Protective silicone skin for your digital camera

We’re not sure what the current product lifecycle is for digital cameras but our guess is that a lot of people must have had the same idea about waterproofing digital cameras about 18 months to two years ago because we keep seeing new ideas around the basic concept. Pentax announced today the limited availability of a protective, silicone Skin for the OptioWP digital camera which looks good, costs just US$20 and deserves to be available for all digital cameras. Custom-made to protect the popular waterproof camera, the PENTAX OptioWP Skin helps prevent surface scratches and dents, offers a non-slip surface and retains the compact, elegant shape of the camera. The translucent, non-toxic, versatile Skin material will stretch and give to fit snugly around the camera and offer an anti-static finish to further repel moisture and dust. We’ve recently written about the Ricoh Caplio 400G ruggedised camera, underwater cases for most common cameras and the WaveCase, a shockproof and waterproof casing that fits 95% of all cell phones enabling them to be used underwater, turning the average camera-phone into an underwater camera.

Made of high-quality, flexible and durable silicone, PENTAX OptioWP Skins will be available exclusively online from PENTAX Imaging Company at a cost of US$19.95 beginning September 1, 2005.

"A go-anywhere digital camera may fall victim to wear and tear, but clad in one of these new must-have Skins, an OptioWP can remain as fresh as the day it comes out of the box," said Ned Bunnell, director of marketing, PENTAX Imaging Company.

Along with the launch of the Skin, PENTAX unveiled the www.H2Ocamera.com microsite devoted exclusively to PENTAX OptioWP owners and potential owners. Between now and September 30, 2005, visitors to the microsite may enter to win one of 50 OptioWP Skins to go with their digital camera.

Other waterproof camera concepts from recent times are:

The Ricoh Caplio 400G seeks to fill the ruggedised camera void, being a high performance digital camera that is water and dust resistant, making it the perfect companion for outdoor enthusiasts.

The PT-E01 underwater case enables you to take an 8 megapixel Olympus E-300 digital SLR camera safely underwater, with a range of lens ports to enable different lenses to be used, plus an entire flash set-up.

The WaveCase is a new shockproof and waterproof casing that fits 95% of all cell phones has been released onto the German market for a price under 50 Euros. The WaveCase is so waterproof that it can be used underwater, turning the average cameraphone into an underwater camera capable of catching your holiday snaps above and below the water.