DIWA Press Release

Last year, the 4 Megapixel Canon PowerShot A520 received a DIWA Gold Award for excellent test results. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the 7.1 Megapixel PowerShot A620, passes the merciless DIWA test procedure with an impressive scoreboard.  With its comfortable and user-friendly design, high image quality, flexible lens construction, and budget-friendly price, the A620 has all it takes to deserve a DIWA Gold medal.

Amsterdam, 26. May, 2006: DIWA (Digital Imaging Websites Association), a world-wide organisation of collaborating websites, today announces a DIWA Gold Award to the Canon PowerShot A620 digital compact amateur camera.

The PowerShot A620 outperforms most mini-compacts, primarily thanks to its bigger size. Added performance is provided by the larger lens, with 4x zoom power, 1 cm macro and optional telephoto- and wide converters, its comfortable grip housing a battery chamber for readily available, inexpensive and popular AA batteries, and not to forget the flexible 2” LCD screen, which may be adjusted to any viewing angle. With its 7.1 Megapixel image resolution, the A620 delivers ample image size for very large prints, with a multitude of alternative sizes and compression ratios. Furthermore, the camera has adopted all advantages from its predecessor, such as 9-points AiAF auto focus, a quick functions menu, scene selections, VGA high quality movie and much more. It also delivers slow motion movies.

Kai Thon, DIWA’s test manager, comments: “In terms of popularity, the PowerShot A-series is left in the shadow of its smaller Digital IXUS siblings within the Canon family. From a photographic viewpoint, it should be vice-versa. The PowerShot A620 is definitely an amateur camera if ranked by price alone, but it certainly performs like an advanced camera. According to the DIWA test results, the A620 ranks as one of the most complete compact cameras available”.

If handling ease and image quality is more important than miniature size, the Canon PowerShot A620 is a wise choice. The wide selection of automatic and manual settings suits both beginners and experienced hobby photographers. To satisfy even demanding users, the A620 offers Canon’s advanced iSAPS exposure, focus and white balance system and the fast DIGIC image processor that allows continuous shooting at 1.9 fps and VGA movie. The benefits of a larger camera body also include a more powerful flash, an optical viewfinder, a flexible 2” LCD-screen and still provide room for comfortable camera handling.

All DIWA experts who had the pleasure of investigating the PowerShot A620 found its performance, handling, versatility and value for money to be excellent, well worthy of a DIWA Gold Award.

About DIWA

A fast growing independent, authoritative, industry organization
The Digital Imaging Websites Association (DIWA) is a fast growing group of independent Web-based specialist publications dedicated to digital imaging. DIWA harnesses the collective talent and expertise of its members, resulting in industry awards that command unparalleled confidence and value, both for consumers and the industry, alike. DIWA awards come in the form of bronze, silver and gold medals for various product categories.

Unique bullet-proof test scoring procedure
DIWA product test awards are exclusively decided through the analysis of multiple test scores from different DIWA testers, testing different samples of the same product. A very detailed and comprehensive standardized scoring procedure is employed, tailored carefully for each category of product. Multiple testing eliminates the chance of an isolated, unrepresentative product sample or test error, or even hidden bias, from affecting the trustworthiness of the overall result.

Awards throughout the year
DIWA is also unique in its policy in issuing awards for deserving products throughout the year, culminating in an annual best of the year Platinum medal awards in all product categories.

DIWA Awards members
- Canada: www.photoxels.com
- Czech Republic:  www.fotoaparat.cz
- Denmark:  www.digitalmagasinet.dk
- Germany:  www.digitalkamera.de
- Netherlands:  www.letsgodigital.org
- Norway:  www.digit.no
- Poland:  www.fotopolis.pl
- Slovenia:  www.e-fotografija.com
- Spain:  www.nuevafotografia.com
- Turkey:  www.diginorm.com.tr
- United Kingdom:  www.photographyblog.com

The DIWA multi-lingual Web site
At the heart of the DIWA organisation is its multi-lingual Web site, www.diwa-awards.com, where you can find links to the latest reviews published by DIWA member publications. The site also archives DIWA awards and is designed to aid consumers in their choice of imaging products.

For further information about DIWA please visit our Web site - http://www.diwa-awards.com - or email us at [email protected]