MADE Products CA-1115-SMK SLR Camera Armor for Nikon D40 and D40x Digital SLR (Smoke)

by Made Products

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4 x 4.8 inches ; 11 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000NZKX5O
• Item model number: B000NZKX5O
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (52 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

54 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Too little protection, too many problems, April 17, 2007

By 

Joseph Boone (Irvine, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (2008 HOLIDAY TEAM)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: MADE Products CA-1115-BLK Camera Armor for Nikon D40 and D40x Digital SLR (Black) (Electronics)

This product is essentially a rubber body glove to protect cameras from impacts and scrapes. In addition, it comes with a rubber attachment to protect the front of one lens as well as a plastic shield for your LCD. The D40 already comes with a similar protector but if nothing else you can use this one as a spare.

Installation of the armor is a pretty simple affair. You will need to remove your neck strap to put it on and can reattach it when the armor is in place. It requires a bit of tweaking, but once properly arranged, the rubber fit the camera snugly, had no bulges, and was not prone random movement. Many of the controls and buttons are left exposed but certain buttons are covered to improve the structural integrity of the armor. In these cases, the button is articulated into the armor and the label is also molded into the button so you can see what it is. The problem is that the label molded into the armor is black-on-black whereas your camera has white lettering against the black button for far superior ease of reading. Some of the controls are also uncomfortably close to the edge of the rubber so that it is not as easy or comfortable to manipulate them.

In terms of protection, I was disappointed. On the plus side, it should provide very strong protection from scratches. The rubber will also provide very minor protection from impact but you need to be realistic about what it can do. Any real impact against rock or concrete will likely pose just as much chance of fatal damage as a camera would face without the Camera Armor.

The lens protector is a nice idea but is also a decidedly mixed blessing. If you use any filters, it will be very inconvenient to put them on or take them off while the armor is in place. Even adjusting a circular polarizer is difficult. You can take the armor off and put it back on but this is a pretty rigorous process and not something you want to do all the time while trying to shoot. Also, you can forget about using a lens hood. The armor will completely cover the threads that the hood attaches to. Both of these are deal breakers for me as I use a circular polarizer almost constantly and I can't accept anything that makes it difficult for me to use. Lens hoods are equally essential on sunny days. I should add that, like the armor for the camera body, this piece will protect your lens from only the most gentle impact.

Finally, there is one more drawback to this Camera Armor, although it will not affect everyone. The armor extends down to the bottom plate of the camera. If you use a tripod, you will need to check the plate that attaches to the bottom of your camera. If it protrudes beyond the edge of the camera at all, then you probably won't be able to attach it while the Camera Armor is on.

This is a long review, so allow me to summarize. Camera Armor offers superficial protection, primarily against scratches. If this is important to you, then you should definitely consider buying. You must be prepared to sacrifice all filters, ease of use for your camera, lens hoods, and most likely the ability to use a tripod. In my eyes, this is simply an unacceptable level of restrictions to use something that offers so little real protection.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It bounces when you drop it, May 29, 2007

By 

Graeme Esarey (Whidbey Island, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: MADE Products CA-1115-BLK Camera Armor for Nikon D40 and D40x Digital SLR (Black) (Electronics)

OK, I am not advocating that anyone go out and drop their cameras, but I have dropped the D40, in Camera Armor, onto a concrete floor from waist height, and it survived. Actually, I cringed, and it bounced.

I have also banged it on the table, bumped it into walls, heavy machinery, and stuff it into my bag without any other case when I travel. I guess I am what you call a hard user, and I think that's exactly what camera armor is all about.

I do agree with the other reviewer that there is a potential problem with tripod quick release mounts. I use a Manfrotto base plate, and it was a little tight so I took an exacto knife to the overlapping bumper and removed a little. Fits great now, and my camera is still protected.

As far as the lens armor goes, I use this as a sun hood, and like it, although I occasionally take it off, as it is a little bulky. I have used it with big lenses on other cameras, but with the D40, which is my travel camera, I just use the kit lens. I use a polarizing filter as well, but have never had any problems fitting it.

Over all, I am very satisfied with the product, particularly the protection.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Camera Protection Good, Lens Protection useless, March 1, 2008

By 

Roy Graber (Alpharetta, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: MADE Products CA-1115-SMK SLR Camera Armor for Nikon D40 and D40x Digital SLR (Smoke) (Electronics)

This camera armor protects the camera body and screen well, and I recommend that part. But the Lens protection is useless, here is why:
1) It blocks the light sensor when using flash
2) It doesn't hold well at all on my telephoto 55-200 VR Lens
So therefore I can't use it when using flash using my shorter lens, and it doesn't hold onto the longer lens. I have contacted the company via e-mail and they have confirmed this. If you are just using this to protect the body, go ahead and make the purchase. Also, the lens protector is soft so it is easy for something to bump it and if pushed in enough, it will hit the lens.

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