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Maybe this is the reason, why Pana’s new cameras are just for livestyle and for beginners, they take Olympus as a real photographer brand for hi level? that would be nice.
otherwise, if they use the know how for better kameras under the pana logo, it would be good to…

Not going to happen.

How much would money would the medical and scientific branches of Olympus have to sink into advertising to recoup the name recognition that comes via the camera division?

In the past 2 years m4/3 and Sony have taken huge amounts of market share from DSLRs. You think they would sell when the tide is rising and they have a chance of unseating Canon/Nikon?

I love olympus, but maybe just because i cannot forget the OM system, as for m43 the fact is that Panasonic is doing very very well with their cameras (not better per say), but i wouldn’t mind them joining forces because this competing with each-other isn’t doing either any good. They’re both doing essentially the same thing, now that Oly doesn’t even have retro styling anymore. Can’t say the same about Nikon vs. Canon, they could never get along.

Last quarter shows a profit.
slightly less sales but much more profitable.

Here it is the quarterly summery. http://www.olympus-global.com/en/corc/ir/brief/pdf/n110805aE_n.pdf Looking at more detailed information confirms that the division is doing ok.

no it´s not profitable…. do your homework.

I hope this is true. Oly been listening to the wrong advice and targeting the wrong segment. Hence it’s bleeding.

If Panasonic to purchase Olympus, the Olympus Brand name will probably be eliminated like what they are trying to do with Sanyo after the purchase. So called streamlining. Will anyone going to use Pen or E-7 with Lumix Logo? I won’t.

I guess my first and last Oly will be my E-1. Its a heck of a camera but I doubt it will ever have a worthy follow up. I had hoped that Oly would get a Fuji sensor for the next go ’round. I really am not a huge fan of the Panny sensors. My L1 cameras are nice but they need raw to get something good out of them. The PL lenses on the other hand are great but if Panny gets the Zuiko then that maybe the end of the Leica deal. I think this sucks all the way around.

It could be good, having Panasonic’s deep pockets and electronics/video expertise combined with Olympus as more of a boutique division producing mFT’s with IBIS, latest Panny sensors and Olympus processing. I could see a line-up like this:
1) Panny pro-spec wethersealed alloy bodied DSLR style mFT at GH size
2) Olympus pro-spec wethersealed alloy bodied rangefinder mFT
3) Panny GH series for under $1000 quality video
4) Panny G series for those wanting a compact DSLR style body
5) Olympus E-P5 with flip OLED, built-in EVF, 16 MP sensor & under $800
6) Olympus E-PL5 with flip 3″ usable area LCD, flash, 16 MP sensor, $650
7) Panny GF-5 basic and small body but with buttons, flash, 16 MP, $500

Then, to make things really interesting:
1) An Olympus E-6 at K-5 size/weight with GH3 sensor/Oly processing, $1250
2) An OM-T1 (T for “tradition”) with same featureset as E-6, but E-6xx size/weight, no weathersealing, 16 MP sensor/Oly processing, $750

Olympus has the SG/HG/SHG FT lenses which, if updated and with a known future for the format would again sell well, along with a great set of mFT lenses which Panny could now sell for less than their OIS series, further expanding their market share.

As for IBIS, Panny could now bring this into their bodies as well, giving users the option of using OIS or IBIS depending on the application (OIS for video, IBIS for legacy and stills).

This could be a lot of fun for their enthusiasts and work well financially.

Yes, like it would be terrible for HP to promote someone up to CEO from the server division and then chop off the PC division. Oh, no wait, that’s exactly what they did, and it’s exactly what the market expected them to do. The market expects that you hire someone as your chief executive who understands your core business and who will focus on your core business. For Olympus, sad to say, that’s no longer cameras.

Personally I don’t believe this rumor. Actually I would like to believe it, because I believe it would benefit both Panasonic and Olympus.

I would like to add that sometimes it is wise to think to work together. Could be that Panasonic and Olympus aren’t that far away to work more close in future and make them both stronger what ever brand name they start use. Maybe they have been planning this for long time, you never know.

Xoom had good opinion. This could be some kind of deal where Panasonic buys more than 50% of Olympus and keep brand name running. They might have plan where they work together with different kind of models and segments.

I think this rumor is false and it is not true since camera division is profitable and mirrorless is still growing. Why they would sell it now? I don’t think that they would benefit much by selling camera division times like these.

