In summary
Impact protection for DSLR cameras.Camera Armor (note the American spelling) is a close fitting stay-on glove that is designed to protect SLR cameras against impact shock. Available in Black or Smoke, it consists of separate, shock-absorbing, flexible silicone camera and lens housings, a polycarbonate LCD shield and a lens cap tether. Separate designs are made for different brands and models to ensure photographers have access to all camera controls as well as battery and card compartments and interface ports. Most popular DSLRs are covered. . . [more]
Full review
Camera Armor (note the American spelling) is a close fitting stay-on glove that is designed to protect SLR cameras against impact shock. Available in Black or Smoke, it consists of separate, shock-absorbing, flexible silicone camera and lens housings, a polycarbonate LCD shield and a lens cap tether. Separate designs are made for different brands and models to ensure photographers have access to all camera controls as well as battery and card compartments and interface ports. Most popular DSLRs are covered.
Camera Armor is fitted in five steps.
1. First remove and camera straps. Then remove the lens and attach the camera body cover cap to prevent foreign materials from entering the camera.
2. Place the LCD shield over the camera’s LCD, making sure all button controls can be operated.
3. Insert the camera body plus LCD shield into the large opening at the base of the Camera Armor, making sure the grip and lens opening sections match. Stretch the Camera Armor as you edge it into position, making sure all the camera controls line up with the Camera Armor buttons and the flash isn’t covered or blocked.
4. Replace the lens. If necessary, nudge the area of Camera Armor around the lens into place so the lens fits normally.
5. Then fit the Lens Armor by stretching it over the end of the lens and positioning it along the lens rim. Make sure it is attached to a non-moving part of the lens so the focusing and zooming controls can be moved normally. Loop the Lens Cap Leash through the loop on the outside of the Lens Armor and attach the adhesive pad to the lens cap.
The Lens Armor protector can double as a lens hood and has the benefit of flexibility. Designed for use with lenses as wide as17mm and 18mm (or 27mm in 35mm format), it can be rolled back when wider lenses are used. It comes with a short ‘leash’ that can be used to tether a lens cap and fits over the end of the lens, while allowing access to the lens cap and focusing and zoom controls.
The manufacturers of Camera Armor also offer an accessory ToughStrap and SafeGrip Combo, which is sold separately for $69.95. ToughStrap is a padded camera strap containing three woven-in stainless steel wires, which prevent the strap from being cut, thereby protecting the camera against theft. The SafeGrip is a padded hand grip that attaches to the side of the camera and can be adjusted to fit a wide variety of hand sizes. Both ToughStrap and SafeGrip are machine washable.
In Use
Fitting Camera Armor is relatively easy and the ‘skin’ covers all the key points that could suffer impact damage. However, we’re not sure whether it’s enough to prevent damage to sensor mounts in cameras that use CCD-shift image stabilisations systems. The skin itself fits snugly and does not impede access to the camera controls, although it does change the overall ‘feel’ of the camera. On the plus side, the slightly sticky feel of the silicone gives you a more secure grip on the camera body.
On the sample supplied for this review we had to nudge up the edge of the lens surround before the lens could be fitted but, once fitted, there were no impediments to using the lens normally. The viewfinder’s diopter adjustment became inaccessible but, as this tends to be a set-and-forget control, it would only be a problem if photographers with differing eyesight were using the camera.
The scroll wheel on our EOS 400D was also slightly awkward to turn because the layer of silicone raises the position of your fingertip slightly, thereby reducing its grip. The flap covering the pop-up flash was no impediment to its action. The LCD shield was easy to fit and easy to clean. It was useful for preventing grease smears on the monitor’s surface.
The layer of silicone makes the scroll wheel more difficult to operate.
The Lens Armor was less impressive and quite fiddly to fit. This is largely because the non-moving ring at the front of most lenses is too thin to provide much grip. Consequently, although it’s effective as a lens hood, it’s very easy to dislodge. If it’s not correctly positioned it can interfere with the focusing and zoom rings and make zooming or focusing manually difficult ““ or impossible. It also provides very little protection for the lens itself.
Although Camera Armor is not waterproof, it’s an excellent accessory for outdoor photographers who enjoy bushwalking and adventurous activities. The impact protection it provides allows you to carry your camera on its strap in places where you would otherwise put it in a case, reducing the chances of missing shots while you fumble to open your camera bag.
Specifications
Components: silicone camera glove, silicone lens hood/protector, polycarbonate LCD shield, lens tether
Retailers
CamBuy
www.cambuy.com.au
Digital cameras, lenses and accessories with 100% genuine Australian manufacturer’s warranties.
Ph: (02) 9029 2219
Camera House
www.camerahouse.com.au
Ph: 133 686
The largest speciality photographic retail chain in Australia.
Camera Pro
www.camerapro.net.au
CameraPro Pty Ltd
Suite 607, 180 Queen St, Brisbane 4000
Tel: 07 3333 2900
Australian owned and run company based in Brisbane.
Camerasdirect
www.camerasdirect.com.au
Retailer of digital camera equipment and more.
Secure online shopping and delivery across Australia.
Ph: 1300 727 056
Camerastore.com.au
Camerastore.com.au
Ph: 1800 155 067
Camera-Warehouse
www.camera-warehouse.com.au
Comprehensive range of digital cameras and accessories online (www.camera-warehouse.com.au) and an online print service (www.royalexpress.com.au).
Digital Camera Warehouse
www.digitalcamerawarehouse.com.au
174 Canterbury Road 367 High Street
Canterbury Northcote
NSW 2193 VIC 3070
Ph: 1300 365 220
Electronics Warehouse
www.electronicswarehouse.com.au
1300 801 885
Australian retailer of Vapex rechargeable batteries offering factory direct prices and fast, free shipping Australia wide.
Photographic Equipment & Supplies – Retail & Repairs. Click here for list of stores.
Ted’s Cameras
1800 186 895
Big range of cameras and photographic products with stores in most states and online.
Rating
RRP: $99.95
Rating (out of 10):
- OVERALL: Camera Armor: 8.5; Lens Armor: 5