Japan has chosen its camera of the year 2009 (pretty early) and Canon was awarded top honors. The full HD EOS 5D Mark II, equipped with a 21.1MP 35mm full-frame CMOS sensor, has been named “Camera of the Year” in the Japanese Camera Grand Prix 2009.

The Camera Grand Prix is the most prestigious award in Japan’s photo industry, Canon’s device was voted the most impressive camera released in Japan between April 1, 2008, and March 31, 2009. Since its inception in 1984, Canon won the award eight times.

The jury, which consists of tech journalists and professionals from the photo industry, was apparently most impressed by the HD EOS 5D Mark II’s CMOS sensor, the image processor, its cost performance and superior usability.

Canon seems to have a winner here. Three weeks ago, the same camera also won the award for “Best Digital SLR Expert in 2009” given by a total of 29 photography magazines across 13 different countries in Europe.