As their customer I wouldn’t care what hapen, but I like Olympus and want them to continue. They make best cameras for my use. I know I can still use most of my stuff with panasonic cameras. My biggest lost would be wireless flash TTL and in camera IS. Wireless flash problem I can easily solve by using triggers.

That’s the whole point of FT2 rumors. If this site only had FT4 and FT5 rumors, then it’s not a rumor site at all. It would become a news site only, and if you want camera news only, there are plenty of sites that provide that.

The whole point of this site is to discuss news AND rumors whether they are true or not…especially at the FT2 and FT3 stage. Many rumors start off as FT2 limited sources and then get upgraded as more evidence comes in, so FT2 is not automatically crap. And if the author was able to get more sources, then it wouldn’t be FT2 now would it?

Esa Tuunanen – you are not correct.

Software correction is part of the integral design of the lenses. All lenses incorporate some kind of correction. The old fashioned way is to try to do that optically. The modern method is to do it digitally. As long as the final results are good, it doesn’t matter how they are arrived at.If Panasonic could take the bottom off a beer bottle and correct it to a stunning lens, that is fine.

Digital correction is only part of the reason the lenses are small and light, not the whole reason.

Finally, your wording “spewing out basic software corrected lenses and consumer products” shows you have contempt or maybe fear of the system. If this is the case, I’m not sure why you are even posting here?

FT2 Rumor = CR*P

Apparently there are not two let 3 independent sources to this rumor, so there is no way of verifying the information.

That’s the limit of a site of rumors. The pages are so full of commercial links that we see that TRUTH is only a secondary concern after marketing.

Such a momentous exposure of Olympus suicide would deserve some investigative work, if true.

Instead it is carelessly thrown to the sharks, hoping that it will multiply the clicks.

No integrity, no work to clarify what is really happening. Cheap site.

I think the pen menue is good…. i just take 30min to set up what i want and then just use the super menu from there on – eanything u need in a flash…. bar bracketing

…like Sony, Samsung, Fuji and Nikon….. There is still plenty competition in this segment!

The PEN menu system interface needs a LOT of work. Luckily, it’s at least usable unlike the NEX mess of an interface.

+100

Exactly.

Standardize on the Olympus accessory port instead of 2!

FAR LESS lens repetition. Weed out the dross, like the crappy 14-42mm lenses, the 17mm and the plethora of mediocre mid-range zooms. That would dramatically reduce the number of Olympus lenses right there and allow for a greater range of higher quality lenses. MORE, BETTER PRIMES!

Ditch fluff features like “art” filters and scene modes.

Panasonic only got out of full sized Four Thirds recently (see the discontinuation of the 25mm). I think they still have stuff in the supply chain but it’s all discontinued. If they were interested in Four Thirds, we would’ve seen something before now.

For Olympus, it probably makes sense; they’re having a lot of financial trouble and they’re struggling. I don’t really see what Panasonic gains here though; what does Olympus have that Panasonic doesn’t? They already make the sensors, they already make their own lenses, they make their own bodies… their AF system is *almost* as good.

Maybe they have manufacturing issues or something. We’ve seen lots of delays on Panasonic products actually making it to market; maybe Olympus would be better. But I don’t really see much of a motive for this move, to be honest.

+100

A rumor doesn´t become more likely to be true just by spreading it.
You should be aware, that spreading the rumor you get responsible for it, even if you did not start it. Think about the possible consequences, i.e. for the shareholders and the reputation of the firm.

Greetings
Christian

> 1 weather sealed pro body (then Panasonic has got the ingineers, that developed the E-5 ) with the amazing controls of the GH2
Most important aspects of the ergonomy/controls are only at the level of lowly Canon 600D in GH2 and its wannabe DSLR EVF position is missed opportunity to improve ergonomy so using GH2 as model for enthusiast/high end body would be Titanic-class disaster… And actually those small drive&focus mode and power on-off levers aren’t easy to use with any kind gloves or cold fingers.
Besides weather sealed pro body also enthusiast class body needs proper direct controls/ergonomy to able to challenge DSLR/Sony SLTs.

