22Dec/095
MADE Products CA-1114-SMK SLR Camera Armor for Nikon D200 Digital SLR
- Ruggedized custom fit protection
- Clear polycarbonate lens protects the LCD
- Rubberized comfort for ergonomic shooting
- Bonus lens guard will fit most lenses up to 85mm
- Corners and lenses protected by impact-resistant material
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, cy... More >>
MADE Products CA-1114-SMK SLR Camera Armor for Nikon D200 Digital SLR
December 22nd, 2009 - 05:17
This armor did not fit my D200 with extrabattery add on(SB-d200). Do not get this product if you have an add on module for dual battery!!!!.
Rating: 1 / 5
December 22nd, 2009 - 07:23
I purchased this to protect my camera from minor dents, dings, rubbing, and scratching associated with use on construction sites and congested environments. I found that the fit was good and the rubber robust enough. This is an essential tool to protect an expensive camera. Having said that, it is not perfect. A couple of improvements could be:
1. The rubber around the grip is not tactile enough. I’d prefer a checker-plate pattern. Also, the vertical ridge where fingertip pads fall is indistinct. A raised rib would be good. The palm rest also needs more texture.
2. The popup flash is not provided with protection. When slung nose down, this area can be the first subjected to an impact. A formed rubber shield, possibly attached by self-adhesive tape would solve the problem.
3. There is no rubber atop the CF card door. This leaves a dip where the fingers falls across it. A hinged rubber cover would solve this.
4. There is no cover for the left side either. Although the ports are already covered by the camera mounted covers, the opening feels a bit unfinished.
5. The bottom of the cover encroaches on the battery door. This should be cut back.
6. The cover rolls just slightly under the bottom of the camera and stops, leaving the rest exposed. I solved this by cutting up an old mouse pad and double stick taping it to the bottom of the camera. If you ever had to use the side of a concrete building to steady a camera, you’ll know why this is important.
7. The raised icons over the buttons are really hard to see. Painting them white would return their functionality. Also it would be nice if the camera model was printed on the front.
8. The lens shield is ugly and makes the camera hard to drop into a bag. However front lens protection is very important. A thick rubber band that can be stretched around the front filter would go a long way to protect the lens.
9. Lastly, the rear LCD cover is redundant as Nikon already supplies one. However, a top LCD cover is really needed (or at least a precut self adhesive protector).
MADE has a nice and very useful product – I hope they continue to improve it.
Rating: 4 / 5
December 22nd, 2009 - 09:04
This armor makes me fill safer (against accidental hits. It allows to operate the camera with , say 90% of convenience compare with unarmed camera. Cost of the armor & protection value are adequant.
Rating: 4 / 5
December 22nd, 2009 - 10:51
Fundamentally I’d agree with the reviews already written, the product’s fitment isn’t perfect, but for the price and design I don’t really think you could do all that much better. I purchased the product mostly to save wear and tear and scratches and minor bumps when the camera is out doors etc. The lens armor isn’t terrible for the “pocket zoom” type lenses, but the lanyard for the lens cap retainer is extremely short and it doesn’t stay on all that well. I think I may end up ditching the lens portion for standard Nikon hoods. The lens hood was really just an “extra” to me, I’m not sure it adds a lot of protection anyways.
I can’t speak to the battery grip but the bottom of mine seems pretty unobtrusive, I’m not sure if they changed the design but it doesn’t look like anything more than some trimming would be necessary for the battery grip. I did notice the area where the compact flash door opens is a little too “tall” and will need a slight trim as well as the area around the battery door. Nothing a razor blade and a minute or two can’t handle, I’d prefer to have to trim a tiny bit and have a pretty substantial layer of protection in these areas rather than have the product made thinner anyways. The one area I genuinely wish was thinner is the main command dial area, it recesses the dial a bit and makes it slightly harder to use, though to some degree it makes all the controls a little harder to use, but not so much that I would call it a big issue. If you need the fastest possible use of the camera you might want to just go bare and take your chances.
One of the reviews I read somewhere mentioned problems with the lanyard rings, aside from removing the lanyard (I plan to get one with metal carabiners or clips of some sort for quick removal and safety) I had no issue stretching the rubber around the existing loops.
Rating: 4 / 5
December 22nd, 2009 - 11:50
If you have a D200, and only a d200, its a great way to protect the body against some dings and scratches. However I have the battery/grip attachment and protecting against superficial scratches is less important to me than doubling/tripling my battery life. The armor doesn’t fit right with the batter grip attached, so I don’t use the armor anymore. Too bad as it fit so well, and makes the camera easier to hold onto by the end of a day of shooting.
Rating: 3 / 5