Olympus exits the camera business....
Discussion
Very troubling but maybe not quite the end yet. We'll see.
Tough times for all camera companies at the moment. Scrapping over a much smaller market. M4/3 being squeezed by the phone market in particular. Maybe Olympus just pinned their colours to the wrong mast. Real shame. Olympus are one of the industries real innovators and place great importance on dependability as well, not all that dissimilar to Pentax actually. But clearly that is a long way off being the ingredients for success nowadays.
Tough times for all camera companies at the moment. Scrapping over a much smaller market. M4/3 being squeezed by the phone market in particular. Maybe Olympus just pinned their colours to the wrong mast. Real shame. Olympus are one of the industries real innovators and place great importance on dependability as well, not all that dissimilar to Pentax actually. But clearly that is a long way off being the ingredients for success nowadays.
I recall in the 70s I think we reached peak Olympus. One of their bodies and a Zuiko lens were highly aspirational pieces of kit - either SLR or the magnificent rangefinders.
I never got to own one, although I think the reason one of my current cameras is a Df Nikon, is partly because I’m highly influenced by the gorgeous design and practicability inherent in the OM-1
Look just how beautiful cameras used to be:
Shame. But the world moves on!
I never got to own one, although I think the reason one of my current cameras is a Df Nikon, is partly because I’m highly influenced by the gorgeous design and practicability inherent in the OM-1
Look just how beautiful cameras used to be:
Shame. But the world moves on!
But, this surprise announcement doesn't appear to be all doom and gloom. Your current Olympus cameras aren't suddenly going to disappear or stop working, and according to today's news release, the new company formed by Olympus' ownership transfer to JIP will, in theory at least, continue to make and develop new "Olympus" or OM-D and Zuiko camera products.
K12beano said:
I never got to own one, although I think the reason one of my current cameras is a Df Nikon, is partly because I’m highly influenced by the gorgeous design and practicability inherent in the OM-1
It makes you realise that most cameras have evolved into amorphous blobs of black plastic. Just like cars, which whilst not all black, are often impossible to identify until you read the badge.WindyCommon said:
Sad?Well, possibly.
But this is exactly the same - in principle - when railways and horseless carriages were invented and developed. Nobody wanted a stage coach any more. The stage coach makers had to shut up shot - or else start making railway carriages.
Similarly, postillions found there was no work for them, so, they either had to go home and stare at the wall, or re-train as guards, or engine drivers - or summat.
It's called progress. Some will be quick and adapt - and some won't.
e.g. The London black cab trade and its training system - 'the knowledge', has got to change, or fall by the wayside.
Everyone is talking about Olympus as if they have closed down yet all that's happened is they have been sold. The deal includes a commitment to the new product road map still being in place and to keep current products in production.
Whilst I have my reservations about whether JIP can turn the business around and, if they do, what form it takes, I'd prefer this to have happened than Olympus just folding their camera business all together.
Whilst I have my reservations about whether JIP can turn the business around and, if they do, what form it takes, I'd prefer this to have happened than Olympus just folding their camera business all together.
The Mad Monk said:
WindyCommon said:
Sad?Well, possibly.
But this is exactly the same - in principle - when railways and horseless carriages were invented and developed. Nobody wanted a stage coach any more. The stage coach makers had to shut up shot - or else start making railway carriages.
Similarly, postillions found there was no work for them, so, they either had to go home and stare at the wall, or re-train as guards, or engine drivers - or summat.
It's called progress. Some will be quick and adapt - and some won't.
e.g. The London black cab trade and its training system - 'the knowledge', has got to change, or fall by the wayside.
[....waits for Frank7 to chime in about how valuable the knowledge is (assuming he ever visits this forum). Apparently he was a taxi driver....]
PartsMonkey said:
Everyone is talking about Olympus as if they have closed down yet all that's happened is they have been sold. The deal includes a commitment to the new product road map still being in place and to keep current products in production.
Whilst I have my reservations about whether JIP can turn the business around and, if they do, what form it takes, I'd prefer this to have happened than Olympus just folding their camera business all together.
I think you'll end up with JIP (who are they?) making the cameras and just sticking an Olympus badge on - like those tragic late MGs...Whilst I have my reservations about whether JIP can turn the business around and, if they do, what form it takes, I'd prefer this to have happened than Olympus just folding their camera business all together.
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