The Camera Muzzle, a sound muffling enclosure for Canon and Nikon digital SLRs, has been redesigned to improve both its usability and noise squelching capabilities.

Changes in the new Camera Muzzle version include:

Improved sound reduction It's still soft sided, but the use of new muffling material and the elimination of all remaining velcro on openings add up to a quieter Camera Muzzle experience.

Larger rear LCD window The clear window on the back of the Camera Muzzle has been made bigger, to accommodate the rear LCD and nearby buttons of newer cameras such as the EOS-1D Mark III, EOS-1Ds Mark III and Nikon D3.

Tripod mount access The bottom now incorporates an opening through to the tripod socket on the base of the camera. The opening itself sports a metal grommet for durability. The standard-length 1/4"-20 stud of a typical tripod or other mount may not be long enough to attach securely to the camera's base, which means the mounting stud will need to be lengthened by about 1/4". Some heads allow for the stud depth to be adjusted, including the Manfrotto Magic Arm's camera plate,

Expanded compartment opening To ease camera insertion, the zippered opening on the Camera Muzzle has been made a bit larger.

As before, the Camera Muzzle is available in a single version meant to fit best on the larger digital SLR bodies in Canon's and Nikon's lineup going back several years. A foam block is included that, when placed inside at the bottom of slightly shorter pro models, helps hold the camera snugly in place. The same foam block can be turned on its taller side to absorb extra space when the Camera Muzzle is used with much smaller midrange models such as Canon's EOS 20D/30D/40D and Nikon's D200/D300.

Also as before, the Camera Muzzle comes with an optional lens baffle built to fit 70-200mm f/2.8-sized lenses from both camera makers. The eyepiece opening of the new version fits well around both Canon and Nikon cameras, but Nikon users will still benefit from using an eyecup.