MADE Products CA-1116-SMK SLR Camera Armor for Sony Alpha Digital SLR (Smoke)

by MADE

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4 x 4.8 inches ; 11 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000NZMZFK
• Item model number: B000NZMZFK
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: March 5, 2007

Product Description

Color: Smoke

Manufacturer Description

The toughest protection for your camera: We custom design each of our cases to fit the camera like a glove. All controls and access points are still accessible and you can use your camera at a moments notice. No more missed photographs trying to get your camera out of its case. Rugged, custom fit cases that provide protection from impact and abrasion while allowing full access to all features of the camera. Great for outdoor use (currently being used for nature photography, climbing, cycling, bungee jumping, canyoning, aerial photography, forensics, photo journalism, etc), working with multiple cameras (wedding photography, industrial applications), or other activities where full-time protection is required without a lot of additional bulk or weight. 4 part system includes Lens Armor, Body Armor, LCD shield, and lens cap lanyard. Works with most tripods, optional battery grips, flash guns, L-brackets, and other accessories. (Some customization may be required) Proprietary silicone material is heat stable to 420 degrees, provides protection from heat or cold, and gives the camera a secure, grippy feel. Does not trap condensation under the armor, and will not deform or lose its shape over time. Lifetime warranty.

Product Description

The Toughest Protection for your camera: We custom design each of our cases to fit the camera like a glove. All controls and access points are still accessible and you can use your camera at a moments notice. No more missed photographs trying to get your camera out of its case. Rugged, custom fit cases that provide protection from impact and abrasion while allowing full access to all features of the camera. Great for outdoor use (nature photography, climbing, cycling), working with multiple cameras (wedding photography), or other applications where full-time protection is required without a lot of additional bulk or weight. 4 part system includes Lens Armor, Body Armor, LCD shield, and lens cap lanyard. Works with most tripods, optional battery grips, flash guns, L-brackets, and other accessories. (Some customization may be required) Proprietary silicone material is heat stable to 420 degrees, provides protection from heat or cold, and gives the camera a secure, grippy feel. Does not trap condensation under the armor, and will not deform or loose its shape over time. Lifetime warranty.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Adds Safety but also bulk, December 23, 2007

By 

L. Ridela (Honolulu, HI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: MADE Products CA-1116-BLK SLR Camera Armor for Sony Alpha Digital SLR (Black) (Electronics)

I purchased this item for my Sony A100 DSLR. I use my camera for field work. This item will definitely protect your camera. However, along with protection comes bulk. The body cover makes it difficult to operate the control buttons. It also covered the sensor at the eyepiece and had to be cut. I used this item for about a month and decided that it was easier for me to just be more careful with my camera. This item may be good for vacations where you want to bring a full size camera without the carrying case, but for continuous field work it isn't practical.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Flawed but useful, December 7, 2007

By 

J. Scott (Cleveland, OH USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: MADE Products CA-1116-BLK SLR Camera Armor for Sony Alpha Digital SLR (Black) (Electronics)

