium Camera, and the "red dot award: product design 2014", sponsored by Germany's Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen.

The Df was developed with a different approach than that adopted for previous cameras, and with an eye on offering different forms of value. Not only does it respond to the needs of users looking for greater variety in terms of photographic expression, it also allows users to take their time with each individual photo to achieve images they will enjoy. Therefore, Nikon challenged itself to develop a novel camera that focuses on the functions vital to still-image photography with adoption of a precise design utilizing metal materials and mechanical dials reminiscent of the Nikon tradition, as well as aspects such as the elimination of movie recording functions and adoption of an optical viewfinder that utilizes a glass pentaprism. In addition, adoption of a collapsible metering coupling lever enables support for not only the latest lenses, but also older non-AI NIKKOR lenses. Allowing those who have long used Nikon products, as well as those just starting out, to enjoy the process and results of their photography for a long time to come was a major concept behind development of the camera.

*While the AR-11 was developed for use with the Df, it may be used with any Nikon camera with a shutter-release button equipped with a release socket, and any camera with a shutter-release button equipped with a release socket that conforms to ISO standards.

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*Specifications, design, product name and supplied accessories may differ by country or area. Specifications and equipment are subject to change without any notice or obligation on the part of the manufacture.