The annual meeting of the Technical Image Press Association to vote for the best photographic and imaging products in 2011 was held on 9 April 2011 in Istanbul, Turkey. This year at the TIPA General Assembly 29 member magazines voted for the best product in each category. They also discussed and approved certain internal rules and most importantly the Board proposal of partnership with the Camera Journal Press Club (CJPC) of Japan that associates 11 photography magazines in Japan. In the same way TIPA will represent its member magazines in the CJPC. The General Assembly selected the best photo and imaging products in 2011 in 40 categories. So far in 21 years the association has given to the world photo and imaging industry over 430 awards for products from over 70 companies from 15 countries. TIPA has member magazines from nine European countries plus Australia, Canada, China, USA and South Africa. Today, with the affiliation of the CJPC of Japan, it is able to reach more than 10 million enthusiastic photography amateurs and professionals in the world.
Best Fine Art Inkjet Paper: HARMAN by Hahnemühle, series HARMAN Professional Inkjet by Hahnemühle offers a wide range of impressive archival papers in baryta, cotton base and canvas finishes in both warm and cold tone varieties. The photographer can choose whatever paper fits their visual tastes and needs. TIPA members were impressed by the papers themselves, as well as their appeal to traditional darkroom printmakers in that they have all the most laudable characteristics of the best silver papers of the past now available for inkjet printmakers.
Best Entry Level Lens: Tamron SP 70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di VC USD This premium, state-of-the-art, telephoto zoom lens provides users of full-frame and APS-C format digital SLR cameras with a myriad of features that make it stand out in the telephoto zoom class. Built to exacting SP (Super Performance) standards, it features the firstever Tamron USD (Ultrasonic Silent Drive) for enhanced auto-focusing speed and responsiveness. To assist in handheld, low light shooting the SP 70-300mm incorporates VC (Vibration Compensation); Tamron’s exclusive low-friction tri-axial image stabilisation system. April 21, 2011 Tamron SP 70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di VC USD (Model A005) wins Best Entry Level Lens at TIPA Awards 2011 60th anniversary model that delivers both best-in-class resolution and easy operation. Optical equipment manufacturer Tamron Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Saitama City, Japan / President and CEO: Morio Ono) that celebrates its 60th anniversary last year has won Best Entry Level Lens at the TIPA Awards with its SP 70 300mm F/4-5.6 Di VC USD (Model A005) telephoto zoom lens for full-frame digital SLR cameras. That lens has won Tamron two of the top photography awards in Europe along following its winning of European Zoom Lens 2010-2011 at the EISA Awards. This telephoto zoom lens has been highly praised by editors and technical writers of Europe’s top photography magazines for its best-in-class resolution and great ease of use.
Reason for winning TIPA award
This premium, state-of-the-art, telephoto zoom lens supports full-frame and APS-C format digital SLR cameras. It includes many features that make it stand out even amongst other products in the telephoto zoom class. Built to exacting Superior Performance (SP) standards, it features Tamron’s first application of an Ultrasonic Silent Drive (USD) for enhanced auto-focusing speed and responsiveness. The SP 70-300mm also incorporates Tamron’s exclusive Vibration Compensation (VC) lowfriction tri-axial image stabilization system to demonstrate impressive capabilities even in handheld, low light shooting. 
Best Professional Flash System: Broncolor Senso The Broncolor Senso series combines easily controllable flash power and compact size. The Senso power pack is available in two power versions, offering 13 to 1200 or 26 to 2400 joules (Ws) flash energy for up to three lamps in two channels. Appealing and practical features include constant colour temperature over three f-stops and a built-in radio receiver. Jointly developed for the Senso power packs, the Litos flash head offers flexible handling with a protective cap that can quickly be converted into an umbrella or standard reflector.
Manfrotto: A Top Player at the Red Dot Design Award 2011 One of the most prestigious international design comp etitions has awarded seven prizes to the historic company from Vicenza, recognising the quality and excellence of Italian design. Manfrotto, the world leader in the design, production and distribution of equipment and accessories for the photography and imaging industry, has won seven prizes at one of the world’s most prestigious design competitions: the Red Dot Design Award 2011. The prizes were awarded to products from the new Imagine More collection:
- Manfrotto Photo-Movie Head
- Manfrotto Always-on for DSLR
- Manfrotto 050 magnesium series ball head
- Manfrotto Pocket Led light
- Manfrotto Compact photo-video Kit
- Manfrotto 504HD
- Manfrotto LINO PRO V
The Imaging & Staging Division of the Vitec Group, Manfrotto’s UK-based parent company, also won an eighth prize, which was awarded to the KATA brand for KATA Source. According to the authoritative jury of the Red Dot Design Award, composed of top international design experts, the unique and innovative design of these eight products stood out in a competition that attracted 4.433 projects submitted by designers and companies from 60 countries. The significant results achieved at the Red Dot Design Award 2011 by Manfrotto – and the Vitec Group in general – represent further recognition of the quality of Italian design: a success that the company is proud to share with the entire sector, which has been the emblem of Italian excellence around the world for years. Manfrotto products reflect the qualities of a team of professionals who are unique in this industry and are committed, day after day, to developing innovative and state-of-the-art products. Ongoing researchinto new trends and technological innovation has helped the Manfrotto team gain the attention, favour and loyalty of a large national and international public, as demonstrated by the important recognition of the Red Dot Design Award 2011. For additional information, check the website www.en.red-dot.org.
KATA bag wins prestigious 2011 Red Dot award for second straight year
For the second year in a row, a KATA bag has won the Red Dot award for design. This year’s winner is the KATA Source-261 Pro Light. This is KATA’s first bag dedicated to the HDSLR user and was designed specifically for the needs of professional videographers.
The Source was designed to answer the needs of professional videographers who use HDSLR and rigs. The bag’s large middle compartment fits your working HDSLR connected to a stabilizing system, a large padded pocket on the flap provides convenient storage and the modular Aeriform Dividers can be set up in remaining space to accommodate accessories you need often or an additional DSLR body. Furthermore the Source-261 PL also fits additional lenses and video accessories in side pockets and most 17’’ laptops. The bag also features many of KATA’s signature technologies, such as the Spine Guard, ripstop fabrics, Spider Webbing straps, Gecko Harness and a double sided elements cover.
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