There’s been a steady trickle of reports that Olympus has been losing money with its camera division. I would be sad to see Olympus absorbed by Panasonic, but the hemorrhaging can’t go on forever. A mount shared by two or more independent camera manufacturers is rare and one of the benefits of MFT. There’s more choice due to each of the companies taking different approaches.

4/3 lenses are big only if you forget their generally very high quality.
Not all Canon L lenses have such a high quality and level of average Canon lenses is well below overal quality of 4/3 lenses.
In comparison there’s not a single m4/3 lens which could be called actually good without all software corrections. Unheard for even mediocre prime (not to mention premium lens) 12mm f2 has geometric distortion which is off the usual charts and double the worst of 4/3, plain average vignetting at full aperture and also chromatic aberration would be average without software correction.

Olympus camera division could definitely benefit from available new resources and there is/has been lot of unnecessary duplicacy inside m4/3 but as Panasonic is consumer electronics company run by marketroids its doubtfull they would ever develop m4/3 into actually full system covering all needs (outside uses needing FF/MF) from compact bodies and lenses to full ergonomy and direct control bodies with actual quality lenses.
More probably they would just continue spewing out basic software corrected lenses and consumer products.

This rumor has rationale:

Two brands sharing one system platform means a risk that twice as much are spent on developing one, same solution.

Olympus has creativity but lacks financial muscle. (Thus not much really happened on camera side since the E-P1)

Panasonic has muscle and want to compete with Canon, Nikon, Sony in market shares. To do that they must climb higher up – to the pro level. The m43 is only one platform for ILC cameras. Pana must get into bigger sensors to achieve it’s goal.
(Meaning the “E-5 replacement” could be an FF or DX branded Olympus and/or Panasonic.)

Panasonic aquisition of Olympus must not mean “brand extinction”; on the contrary both brands can live on.

very good for what it is but it is only a 1600 iso sensor… sony and even panasonic are pulling ahead – ok most shots are sub 1600 but when you need it it goes to another brand! and despite what oly says with 12mpix being enough… its not… Face it if oly had a 16-18mpix good 6400 iso sensor then no other camera would get a lookin!

yeh but if they don’t do m43 then they are head to head with sony, and sony will be more powerfull…. fujix100 has not shown anyone anything… say niche product!

thes are allready ONE, in my mind…

Interesting rumor but I hope it is not true. One of the benefits (in theory at least) of 43s and m43s is that two companies would compete which drives innovation and improves the 43 spec while still producing products that are largely compatible. One company ownership would make 43 and m43 far less interesting.

canon or nikon doesnt need to join m43. coz sony and fujix100 showed them there is a way to at least match them in camera size and beat them in picture quality.

Would be a surprise as it would not make sense for Panasonic. They are out sourcing some M43 manufacturing to Olympus as it is, which saves them money from having to set up new factories themselves. This would increase their costs.

If this info has come Samsung it would make sense as they are probably trying to stir it. It would be a very good false rumour to put out.

The sad thing for Olympus is not being bought by Panasonic (if that ever happen s), it is losing it’s way.

It’s a shame that Panasonic has been consistently producing better cameras and lenses. Olympus’ products do not make so much sense anymore, especially for a company with a tradition of producing brilliant cameras and lenses.

Konica/Minolta was sold to a consumer electronics giant…

Few correction/addition for the google translation that admin might have used:

According to slrclub:

– Oly offered the merge to Pana. Not the other way. Pana is the one who is positive to the initial offer.
– It inclues their imaging division (cameras) and life science division (camcorders, voice recorders); medical and industrial system div are not part of the deal, where most of their profits are generated (their imaging division has been losing mony for a long time)
- This information was leaked from an insier of S (possibly Samsung)

It’s jsut a rumor and even though it’s true, deals always brake. So take it with a gain of salt.

If they don’t start building real cameras again sometime soon, could happen.

its a shame because the only thing that lets oly down is sensor performance! Bar that i think they rock… and yes i realy like the odd menu system they have – far mor custom than anyone else… they could be very strong in the semi/pro segment if they could get a good sensor…

True about Sony, they have been successful, but their plans to bring FF to mirrorless and progress on EVF might indicate a turn of events for their DSLR line.
I wouldn’t be surprised if they use their sensor advantage to kill their DSLR line while migrating to SLT.

