EISA (European Imaging and Sound Association) is the association of 50 special interest magazines from 20 European countries. Every year, the editors of the magazines meet to select the new products that they believe will impact the photo industry the most. [Besides photo related products, EISA also votes on 6 other categories: Audio, Home Theater, In-Car Electronics, Video, Mobile Devices and Green.]
The Nikon D800 wins the year’s best Camera award and the Nikon D4 takes home the best Professional Camera of the year award.
The awards for the mirrorless DSLR group may prove contentious to some: the Fujifilm X-Pro1 takes the top Professional Compact System Camera award, the Samsung NX20 snatches the Advanced Compact System Camera award, while the Olympus OM-D E-M5 has to contend itself with the Compact System Camera award. Bravo to Samsung for a strong showing, proving that it is steadily establishing itself as a camera brand to be reckon with.
In the Compact System group, the Sony RX100 edges out the Canon G1 X.
The Sony HX20V is voted the best Travel Camera while the Olympus TOUGH TG-1 is the winner of the All Weather Camera award.
It should also be noted that the Nokia PureView Pro Imaging Technology [as found in the Nokia 808 PureView] wins the Mobile Photo Achievement award for its innovative, non-destructive digital zoom based on a 40MP resolution image sensor.
See all the 16 best of for 2011-2012 in the Photo category:
| AWARD | PRODUCT |
| Best Camera | Nikon D800 |
| Professional Camera | Nikon D4 |
| Advanced SLR | Canon EOS 5D Mark III |
| SLR Camera | Sony SLT-A57 |
| Professional Compact System Camera | Fujifilm X-Pro1 |
| Advanced Compact System Camera | Samsung NX20 |
| Compact System Camera | Olympus OM-D E-M5 |
| Advanced Compact Camera | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 |
| Compact Camera | Canon PowerShot G1 X |
| Travel Camera | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V |
| All Weather Camera | Olympus TOUGH TG-1 |
| Best Lens | Tamron SP 24-70mm F2.8 Di VC USD |
| Macro Lens | Sigma APO Macro 150mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM |
| Compact System Lens | Panasonic LUMIX G X VARIO 12-35mm F2.8 ASPH |
| Photo Printer | Canon PIXMA Pro-1 |
| Photo Software | Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4 |