Nikon is proud to announce that the two of its digital-SLR cameras, the Nikon D300S and D5000 have been awarded the awards at the 5th Annual CNET Asia Readers’ Choice 2009/10 Awards on 25 March 2010.

The annual CNET Asia Readers' Choice Awards is an event that spotlights the most desired tech products favored by CNET Asia readers.

In December 2009, CNET Asia asked readers to nominate their favorite gadgets across 19 categories. A set of 153 products within the 19 categories were selected by CNET Asia editors based on overall reader popularity and feedback, performance via CNET Asia lab tests, as well as value and impact. To reflect the innovative spirit, a new category was also created for Best Innovative Product. Other new categories included Best Touchscreen Smartphone, Best LED-lit LCD TV, Best Micro Four Thirds Camera, and Best Netbook.

Registered CNET Asia members then cast their votes online over a 10-week period for the most-desired tech gear. To ensure readers had knowledge of the gadgets they selected, they could vote in categories of their choice. Over 43,000 votes were cast in that time and three products from each category with the most number of votes were then awarded the CNET Asia Readers’ Choice Awards in Gold, Silver and Bronze.

The awarded Nikon cameras are:

	Silver - Nikon D300S Category: Best Midrange dSLR
	Silver - Nikon D5000 Category: Best Entry-Level/Micro Four Thirds dSLR

The CNET Asia Readers' Choice 2009/10 awards nominees list can be found at:
http://asia.cnet.com/services/aboutus/profile/downloads/pr_cnetasia_rc_2010.pdf

Francissca Pour, General Manager of CBS Interactive (publisher of CNET Asia), Singapore, said:

“Despite the global financial meltdown, 2009 continues to see brands innovating and challenging themselves with products that drive technology forward, as they strive to gain even more market share. I would like to congratulate all winners for their well-deserved recognition, as well as to thank our readers for their support.”

Juniper Foo, Group Managing Editor at CBS Interactive, said:

“2009 was a challenging year, with the economic crunch putting a squeeze on spending. But with consumers staying at home more as a result and becoming more discerning about their purchase, technology vendors had to offer more value, greater quality and innovative features to compete. The results from our latest Readers' Choice poll tell their own story."

For more information on CNET Asia Readers’ Choice 2009/10, visit:
http://asia.cnet.com/readerschoice/2009/

Overview of the Nikon D300S

The D300S (released in August 2009) is a Nikon DX-format digital-SLR camera which inherited most of its finest features from the highly acclaimed D300, such as its 7 frames-per-second*1 high-speed continuous shooting, 51-point AF system and approx. 100% viewfinder coverage. It boasts dual card slots and the rugged durability that enables the camera to work under extreme conditions. It's D-movie function provides new features, such as an external microphone input for stereo sound recording and AF capability with contrast-detect AF during movie recording. Like the D300, it also has a CMOS image sensor offering a pixel count of 12.3-million pixels. [ Read more ]

*1 Based on CIPA Guidelines.

Overview of the Nikon D5000

The D5000 (released in May 2009) is a Nikon DX-format digital-SLR camera with a CMOS image sensor offering a pixel count of 12.3-million pixels. It is the first Nikon digital-SLR camera to be equipped with a vari-angle monitor that enables live view shooting from a variety of angles with great flexibility. The camera also supports movie recording with the D-Movie function. In addition, 19 scene modes make the quick capture of images that accurately reproduce scenes and their ambience simple. With its advanced functions, the user friendly D5000 has been extremely well received by those advancing from a compact camera, and those purchasing their first digital-SLR camera, since its release. [ Read more ]