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.
In this short video, you can check out the benefits of using the fluorine coating as it stands up to clean and muddy water, permanent marker, paint, ink, and engine oil.
With the fluorine coating, all kinds of dirt can be easily wiped away, prolonging the life of your new (and expensive) Nikkor lens.
(Via Pop Photo via Nikon Rumors)