If you've read my previous review you'll know that for my birthday earlier this year I received a brand spanking new digital camera. Along with this I received a case in which to carry it and protect the camera whilst out and about. The case I received was the Crumpler P.P.70, which I'd picked out beforehand.

Available in 4 colours; silver, red, black and brown, I opted for the red, which I thought stood out against the jet-black camera I received. Whilst I was specifically given this to store my camera, it is also suitable for carrying other small electronic devices such as mp3 players or mobile phones. It is priced between £8 and £17 with the cheaper prices available online.

What initially drew me to this case was its stylish design. Made out of a super-soft material called neoprene, it is extremely lightweight (this is the same material that laptop sleeves and wet suits are made out of). This was an important criterion for me as I'd opted for a small, lightweight camera that I wanted to carry around with me at all times (you never know when you'll have that Kodak moment!) and I didn't want to be weighed down by a heavy case. The case is slightly padded to offer extra protection, though it is worth bearing in mind that this will only really offer protection against minor knocks and scrapes. Should the camera fall from a bit of a height I don't think the case will protect it all that much. However, for carrying around in my bag this seemed ideal.

The front has some zig-zag stitch detail which I think makes it look quite funky. Also embossed on the front is the Crumpler logo - a little man with spiky hair, who reminds me very much of the 7UP cartoon character. The case is opened using a zip that runs along 3 of the sides, so that the pouch opens up rather like a book. The zip looks particularly sturdy and well stitched and in 8 months use has not caused me any problems. The zip has been specially designed on the inside so that it doesn't scratch the item it's trying to protect. One point of concern for me was the opening - I am weary of opening the zip all the way round as it could result in my camera falling out if I'm not careful. For this reason I only open two sides of the zip when taking the camera out.

The inside of the case is grey in colour and there is a mesh pocket that spans one side of the case, which is handy for carrying a spare memory card (or earphones if you're thinking of purchasing this for an mp3 player). The case also has a long, detachable strap attached to it for when you may want to carry this around your neck. I don't really use this but leave it on as it makes my camera easier to locate when in my bag! Still it's a useful feature that I thought was worth mentioning.

The material also fares well against small spillages (for example when my water bottle leaked in my bag) in which case the case was fairly wet but my camera was dry inside it. Had the spillage been any larger though I suspect the camera would have become wet.

The pouch has a width of 6.2 cm, a height of 10cm and a depth of 3cm. However to be sure that this would fit the camera I wanted to buy I visited Currys and tried to fit the model of the camera on display inside it and I would suggest that if you're considering purchasing this you should do the same. My camera fits snugly inside and has been well protected in the 8 months of continued use. The case is very well-made and still looks like new! Overall I am very pleased with this camera pouch and would recommend it highly.