Madrid, Spain—This week, TIPA and CJPC announced the winners of the Camera Grand Prix, which is held by the Camera Journal Press Club (CJPC, Japan). CJPC is a group of representatives from magazines and websites specializing in photos as well as cameras. The Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) is an organization comprised of editors and representatives of photographic magazines from North and South America, Europe, Asia and also Australia. It currently has 26 members from 14 countries.
CJPC, established in September 1963, has 10 members from the media. CJPC’s awards selection committee is organized under the Camera Grand Prix Executive Committee. Members select the best products for the four annual awards. Furthermore, eligible products were introduced into the market during the previous fiscal year (from April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020 for Camera Grand Prix 2020).
Camera Grand Prix Awards
Moreover, the Camera Grand Prix Camera of the Year is granted to a still camera recognized as the best of all released during the period. In addition, Lens of the Year is awarded to the best lens launched in the Japanese market. What’s more, the Readers Award is determined by general camera users’ votes on a dedicated website. The voting period this year was from March 16 to April 12, 2020.
In addition, CJPC members give an Editors Award to a camera or another form of photography-related product, excluding Camera of the Year and Lens of the Year awardees. They select that product in consideration of its popularity, topicality and innovation.
The selection committee is comprised of CJPC members; chief editors or representatives of CJPC member publications; external members entrusted by the Camera Grand Prix Executive Committee; and other special members, such as academic experts, technical writers, professional photographers as well as representatives from photo-related organizations, in addition to TIPA. In total, 54 people were involved in the selection process this year.
While large gatherings of the industry were precluded by the current crisis, TIPA sent its congratulations to the members of the CJPC and joins in their support of the industry.
A Message from TIPA
“It is a long tradition that a member of the TIPA board gives a short speech at the CJPC Grand Prix Awards ceremony; I was looking forward to my trip to Tokyo,” Johan Elzenga, a member of TIPA’s board wrote to CJPC. “Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic made that impossible for us to meet. As a result, this year I will be with you in thoughts only. I hope next year we can meet again in real life!
“I can imagine that some people say this is not the time to think about awards for cameras and lenses. That was a matter of discussion among the TIPA board; yet we decided it is our function and duty to continue to recognize the industry’s achievements and innovations. We organized an online voting session for the TIPA World Awards this year; I’m glad our friends from CJPC felt the same way and also went through with voting for the Grand Prix Awards.
“Our message is that photography is not only a great hobby but a necessity that can grow into a hobby, not the other way around. The post-Corona age may change social practice and activities; but making pictures and videos makes it possible to share precious moments forever and allows us to ‘be together at a distance.’ Moreover, awards for the best photo and video products emphasize their importance and make people think and talk about photography in general and the winning products in particular. We need that mindset and awareness of photography’s importance now more than ever.
“I’d like to congratulate the winners of the CJPC Grand Prix Awards; and, of course, take this opportunity to congratulate winners of TIPA’s World Awards. Until we meet again next year, I’d like to say: Congratulations and stay safe!” added Elzenga.
TIPA and CJPC Reveal Winners
The recipients of this year’s Grand Prix Awards are as follows.
Camera Grand Prix 2020 Camera of the Year: Sony α7R IV
