Camera Labs

As you can guess from the subject, this is a plastic hard cover to protect the LCD screen. I think it is a fairly new product as it certainly didn't exist when I originally bought the A350.

Just got mine today, which is great timing as my digicover was starting to peel in one corner.



It is held on by 3 tabs left right and bottom. It is easy to clip on and seems very stable so I don't have any concerns of it falling off. In fact the only time I tried to remove it, I found it hard without using a lot of force which I felt might cause the tabs to break.

The left side tab gets a bit close to the trash button which I just realised I never used. You can just pull the screen out a bit if you do find the cover getting in the way.



If you thought the LCD screen got in the way when using the viewfinder, this protector isn't for you. It adds another few mm to the thickness. I have no issues with visibility of the cover indoors. Haven't tried it outdoors in sun yet but I can't imagine it being much worse than the LCD is by itself.

There is a gap at the top which could let in dust between the protector and screen. Will have to wait an see if this is much of a problem in practice.

Initial thoughts comparing it to the digicover: the digicover's advantage is it is much thinner so doesn't change the overall physical size of the screen, whereas the plastic cover does. I hope never to put it to the test, but the plastic cover should provide more screen protection than the digicover film in case of a hard impact. So overall the digicover is ideal for lightweight scratch prevention, but the hard cover provides more protection. The cover is much easier to fit than the digicover film.

Similar models exist for other cameras in the range.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Was it expensive and do you feel that it's worth the money?

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PhilipGoh.com

It's expensive as a piece of plastic, but not expensive as far as camera equipment goes. The value will have to wait and see how it performs over time. If you want to protect the screen, this is a simple add on to do so. Easier to fit than thin plastic films and offers more protection, at the practical cost of taking up more space.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

I got my plastic screen cover free with my D80

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I've upped my Iso, now up yours.
Nikon D700, Nikon D80, Micro Nikkor 105 f2.8 AI-S,Nikon 85mm 1.8D, Nikon 50mm 1.8D, Nikon 35mm F2D, Nikon 16-35 f4 VR, Nikon 24-70mm F2.8 AF-S, Nikon 70-200VRII, Nikon 70-300mm VR, 300mm f2.8 AI IF ED, SB-800, SB-900. Noiseware pro,NIK Dfine, Nik Colour Effex, Nik Sharpener Pro

Pieces of plastic tend to be expensive in the world of photography. Hotshoe covers, lens caps, lens hoods, diffusers, you name it!

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Graham
Flickr

A reveiw about the LCD-protector? Not something I would have expected.

However, I strongly recomment getting one of these with your camera, because they work well in practise. Had one on my A700 from the first second and the protector has collected quite some damage (small, but I wouldn't like to see it on the monitor itself). It also stops sweat and other body fluids from touching the screen.

For me, there's only one disadvantage, which is probably only important for A700 and A900-users: the magnificence of the 921k dot screen seems a little decreased by the protector: the resolution or sharpness appears a bit lower.

Apart from that, it's a must-have accessory for all you shooters out there!

- Bjorn -

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Street and documentary photographer | Google+ | Twitter | Tumblr

Leica M9-P (my article on Camera Labs) | Leica D-Lux 5 | 50mm Summilux

Why not review it? It's a sold accessory that isn't included as standard. And from a search I did before buying, I couldn't find any information about it elsewhere.

Actually, when I got the A350, I didn't think they would be able to do a protector as the screen sticks out, not recessed like many others. I assumed the little ribs were for grip, which I guess is still correct, only used differently...

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

I never knew it existed.
Anyways, i got one for my camera and it works great. I feel a lot more comfortable now. Not that the LCD-screen is that important to me, but i didn't like the thought of it hanging of my shoulder, and scratching on my jacket or whatever i wear.
It's a great little piece of plastic.

One thing - you mentioned it too popo - is that there's a little gap where dust can get in. But also sand. I got one scartch in the middle of the screen. And its on both the screen and the screen protector. So it was sand i think. That's the only negative thing for me

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Sonyian?

My Flickr - Comments very welcome
Gear: a200, Sony 18-70 3.5-5.6 DT, Minolta 50 1.7 AF, Lowepro TLZ Mini, GorillaPod SLR Zoom
Saving for Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX HSM Macro II (50%)

I wonder if it's worth putting a small strip of tape over the gap to stop stuff getting in that way?

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Well, i think it is
Maybe i should try that.

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Sonyian?

My Flickr - Comments very welcome
Gear: a200, Sony 18-70 3.5-5.6 DT, Minolta 50 1.7 AF, Lowepro TLZ Mini, GorillaPod SLR Zoom
Saving for Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX HSM Macro II (50%)

Update!

I was using the A350 today at the same time as the 50D, so I had two cameras round my neck and two bags on me at the time. I was changing the lens on the A350 and next thing I knew something fell to the floor. Looking down it was the screen protector. I think I knocked it side on while wrestling with all the kit. Anyway, as I wanted to get ready for wildlife shots quickly, I just stuffed it in my bag and thought no more of it at the time. Now that I'm home and looked at it again, it looks like the plastic tabs which hold it on snapped, so it isn't going to fit again. On that note, while it can protect the screen from a more direct face on impact, it wasn't so tough side on.

I don't think I'll get another one. Although higher cost, there's an ultra-thin glass one from another company I think I'll look at.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

I have been reading about this protector on the net over at other places and it seems that this is a major dust collector! not to mention that it also tends to scratch the LCD.

I use a film protector for my A300. The same one that fits onto my Imate KJam's touch screen. It's cheap and doesn't feel like there's something in the way!

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Sony A300 | SAL 18-70 | SAL 75-300
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