Nikon introduces new fluorine coating for its high-end lenses

One of the features of Nikon’s high-end lens announcements that didn’t get all that much attention was that Nikon has introduced a new coating for some of the elements, which looks like it might go a long way in repelling dirt and grime. In this dramatic video, Nikon shows what this fluorine coating can do, and how its powerful beading technology means that even the likes of permanent marker, motor oil, and oil based paints can be wiped right off.

We recently wrote about Nikon’s new AF-S Nikkor 400mm f/2.8E FL ED VR lens, which was announced on May 14. The name of the lens is a mouthful, but all those letters and numbers do mean something. For example, VR stands for Vibration Reduction, while ED means Extra-Low Dispersion. To those familiar with past Nikon lenses, you might think the FL stands for fluorite, but actually it designates fluorine, a new type of coating designed to repel all types of moisture and grime from your lens. According to Nikon’s lens glossary, the fluorine coating “effectively repels dust, water droplets, grease or dirt, ensuring easy removal even when they adhere to the lens surface.” The fluorine coating gives lenses the durability to withstand frequent surface wiping. In addition to protecting lenses from damage, the new coating also helps the lens capture clearer images thanks to its anti-reflective nature.