I heard that rumor also from a distributor hear and one dealer from the philippines olympus might concentrate on point and shoot and p&s semi pro

It’s been busy month recently.
that Google bought Motorola and HP’s PCG might be on sale thing. Why not do ride the flow and make rumours about Panasonic and Olympus.
Wishful thinking, sounds sensational, and barely believable.

>> if it were true
Then the official notice wouldn’t come until the last moments when stockholders finished their meeting behind closed doors. They don’t want the public to know one of the company is going to be eaten by another too soon because it might affect them in many ways.

the way I see it. Panasonic’s threat is not from Olympus but Sony. the biggest advantage Panasonic has is image quality in a small body(which happens to be the whole point of the m43 standard). Sony just took that rule book and ate it. so if Sony can do it then the king of mass manufacturer Canon can do it. if Canon can do it then Nikon can also fine tune it.

m4/3 is not only about size and price. There are and will be smaller and slightly bigger lenses, there will be cheaper and pricier lenses. That does not change after the acquisition.

So far, there is no indication that lenses with OIS are significantly smaller and cheaper.

Google for Panasonic to buy Olympus and you will find 3 sources spreading this rumor: mirrorless.com, the German systemkamera-forum.de and this site. All 3 are related.
Well, they will increase their number of clicks for some days …

+10

I totally agree. To me it the rumors is biased towards positive. After the merger, we will have better compatibility between the products, a better coordination in lens development, and totally better image quality: Olympus image processing in better sensors. Only competition within m4/3 is gone, which isn’t a tragedy, because there is enough competition in the mirrorless market anyway.

No possibility for Pana to buy Olympus imaging.
Simply because there is no benefit for Pana who can develop cameras by their own.

Oly just launched 3 new cameras and 2 new lenses.
Perfect time for a rumor like this to appear and keep people from buying.

Although it might be true, to me this reads more like viral marketing.

I dunno, if it happens, I suspect eventually I will be moving on in a few years. I might buy the E-P3 as a parting shot, but probably not any body designed after the merger (or if E-5′s go on fire sale that may be my first choice, but at the current price range it isn’t likely to happen). So far, I’ve not really liked the Panasonic form factors, the out of camera jpgs, the pathetic external flash support. Its been a fun 10 years with Olympus.

However, while I like the E-P2 and the various other Pens I’ve tried in the store, I tend to have a soft spot for the 4/3rds line and not micro 4/3rds line.

From an economic stand point I can see the reasoning, and I’ve been expecting the rest of Olympus to sell the imaging department, but it doesn’t mean I will like it.

This wouldn’t surprise me at all. The current president of Olympus is from the medical division, not imaging. I would almost expect him to sell imaging to boost the other areas. I don’t think he’s going to have too much concern for tradition or history.

if true this means that the E-P3 is the last m43 camera from oly

and then olympus hadn’t lied to us that the 4/3 is dead and will be continued blahblah, because then panasonic would be guilty of stopping the standard, and can be blamed for burying the whole system.

bye bye oly thanks for some nice and great classics from the past, not so many thanks for emptying the pockets of brand blind fanboys

I don’t think it would necessarily be a bad thing, but only if olympus was allowed to operate with some degree of independence. Micro 4/3 has really squandered the early lead they had in the interchangeable lens market, largely because it became a highly fragmented landscape of olympus and panasonic repeatedly trying to one-up each other instead of forming a cohesive ecosystem of bodies and lenses. Olympus is the more innovative of the two companies, but is limited by using panasonic’s older sensors by not having the money to really get behind development (though their recent round looks really good). In theory it sounds great to have two companies competing in the same format, but in practice we get like 6 different kit lenses and bodies that never have all of the best features of the format (choose between good sensor or good color, between fast autofocus or IBIS, between good video, and well, you get the point). I will admit that they appear to have begun some level of niche differentiation lately, particularly in lenses, but no one knows if this will keep up or not. I’d hate to see olympus bought out and just sort of disappear because oly really seems to think about photographer’s wants whereas panasonic just sort of mindlessly churns out quality products. However, if panasonic could incorporate olympus’ photographic vision into their big-money R&D, I think that would be really great. I suppose it could just as easily go really wrong.

I love Pany’s lenses and cameras and Oly’s ability to deliver things to market after announcing them. Put them together and it could be great.

It’s cheaper. Wait for the reviews for final conclusion. Panasonic’s X 45-175 is still bigger than Olympus 40-150 albeit with 0.1 bigger zoom ratio.

