Author: | | New Member Registered: February, 2015 Location: Southern California Posts: 6 | Review Date: October 30, 2016 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | Easy to install, unnoticeable | Cons: | None | | I thought about this screen protector kit when I came across an old Canon point & shoot with a broken screen I had stored away. The screen was broken during a Mardi Gras parade, very last float came by while I was checking out some of the pictures I took earlier and BAM!- the screen got hit with a string of beads.
I have had the ACMAXX LCD Armor kit installed on my K-3 for over a year and a half and am still very happy with the purchase. I got the kit on Ebay, from a seller who sells a lot of these kits and has great feedback. The installation went smoothly and I don't notice that they on the camera (in comparison to the protector I put on my tablet that was more nerve-racking to install and ended up with bubbles that won't go away *OR* versus any device I didn't put a protector on and the screen got cracked or scratched...). I haven't full tested the effectiveness of the screen protector against Mardi Gras beads yet, maybe next year.
Edit: I realized the price I paid ($18.99) was higher, than what they are currently going for so I deleted the price
| | | | | Seeker of Knowledge Registered: August, 2016 Location: Topeka, Kansas Posts: 24,583 | Review Date: October 24, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $15.00
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | quick response to order, easy to fit, works without problems | Cons: | | | haven't had this item long but wanted to let you folks know that I ordered the one designed for the K 3 and the one designed for K 5 II and received it in two days
it was not damaged and was extremely easy to fit.
hopefully nothing in the future will cause me problems.
rated an 8 only because I have not had much time to use it yet.
********************* I have now had it for some time, no problems so bump my rating to a 10 ****************
| | | | Closed Account Registered: May, 2012 Location: Biddinghuizen, the Netherlands Posts: 54 | Review Date: May 1, 2015 | Not Recommended | Price: $18.00
| Rating: 3 |
Pros: | quick response on eBay | Cons: | main protector is too small for LCD screen | | I ordered this LCD protector and received it after a few weeks.
The biggest protector is too small for the K-3's LCD-screen and was damaged in a corner.
I contacted "onlinefred62" and explained what had happened. The answer is the same he gives to everyone with a complaint: WE CAN HELP! and after that it is a big radio-silence.
I certainly do not recommend this eBay-shop! Waisted money!
| | | | Otis Memorial Pentaxian Registered: March, 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Posts: 42,007 | Review Date: August 15, 2014 | Not Recommended | Price: $18.99
| Rating: 6 |
Pros: | Durable, available for K-3 | Cons: | Appearance, fit, QC | | *** Review for the ACMAXX protector as made for the Pentax K-3 ***
The ACMAXX is one of the few rigid non-film/foil rear LCD protectors available specifically for the Pentax K-3. This protector is well thought of on Pentax Forums and is available for sale in N. America through the eBay vendor onlinefred62 (dba Momitsu Technology USA) for $18.99 USD (as of the date of this review) plus $2.39 shipping. What you get
The package for the K-3 contains two hard polycarbonate plastic protectors, a larger one for the rear LCD and a smaller one for the top LCD. Both have a bright silver-toned border and a dark mask around the outside edge. The protectors are well-finished, have a top/bottom protective sheets and adhere to the body using a silicone adhesive. Installation
Installation is straight forward or at least it is intended to be. Simply:- Clean the LCD and adjacent body surfaces free of soil and fingerprints
- Remove the underside protective sheeting
- Carefully place the protector on/over the LCD
- Press down firmly to secure
If the protector is not positioned to your liking you can pry the screen up and reposition. The adhesive retains tack for some time after the film is removed.
Although the install tasks are simple, complications may arise due to the possibility of a badly sized protector. The rear LCD on the K-3 resides in a shallow indentation on the camera back. The protector must be made large enough to set on the upper rim of the indentation or be cut small enough to fit directly on the LCD itself. The issue of fit
The unit I was sent was cut slightly too small to set cleanly on the rim and slightly too large to fit inside the indentation. As a result, a clean mount to the camera without gaps was not possible. I contacted the seller and was able to determine the following:- Expected dimensions: 71mm x 50mm
- My unit: 72mm x 51mm
According to the seller, the intent is for the screen to set on the rim. Hmmmm...I don't see that happening. He offered to replace mine with a unit sized somewhat smaller to allow it to mount to the LCD itself:- Suggested replacement: 68.5mm x 48mm
Two days later I received the replacement unit:- Actual size of replacement unit: 70mm x 49mm
This is not very impressive. So far nothing has been sized as expected. Success (sort of)
The replacement rear protector did install nicely directly on the LCD surface with very little gap height-wise and about 1.5mm total gap width-wise. A 71mm x 49mm protector would have been a near perfect fit. I decided to count myself lucky and accept the second protector as good enough. I am glad they did not send the one they said they were sending.