After reading a few reviews on Camera Armor I decided to purchase it at the time I purchased my Sony A100. It seemed like a worthwhile concept so I decided to give it a shot. Opening the package revealed a grippy rubber like material for the body of the camera. A large rubber hood like item for the lens and a clear polycarbonate cover for the lcd screen. I initially encountered a number of negative issues in the application of this product. The camera armor for the camera body fits very snugly over the body, a very tight fit. So tight in fact that upon pulling and stretching the body armor over the camera body I somehow managed to pull apart the camera armor in the area at the lower right of the lcd screen. This area is probably the weakest area of the camera armor and care needs to be taken in this area when installing the camera armor over the body. I have not read any other review where this happened so I must have been a little heavy handed installing the camera armor on the body. I tried to glue the broken piece back together but the "super glue" was not super enough to hold whetever the rubber material of the camera armor is made from. I ended up trimming a portion of this area off with no loss of protection. The clear polycarbonate lcd protector was for me useless as it turned out. First, the way the lcd protector fits on the camera will not allow the use of the Sony/Minolta "angle finder" accessory that allows you to more easily take mid waist and low to the ground shots without having to get down on the ground with the camera. I have used this accessory many times for many years and find it very indispensable for macro photography. Also I felt that the lcd protector was easily scratched and would probably degrade the image on the lcd. the lcd protector also made adjusting the viewfinder diopter adjustment impossible without taking off the lcd protector which would be a hassle. As far as the lens protector goes if you never change lenses I guess it would be alright but I didn't see myself removing the lens protector and reinstalling it on another lens everytime I changed the lens, which is somewhat often when I'm in the field. Also the portion of the camera armor that extends below the camera body prevents the use of all but the smallest of quick release plates used with tripod ball or panheads. My old bogen ball head uses a hexagonal release plate that extends beyond the base of the camera body as do many quick release plates. This is incompatible with the camera body armor as it comes from the factory. The soulution is to trim off the lower portion of the camera armor. There is an indented line around the entire lower portion of the camera armor and I figure this was put there as a trimming guide to remove that portion so that a tripod quick release plate could be utilized. Lastly the "grippy" compound of the rubber material attracts dust, hairs, etc, like a magnet. However the grippy feel of the camera armor is exactly why I decided to keep using it. I liked the fact that the camera feels more secure in my hands due to the grippy compound of the rubber material from which the camera armor is made. I also liked the "heft" that the camera armor added to the feel of the camera. A more substantial feeling to the camera. Everywhere on the Sony A100 where there is a button or a cover there is a corresponding button or opening that is clearly marked on the camera armor albeit the lettering on the camera armor is not printed in white like on the A100 body but after a while of using the camera you should know from memory where and what each button on the camera is for . The camera armor will most definately protect the camera body from scrapes and scratches and minor dings However I wouldn't trust it to protect the camera from dropping it. I know I have more negatives listed than positives but as I said before, because of the "grippiness" of the rubber compound I feel that for my 60 year old hands it will be good insurance against dropping the camera as things sometimes tend to slip from my grasp. It's hell getting old. All in all, for me I consider the Camera Armor a flawed but useful product.

UPDATE:1-10-2008

Mentioned above in my orginal review I stated that the camera armor suffered a tear while installing it on the camera. Since the Manufacturer boasts a "lifetime warranty" I decided to contact them regarding a replacement camera armor. After about 2 weeks I never recieved a reply regarding my inquiry. You may want to take into consideration that any product produced or sold by "Made Products" is probably sold "as is" since it is obvious that they do not back their products or even give a customer the courtesy of a reply.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Surpising, August 13, 2007

By 

Wes (Bay Area, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: MADE Products CA-1116-BLK SLR Camera Armor for Sony Alpha Digital SLR (Black) (Electronics)

I was not expecting this product to be as nice as it is. The Camera Armor fits the camera like a glove and its obvious that it is specifically designed for my model camera.

Each button can be accessed from outside the Camera Armor. Each button is very specific and is designed so that when you push the button from outside the armor, there is a round circular rubber piece pushes into and towards that particular button on the camera body. The buttons are individualized so there is no way to push one button and accidentally activate another. In the past week I have not had one unintentional activation from pushing any buttons.

Also included with the Camera Armor is a plastic cover for your LCD screen, I was not expecting this and it was a very nice surprise. The plastic is very clear and seems to be of good quality to protect the screen.

All compartments are still accessible including the memory and battery compartments with the Camera Armor on, including the hotshoe. The plastic cover on your hotshoe must be removed to allow the rubberized piece to slide into it and cover it. The Camera Armor is molded so it is easy to pop up the built-in flash if needed.

There is also a bit of the armor that extends past the bottom of the camera. I'm assuming that this will aid in somewhat protecting a vertical grip if you added one to your camera.

The lens armor is something I have to get used to. It makes the camera appear akward with such a big piece of rubber at the end. It kind of looks like a lens hood but it does not extend that far out and does not perform the same function. I use the 18-200 lens and I have a lens hood with my lens; Unfortunately the design of the lens armor prohibits me from using both, so I leave the lens armor off the camera.

Hope this helps

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