Ah, the Mighty Penix with a collapsible 10-200 mm lens.

I shouldn’t be laughing, but BWAHAHAHAHAHA!

I’ve got to say – I’ve been thinking for some time now that my ideal camera would be something like the GH2 with Oly’s image processing. And if Panny bought Oly, that’s exactly what we might get! Oly’s been falling further and further behind technologically.

>>And IBIS means smaller lighter cheaper lenses.<<
yes, i can clearly see this if i compare the 14-42 from olympus with the new 14-42 from panasonic with built in Power OIS!

Well, if those 2 combined could manufacture a camera which would use Panny’s latest sensor with Olly’s fast AF, then I would be very interested.

NEX(5) has the biggest edge right now.

Hope it will never happen!!!
Olympus Imaging eaten by a “Microvave – DVD player – Mass Electronics” company?

A real nightmare That yould be a very sad day for the Photography World.

I like the concept that there are multiple companies producing products for the fromat. ALso it seems like the latest sales figures support that Oly is tuning it self around. NOt sure if I believe it.

I think that would be great….

3 different Pen bodies (ultra Small, normal and EP3/L1 like)
2 normal bodies like G and GH
1 weather sealed pro body (then Panasonic has got the ingineers, that developed the E-5 ) with the amazing controls of the GH2

2 different videobodies

Amen!

Bad, very bad.

Firstly, Olympus is the only manufacturer to make mirrorless cameras with built-in image stabilization and that would be the first thing to disappear if Panasonic took over. And IBIS means smaller lighter cheaper lenses. Those who want IS in video, can buy any of the Panasonic zooms.

Secondly, apart from close collaboration, these two push each other. If this happened, we would be at the mercy of Panasonic and their pace of announcements, like NEX or NX users are. And we all know what lens choice NEX users have and what is NX sensor (not) capable of.

So, I not only hope this will NEVER happen, I hope Fuji will join and we’ll have even more manufacturers in m4/3. Being reliant on Panasonic would be bad for the system development and for its users.

BTW, Olympus’ June announcements and recent sale results do not support this. They don’t look like they’re in trouble, they look like they’re getting out of it.

BTW2. As far as I’m concerned, Panasonic can take over Oly P&S division any day .

I have the same feeling, it took olympus 3 years to produce what the original ep1 should be. I would be happier if the rumor turms out to be true

It’s possible but doubtful. Panasonic would theoretically gain marketshare (unless current Olympus customers don’t continue as such) and get an improved distribution system in parts of the world. But the downsides? The ‘standard’ of m43 would be seen as a sham, and Panasonic would be stuck with redundant and unwanted bodies, lenses and a 4/3 standard they’d surely quickly kill.

Unless Olympus really wanted out of the camera business, shopped the division around with no takers, and unless Panasonic got it for a song, it does not seem that likely. But if it IS true, and the division WERE purchased for a low price, it would indicate pessimism by Olympus as to the future of the m43 system which it has essentially bet the division on.

Maybe not. It could be positive if panasonic keeps the PENs and use the new sensors.

PanOlympusonic??? Maybe…

Am I the only one that thinks this could be good news? Seriously, apart from the E-P1 what’s Olympus been doing for the last 2-3 years? Taking forever to introduce a minor upgrade to the E3? Releasing endless updates to the E-P1? It took them 3 years to released a good camera (E-P3) and they are using basically the same sensor Panasonic introduced with the G1!!!
Okay they’ve made some interesting glass like the mZD 9-18mm and the 12mm F2 but it’s pretty much clear that it’s Panasonic pushing the horses on the format!
Well I guess there is a remote hope that Panasonic will finally introduce IBIS in a future body!

Matsushita = enormous
Olympus = tiny in comparison
Very very possible

AT least they would get the New sensors then . The question is what would happen to the olympus Brand, i dont think they would let it die. So maybe it wouldnt be that Bad.

What?! I hope it’s just a rumor… Olympus has its own style and that makes a difference with other camera brands. It would be sad news if true.

I hope this one turns out to be completely false…

Pens would be all plasticy and have aweful jpeg color! And Pannys would have old sensors and terrible kit lenses!

Nooo… Would be extremely disappointing if this ever happened.

“that Panasonic could by-(you forgot a U) the Olympus imaging division”