A new editorial-based awards organisation makes its mark

DIWA Gold and silver medals

This Web site is a founding member of the Digital Photography Websites Association (DIWA). Today, DIWA issues its first awards, recognising product excellence achieved by both Olympus and Casio.

Promoting the work of Web-based publications
DIWA has been set up to promote the valuable work of selected Web-based digital photography editorial sites that test digital imaging products. But DIWA is not just a PR project. By developing a unique test-based procedure for deciding awards, DIWA is aiming to present both the public and the industry the most trusted benchmark for rating products.

Awards based on unique, tough, criteria
Today, Olympus and Casio have been awarded, respectively, gold and silver awards. The cameras that earned those awards were tested several times by different DIWA member testers and the results translated into very comprehensive and detailed scores. Developed as a standardised test scoring system by DIWA, a group of separate and independently scored results can be directly compared.

As several examples of the same product must be tested, there is no chance of a single unrepresentative result skewing the overall, amalgamated, result. DIWA members also share their knowledge, so if one tester finds something important that others have missed, everyone can benefit. The system also prevents individual mistakes from adversely influencing the decision making process.

We retain our individuality
Here at dpnow.com we review products in our own, individual, way and this is largely different in style and presentation to our colleagues on other DIWA-affiliated sites. No two sites look the same and nor should they. DIWA doesn't change that. What DIWA does is translate the findings of our product test work into a standardised form of data so it can be compared accurately. We believe this is a unique and powerful proposition.

Value in numbers
Two product awards have been made today, but that doesn't mean other cameras have failed to earn awards. DIWA only makes awards once a quota of testers have filed results for a given product. Today's awards are just the first of many.

DIWA is a young organisation, but we already have members from all over Europe. Like the Web, in future, DIWA will have a membership that goes far beyond Europe.

If you have any questions about DIWA, please click here.

www.diwa-awards.com