Nikon takes aim at GoPro with new KeyMission line of iPhone-connected action cameras

Nikon announced its first three action cameras on Monday ahead of this week's Photokina expo in Germany, looking to claim share of a field largely dominated by GoPro.

The top of Nikon's line is the KeyMission 360, equipped with two 20-megapixel sensors to capture 360-degree footage at 4K resolution. Each lens has an f/2.0 maximum aperture, and the camera notably stitches together video on-device, instead of offloading the task to a separate product like an iPhone or laptop.

Reflecting its purpose, the 360 is waterproof to 98 feet, and shockproof at heights up to 6.6 feet. It's also cold-resistant, capable of working in temperatures as low as 14 degrees Fahrenheit.

The KeyMission 170 is closer to a standard GoPro, taking its name from a 170-degree field of view. It's scaled down from the 360 in other respects, for instance using an 8.3-megapixel sensor, although it can still record video in 4K. Its aperture tops out at f/2.8, and it's only waterproof to 33 feet by default, though people will be able to buy waterproof housing rated for depths up to 131 feet.

The KeyMission 80, with an 80-degree field of view, is targeted more at the general public, in fact marketed as something people might use in place of their regular smartphone camera. It has a rear-facing 12-megapixel camera with an f/2.0 lens, while a front-facing camera is scaled back to 5 megapixels and f/2.2. For control, there's a 1.75-inch touchscreen.

The 80 doesn't support 4K video, and can only shoot underwater at a depth of 1 meter (about 3 feet) for 30 minutes.

The 80, 170, and 360 can be preordered for $276.95, $396.95 and $496.95 respectively from B&H with free expedited shipping and no tax outside NY. B&H is also including a free KeyMission accessory pack valued at $149.95 with KeyMission 360 preorders (while supplies last). Nikon is accepting preorders as well, but at MSRP, and the free accessory pack comes with 170 and 360 preorders. All three devices are scheduled to ship in October.

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10 Comments

cincymac 27 comments · 22 Years

About 8 years ago

Smart move, Nikon! I guess Canon, Leica, and others will follow.

volcan 1799 comments · 10 Years

AppleInsider said:

Each lens has an f/2.0 maximum aperture,

That is not the way to describe the lens. There are two different things going on. Aperture refers to the shutter opening size and is described as f-stops. Larger capability is better but is automatically adjusted according the conditions. In this case the lens is an f/2.0 (lower is better). This refers to how fast the lens is. The lower the number the easier it is for light to pass through the glass and enter through the aperture. f/2.0 is a pretty fast lens which makes it ideal for underwater use where light is already diminished. That is why the less expensive cameras have a higher lens f/ rating. They are not as fast.

cali 3494 comments · 10 Years

"iPhone connected"

Shows how much these stand alone cameras are dying. I wonder if they'll be around in 10 years? They'll probably be used by photographers as "vintage gear". I must admit, Canon is a company I've wanted Apple to acquire...maybe soon.

pdbreske 45 comments · 9 Years

volcan said:

AppleInsider said:

Each lens has an f/2.0 maximum aperture,

That is not the way to describe the lens. There are two different things going on. Aperture refers to the shutter opening size and is described as f-stops. Larger capability is better but is automatically adjusted according the conditions. In this case the lens is an f/2.0 (lower is better). This refers to how fast the lens is. The lower the number the easier it is for light to pass through the glass and enter through the aperture. f/2.0 is a pretty fast lens which makes it ideal for underwater use where light is already diminished. That is why the less expensive cameras have a higher lens f/ rating. They are not as fast.

Without direct knowledge of how these cameras are made, I'd guess the lens system is basically the same as other lenses in this bracket, including smartphones; most of them have a maximum aperture that cannot be adjusted and the exposure is corrected exclusively through shutter speed and sensitivity settings. Their tiny size makes an adjustable aperture difficult to implement and fewer moving parts (the shutter is electronic) makes the cameras more durable and impact-resistant.

cali said:

"iPhone connected"

Shows how much these stand alone cameras are dying. I wonder if they'll be around in 10 years? They'll probably be used by photographers as "vintage gear". I must admit, Canon is a company I've wanted Apple to acquire...maybe soon.

Canon does a lot of industry related stuff like digital x-ray, on demand printing, surveillance systems, etc. Apple doesn't usually buy multi-industry companies, just like it made no sense to by Nuance just to get Siri. Anyway, I have no idea why Apple would want to buy a camera company. They already have the most popular camera in the world, at least according to social media sites.