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Photo finish: End of an era as Olympus sells camera division

14 Comments
By TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA

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14 Comments
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I am sorry to see them go. They made good cameras.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

Wow my pops bought like 3 of their high end cameras. What a sad story! Good luck to everyone!

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Well, good-by Olympus cameras. A moment of silence for Maitani, the genius who miniaturized cameras.

The half-frame Olympus Pen was a work of genius, which never got profession status, but was the inspiration for the X1.5 and Micro 4/3 cameras.

I've found Olympus SLRs flimsy. The OM lenses were tough and optically excellent.

Did you know that Olympus Camera was once Takachiho Camera? Takachiho was sort of like Greece's Mount Olympus. When Olympus went international they changed the name to something more familiar.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

While Olympus did make good camera's & lenses, they recently also had that INSANE scandal, so like Nissan I could never buy Olympus after that fiasco.

Kind of fitting now they only have butt cam business left!

7 ( +10 / -3 )

Did you know that Olympus Camera was once Takachiho Camera? Takachiho was sort of like Greece's Mount Olympus. When Olympus went international they changed the name to something more familiar.

No, I didn’t know that. That’s a very interesting point, and an excellent marketing technique by the company. you know, they should change it back, considering that the Geo political center of gravity is switching a lot more towards Asia anyway.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Well, I’m glad that they’re switching more to an industry that’s in dire need anyway. Obviously because of the coronavirus and all. Plus, in the long term, it’s a much better thing to do anyway. Considering the fact that people are living to be longer and longer, the medical industry has much more of a need then personal cameras anyway. I mean I go to conventions, and I see people with professional cameras and stuff, so don’t get me wrong. But for the most part, that’ll be a niche thing.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Olympus has been all about the endoscopes for a very long time now. Camera business was just kept around for tradition.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Had 3 before. Now Nikon. Good cameras, especially my 35m one I still have somewhere.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Don't be surprised to see Nikon go out of business as well, Sony is kicking butt and only Canon seems willing to compete.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Ever since Japanese companies copycatted the German camera manufactures such as Leica to virtually monopoly the global camera industry in the 1960s, there has been no innovative change in the functions and designs of camera. Now those companies are facing the new competitor: smartphone camera. Unless they bring up a revolutionary idea on digital camera, the game is over.

On the other hand, Samsung already realized it in 2015, giving up the digital camera sector entirely.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

They are selling not liquidating - JIP aren't going to pay good money and then shut it down so don't panic people. The cameras aren't gonna fall to bits just because the company is changing hands.

They are great cameras - light weight and great images.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

My first camera, given to me as a gift from a cousin was an Olympus.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Woodford scandal had crippled the company for a long time. Nissan will end up similarly.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

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