Clearly there is some confusion in the land of ACMAXX over the expected dimensions for the rear LCD on the K-3. In regards to thickness, the protector is about 1mm thick with at least half that thickness protruding above the rim of the rear LCD indentation.
The top LCD is a fair bit smaller than the actual surface of the LCD cover glass, but there is no cropping of the LCD display itself and the too small size is not particularly critical. How is it in use?
Light transmittance is good and the excellent contrast and detail of the K-3 display is retained for the most part. The anti-reflection coating on the protector is only marginally effective, but over all, I don't think it is much worse than the unprotected screen. Here are a few example photos:
What it looks like
Add a little reflection
Note the gap at the left side of the protector showing the LCD glass. There is a similar (narrower) gap at the right side that is not visible in this photo. The protector could be a little wider. Pro:- Responsive eBay seller
- Sturdy
- Scratch resistance is about the same as the polycarbonate LCD screens found on earlier Pentax dSLRs
- Adhesive works real well and protector is easy to remove with no detectable residue
- Light transmission and contrast is very good
Con:- Sizing issues seem to be the rule (based on personal experience and posts by other users on the Pentax Forums)
- Anti-reflection surface is ineffective on top surface, but not hugely so
- Silver margin does not appeal to my taste. It might look better on a silver-body camera.
- A little thick compared to products such as the glass protectors made by GGS
Conclusion:
This protector, when properly sized and fitted stays in place and does its job. I would anticipate that its resistance to damage should be about the same as the polycarbonate surface on older model Pentax dSLRs. The silver margin does not appeal to me, but that is a matter of taste.
I marked this protector as Not Recommended for the K-3 due to the apparent variability in size as delivered to the customer. On a recent thread (LINK), many users report perfect fit while others (myself included) had sizing problems. It is apparent that there is a problem with quality control or the distributors are not packaging the correct screens for the target camera. The seller is very responsive, but that is no substitute for getting it right the first time. The product fit may be perfectly acceptable on models intended for other Pentax cameras and my NR rating should not be automatically extended to those other cameras.
* I should note that the eBay seller made a point that the protector is intended to set above the LCD on the rim of the indentation. A little larger protector would be indicated for that case. I don't know how well that would work optically or whether there would be an issue of trapping moisture in the vicinity of the LCD.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: September, 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Posts: 12,285 | Review Date: August 28, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $15.00
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | Works, easy to install, fits properly | Cons: | silver outline - why? | | I have the ACMAXX LCD Armor on my K-5. I like that the top screen and back are both protected, that the shields fit properly, and that they have stayed in place with 0 movement for 10 months+. I had a strap connector put a ding in my K-r back screen and thought - why? So I looked here at PF and found that the ACMAXX LCD Armor was very well thought of and went ahead and ordered it. Have never regretted that decision. | | | | Veteran Member Registered: November, 2009 Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 507 | Review Date: August 28, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $10.00
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | easily to install, protects screens | Cons: | | | I've had these protectors installed on both my K10D and K20D for a few years now and they work great. The top protector goes on easily and the back one installs just as easily but can be a bit tricky to keep all dust out while installing. For the price this is an excellent bargain and a well needed upgrade for any camera.
| | | | Veteran Member Registered: March, 2011 Location: Virginia Posts: 2,846 | Review Date: August 23, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $20.00
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | Great protection, looks sharp, perfect fit | Cons: | none | | The Acmaxx is my favorite LCD protector. I used one on my K-r for 1 1/2 years and it faithfully protected the LCD during that time without even absorbing any scratches itself. The first thing I bought for my K-30 was another Acmaxx protector. The fit is perfect and covers the entire LCD screen. It has a nice thin silvery border and, to me, looks like it could have come with the camera. Once stuck, it will not come off unless you want it to. In that case, just use a piece of dental floss to loosen one of the edges and you can pry it right off.
I don't think you can get better protection for your DSLR's LCD.
| | | | Veteran Member Registered: September, 2011 Location: California Posts: 369 | Review Date: March 20, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $15.00
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | Fits Perfectly, Thick | Cons: | None | | Bought this on eBay for both of my bodies (K100D Super & K10D). I love how they make it fit all for brands bodies and it provides a thick protector over your LCD screen! | | | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: May, 2009 Location: West Lafayette, Indiana, USA Posts: 827 | Review Date: January 3, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $15.00
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | Price, durability | Cons: | | | I have used these on both my K20D for 2.5 years and now on my K5.
They are easy to apply, and do not come off. The surface can be cleaned and polished to remove smudges, oil, etc.
The screen darkens the LCD only slightly, and does not scratch easily. They come in two pieces, one for the back screen and the other for the top screen. They fit perfectly, and once applied, do not come off or slip around (the manufacturer recommends using a hot hair dryer to soften the adhesive if you wish to remove it).
I highly recommend them if you hate the thought of scratches on your LCD screens.
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