Skip to main content
Tech Radar Tech Radar TechRadar The source for Tech Buying Advice
Subscribe
RSS
(opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)
Asia
flag of Singapore
Singapore
Europe
flag of Danmark
Danmark
flag of Suomi
Suomi
flag of Norge
Norge
flag of Sverige
Sverige
flag of UK
UK
flag of Italia
Italia
flag of Nederland
Nederland
flag of België (Nederlands)
België (Nederlands)
flag of France
France
flag of Deutschland
Deutschland
flag of España
España
North America
flag of US (English)
US (English)
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of México
México
Australasia
flag of Australia
Australia
flag of New Zealand
New Zealand
Technology Magazines
(opens in new tab)
Technology Magazines (opens in new tab)
Why subscribe?
  • The best tech tutorials and in-depth reviews
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12.99
(opens in new tab)
View (opens in new tab)
  • News
  • Best
  • Reviews
  • Opinion
  • How To
  • Deals
  • More
    • Versus
    • Appliances
    • Audiovisual
    • Cameras
    • Car Tech
    • Computing
    • Coupons
    • Downloads
    • Entertainment
    • Fitness
    • Laptops
    • Phones
    • Smart Home
    • Tablets
    • TVs
    • Wearables
    • About Us
Tech Radar Pro
Tech Radar Gaming
Trending
  • iPhone 15
  • ChatGPT
  • Wordle clues
  • Best phones
  • Best VPN

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Cameras

Lens flair: 7 cameras that have had an extreme color makeover

By Phil Hall
published 2 August 2016

The good, the bad and the ugly of camera paint jobs

  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
Nikon Coolpix W100

Nikon Coolpix W100

Until recently, one decision you didn't have to make when deciding on what camera to get was what color you'd get it in. Cameras were pretty much all black, with the odd chrome/silver finish option available depending on the model you were looking at.

Manufacturers have got a little braver since then, with the likes of mirrorless cameras and tough compacts available in a raft of vibrant colors.

The arrival of the Nikon Coolpix W100 goes beyond that though, with a funky finish that certainly sets it apart from the crowd (if that's too much for you, its also available in a host of other colors). However, it's by no means the most outlandish makeover we've seen on a camera, which got us thinking about some of the more eye-catching paint jobs to grace a camera...

Page 1 of 8
Page 1 of 8
Nikon 1 J1 by Pimp Your Cam

Nikon 1 J1 by Pimp Your Cam

It wouldn't be too harsh to say that the Nikon 1 J1 looked a bit dull and boring from the front. German outfit PimpYourCam.com must have thought the same, using the flat front of the J1 as a blank canvas to create a range of distinctive and unique designs, including this Manga inspired graphic.

Page 2 of 8
Page 2 of 8
Nikon D4 by Pimp Your Cam

Nikon D4 by Pimp Your Cam

If you're jostling with a load of other pros on the touchline at a football match or in the scrum of a press pit and want to stand out from the crowd, why not let PimpYourCam.com take your £3500/$3800 Nikon D4 and set to work with this understated design?

Don't even think about putting a boring black lens on the front though - the £1500/$1600 85mm f/1.4 attached has come in for the same treatment as the body. Not everyone's cup of tea...we think we'll stick with black.

Page 3 of 8
Page 3 of 8
Panasonic Lumix XS1

Panasonic Lumix XS1

Panasonic has always been a bit conservative when it comes to the finishes they offer, so they certainly raised a few eyebrows a couple of years ago with the launch of these flashy design options to accompany their more traditional color options for the XS1 slimline compact camera.

Page 4 of 8
Page 4 of 8
Pentax K50

Pentax K50

Pentax didn't get the memo that DSLRs have to be black, offering the K50 in a choice of 20 body colours, with a combination of six grip colors. It was also possible to customise the color of the 18-55mm kit lens as well.

Page 5 of 8
Page 5 of 8
Pentax Q7

Pentax Q7

To add to the production nightmare Pentax inflicted on itself, they decided to do a similar color customisation with the Q7 mirrorless camera as well.

Page 6 of 8
Page 6 of 8
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

10 points if you can guess what's lurking under this paint finish? If you said a Canon EOS 7D, you be right...and also a little bit sad.

Known as the Sprinkles 7D, it was created by tech artist PJ Linden using dimensional paint.

Page 7 of 8
Page 7 of 8
Leica D-Lux 5 by ColorWare

Leica D-Lux 5 by ColorWare

Leica's not afraid to roll out a special edition camera with a tasteful paint job, but the trouble is, they can end up costing more than a decent car. However, down at the other end of the scale are a range of Leica compacts that are a bit more affordable, like the Panasonic based D-Lux 5.

Customisation service ColorWare.com will disassemble one for you and respray it in whatever color combination you want.

Page 8 of 8
Page 8 of 8
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
Phil Hall
Phil Hall
Social Links Navigation

Phil Hall is an experienced writer and editor having worked on some of the largest photography magazines in the UK, and now edit the photography channel of TechRadar, the UK's biggest tech website and one of the largest in the world. He has also worked on numerous commercial projects, including working with manufacturers like Nikon and Fujifilm on bespoke printed and online camera guides, as well as writing technique blogs and copy for the John Lewis Technology guide.

See more Cameras news
  1. Richard Montanez looks at someone while stacking shelves in Flamin' Hot
    1
    Hulu and Disney Plus will make streaming movie history in June – and it's about time
  2. 2
    Microsoft Teams is finally fixing one of its most jarring issues
  3. 3
    Klipsch’s 16-in subwoofer beast takes aim at the Sonos Sub to score a low end win
  4. 4
    ChatGPT outage: what happened, when it returned, and more
  5. 5
    ChatGPT lands on Wear OS watches to give you a smarter voice assistant
  1. Vecna stares directly into the camera in Stranger Things season 4
    1
    Stranger Things season 5 is about to hit the big Marvel and Star Wars problem
  2. 2
    Hulu and Disney Plus will make streaming movie history in June – and it's about time
  3. 3
    How to get a domain name for free
  4. 4
    Forget OLED or Dolby Atmos – the most exciting TV tech this year is the end of cables
  5. 5
    6 seriously useful things my Galaxy S23 can do that the iPhone 14 Pro can't
Technology Magazines
(opens in new tab)
  • ●
Technology Magazines (opens in new tab)
  • The best tech tutorials and in-depth reviews
From$12.99
(opens in new tab)
View (opens in new tab)

TechRadar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab).

  • About Us (opens in new tab)
  • Contact Us (opens in new tab)
  • Terms and conditions (opens in new tab)
  • Privacy policy (opens in new tab)
  • Cookies policy (opens in new tab)
  • Advertise with us (opens in new tab)
  • Web notifications (opens in new tab)
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers (opens in new tab)

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.