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Pentax's faceplate-swapping RS1000 reviewed, a good choice if you're on a strict budget
Sadly the Nanoblock-fronting NB1000 looks destined only for Japan, but Pentax is at least blessing those abroad with its RS1000 which, with its customizable and hot-swappable faceplates, offers you a modicum of two-dimensional customization. That cam has been reviewed over at Photography Blog, with the conclusion being that you won't be dazzled by the cam's features nor image quality, but for the $120 MSRP (closer to $99 street price) you could do a lot worse. That's especially true since you get 720p video and a 4x zoom out of the deal -- though an inability to zoom while filming means those two features remain somewhat mutually exclusive.
Pentax announces customizable cameras, faceplate-swapping RS1000 and Lego-loving NB1000
Sure, you can buy compact cameras in dozens of garish and offensive colors, but what if you're the sort who craves a different garish and offensive color every day of the week? You need the $150 Pentax RS1000, a 14.1 megapixel shooter with a 4x optical zoom, 720p video recording, and faceplate that's just four screws away from getting lost. Using the Personal Skin Designer app you can craft your own custom cover (the first one is free), meaning you could be just a few clicks away from having that brick of a camera look like a real brick. Far more exciting, however, is the identically spec'd NB1000 and its Nanoblock connectors, which are a lot like Lego but smaller and presumably cheaper to license. With that you can truly shape whatever you want, like the above safari scene, which makes this model particularly pocket unfriendly. Both cameras are set to release later this year, though the Lego-esque NB1000 is tragically destined only for kids of all ages in Japan.
