2004 photography and imaging awards announced

The http://www.tipa.com/awa_2004.lasso has announced its annual photographic awards honoring products and technologies of special merit in the fields of photography and imaging and the leading players have all taken important gongs. Canon won the Best Professional Digital SLR Camera for its EOS 1D MkII while Nikon won the Best Consumer Digital SLR Camera for the D70. The TIPA editors also decided to give Canon a Special Breakthrough Award to commemorate the break-through Canon EOS 300D which will go into history as a milestone event - the first time, digital SLR-photography became available at a consumer-level price.The Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) is an independent association of writers and editors representing 31 publications in 12 European nations, and annually presents the awards during Photokina 2004, the world's largest photographic and imaging-related exhibition, in Cologne, Germany, in September. Best Consumer Digital SLR Camera: Nikon D70 The Nikon D70 is a very capable digital SLR camera with very few compromises, even though it is offered at a very attractive price. It even has some features not found on more expensive digital SLR bodies, making it the best value for money in the digital SLR arena. Best Professional Digital SLR Camera: Canon EOS 1D MkII The Canon EOS 1D MkII has redefined the parameters for high-end digital SLRs. By combining the speed required by the dedicated sports photographer with image quality suitable for demanding commercial photography, the EOS 1D MkII is able to serve both types of photographer equally well, and was therefore chosen by the TIPA jury as the Best D-SLR Professional.Best Digital Budget Compact Camera: Olympus Camedia C-310 Zoom