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November 12, 2004– And the awards go to… the Olympus Stylus Verve and the Canon EOS 20D. The Digital Imaging Websites Association (DIWA) announced today that their first Design Award goes to the aesthetically pleasing Verve, while the Canon 20D brought home a Gold Award for "outstanding image quality and excellent performance."
The Olympus Stylus Verve was applauded for its unconventional look. Instead of a rectangular symmetrical camera, the Verve has a smoothed oval form that comes in six colors. DIWA also approved the modest price; their press release stated, "Unlike many other design products, the Olympus Stylus Verve is not an over-priced collector’s item for the few, but a useful imaging tool for the design conscious lifestyle enthusiast." DIWA did not just give the award for an eye-pleaser, but considered other factors such as placement of dials, size of the LCD screen and ergonomics. The group found the large function dial and 1.8-inch LCD screen useful and the fit comfortable and user-friendly.
The Canon EOS 20D received a Gold Award from DIWA for its 8.2 megapixels, low noise, 5 frames-per-second shooting speed, accurate color reproduction, and quick start-up. The prosumer camera was lauded for raising the bar for DSLRs without raising the price.
"Built on the heritage of Canon’s renowned EOS SLR camera system, the EOS 20D has a robust, ergonomic body with familiar design and layout for comfortable handling," said Kai Thon, DIWA’s test manager. "By implementing their latest technologies, Canon has added more flexibility, higher precision and faster performance, still maintaining an affordable price."