Outex Clear vs. Blue Covers: What's the Difference and Which Should You Choose?
Mar 26, 2019
Outex originally shipped with a blue cover (1st generation). The current default across all kits is the clear cover (2nd generation). Both are fully backwards compatible and interchangeable with all Outex glass ports, rear glass, and accessories — so if you own a blue cover, you can upgrade to clear at any time without replacing anything else in your system.
Here's what changed in the 2nd generation clear cover.
What Improved in the Clear (2nd Generation) Cover
1. Transparency
The most visible change is full transparency. With the clear cover you can see everything inside the housing at a glance — camera controls, buttons, dials, cables, triggers, and LCD screens. This makes it significantly easier to confirm your setup, monitor accessories, and operate the camera without guesswork.
2. Ease of Installation and Removal
The new material formulation is more elastic and flexible than the original blue cover, making it easier and faster to install and remove from any camera and lens combination. This reduces the time and effort required at the start and end of every shoot.
3. Durability
The 2nd generation formula is significantly more durable. Unlike the original blue material, the clear cover does not oxidise over time and is more resistant to humid and salt-air environments — an important advantage for photographers who shoot regularly in marine conditions.
4. Backwards Compatible with All Outex Gear
The clear cover is 100% interchangeable with the blue cover and with all existing Outex components — front glass ports, rear glass, dome ports, and accessories. You can start with a blue cover in a specific configuration and upgrade to the clear cover over time without replacing anything else.
The clear cover is now the default across all kits in the Outex online store. Some configurations may still show the blue cover image during the transition — if you have a preference or question about which version you will receive, note it in the order comments or contact the Outex support team.
See also: Upgrading from the Entry Kit to the Pro Kit.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Ready to Upgrade or Get Started?
Clear covers are available as part of complete kits in the Camera Kits section, or as individual replacement covers from the Parts page.