Nikon F6, COOLPIX 7900, and AF-S VR Nikkor 200mm f/2G IF-ED Named with TIPA European Photo & Imaging Awards

Tokyo-Nikon Corporation is pleased to announce that the Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) has honored three Nikon products with significant awards this year. TIPA named the Nikon F6 Film SLR camera "Best 35mm SLR Camera in Europe 2005," the Nikon COOLPIX 7900 "Best Digital Compact Camera in Europe 2005," and the Nikon AF-S VR Nikkor 200mm f/2G IF-ED "Best Professional Lens in Europe 2005."

TIPA is a non-profit, independent professional organization open to all magazines within the European photo and imaging publishing industry. Each year a group of editor members representing leading photo and imaging magazines from across Europe choose the TIPA "European Photo & Imaging Award" winners by vote. These prestigious awards for the best photographic and imaging products of the year are widely recognized throughout the industry.

TIPA's official announcement included the following comments on the three winning products:

• The Best 35mm SLR Camera in Europe 2005-F6

  It seemed unlikely that the world would see true innovation in a new analog SLR camera, but Nikon have managed to prove everyone wrong and pull it off! With its robust build quality, its exceptional viewfinder, its incredibly accurate exposure system, and its fast and responsive autofocus, the Nikon F6 gives the dedicated film user all the benefits of the very latest developments in technology and ergonomics. It is without doubt the best analog SLR that has ever been produced, and will provide its owners with a tool that will never go out of fashion. Its rugged construction will last for many years-at least as long as film is available!

• The Best Digital Compact Camera in Europe 2005-COOLPIX 7900

  The Nikon COOLPIX 7900 incorporates several new features, which make it the "Best Digital Compact Camera 2005." The D-Lighting function adds light and detail to dark areas of shots, while leaving brighter areas unaffected. The In-Camera Red-Eye Fix function automatically detects and corrects red-eye in flash photos. The most innovative new function is Face-priority AF, which can automatically sense the presence of a human face in the frame and sets accurate focus accordingly.

• The Best Professional Lens in Europe 2005-AF-S VR Nikkor 200mm f/2G IF-ED

  This new ultra-sensitive long-focal length lens represents the new standard of today's optical technology. The 13 lens elements are stacked in 9 groups and produce a remarkable sharpness at the widest aperture of f/2, while at f/5.6 the results are exceptional. The AF-S system's internal motor provides fast, accurate and silent focusing, and the Vibration Reduction (VR) technology offers an optical stabilizer which allows slower shutter speeds when hand-holding. With a Nikon digital SLR, the lens gives the equivalent of a 300mm f/2, which is perfect for sport and wildlife shooting in low-light conditions.

The official award ceremony will take place in Cologne, Germany on June 16, 2005.