Olympus officially announced that it has completed the transfer of their imaging business to the new OM Digital company. The best news here is that long time Olympus imaging manager Shigemi Sugimoto (picture on top) is the president of this new company.

This is the official press text:

Olympus Completes Transfer of Imaging Business

Tokyo, January 4, 2021 – Olympus Corporation (“Olympus”) concluded the transfer of its Imaging business to Japan Industrial Partners Inc. (“JIP”) on January 1, 2021. The final transfer was based on the definitive agreement both parties signed on September 30, 2020, which included details of the arrangement. With completion of the transfer, OM Digital Solutions Corporation takes over the Imaging business from Olympus.

Heads of sales and marketing and R&D for imaging products will be relocated to the headquarters of OM Digital Solutions Corporation. Production will continue at the facility in Dong Nai province, Vietnam, where imaging products have been manufactured since 2008. OM Digital Solutions Corporation will continue to provide customer support for the imaging products which have been manufactured and sold by Olympus.

”OM Digital Solutions Corporation will develop and introduce unique products to create new value while continuing to provide high-quality, highly reliable products, including the Zuiko and OM brands, which are grounded in optics and digital imaging technologies cultivated by Olympus over many years as well as IC recorder that combines advanced digital voice and sound recording technology with comfortable operability,” said Shigemi Sugimoto, Representative Director and President of OM Digital Solutions Corporation and former Imaging Division Head of Olympus..

“The Imaging business has been at the heart of Olympus since the launch of our first camera, the Semi-Olympus I in 1936, so I am delighted that it will continue to develop and thrive under OM Digital Solutions Corporation,” added Yasuo Takeuchi, President and CEO of Olympus Corporation. “Following the transfer of the Imaging business, Olympus will concentrate on Medical and Scientific Solutions, in our ongoing efforts to become a global medtech company which offers products and services to make people’s lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling.”

Information on OM Digital Solutions Corporation:

• Company name: OM Digital Solutions Corporation
• Location of headquarters: 49-3, Takakura-cho, Hachioji, Tokyo
• Website: https://om-digitalsolutions.com/ (available from January 5)
• Representative Director: Shigemi Sugimoto (Representative Director and President)
• Business operations: Operations involving the manufacture and sale of digital cameras (primarily mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras), interchangeable lenses, and audio products including IC recorders
• Capital: Around 37 billion yen (As of Jan 1, 2021)
• Number of employees: around 2,000 globally

Yongnuo 42.5mm f1.7 Lens Review vs Olympus 45mm f1.8 ep.286

So with Olympus announcing they’re selling off their camera business, what are people thinking re: the future of M43? (Reddit).
6 Features that make Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III great for video (Alfred Paolo Confiado).
Mitakon Speedmaster 25mm F/0.95 on Panasonic G80 (Nespresso test shot).
How to Use Focus Stacking for Landscape Photography (Explora).

Plenty of news on the facebook OMD group, Panasonic FF and the GH5 group.

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E-M1II image samples at Mapcamera.
A film mostly shot on the Panasonic G9 (Road trip in Norway).
Using Google Earth to Plan Landscape Photos (Explora).
First stacking attempt. GX7, Yi 42.5 f/3.5, 16mm tube, 22 images stacked (Barnacles).

Plenty of news on the facebook OMD group, Panasonic FF and the GH5 group.

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The Vazen Anamorphic Review – Presented in 4k Cinemascope (EH Films).
M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400/4.5 TC 1.25x IS PRO (Kroupski – activate youtube translation).
How to setup the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III to shoot ProRes Raw on the Ninja V (Alfred Paolo Confiado).
8 Tips for Improving Framing and Depth in Your Landscape Photographs (Explora).

Plenty of news on the facebook OMD group, Panasonic FF and the GH5 group.

DC.watch interviewed (part 1 and part 2) the Olympus managers and engineers behind th 150-400mm lens development. There is obviously a lot of deep technical talk about the lens. At the end of the interview DC:watch asked them about the future of Olympus and their answer is (google translated):

We want to combine the elements of small size, light weight, and environmental resistance with the merits of the Micro Four Thirds system itself to further sharpen our strength of being able to go anywhere with our hands. think. Of course, we will continue to pursue high image quality. I have always wanted to be able to take better pictures so that customers can take pictures that they couldn’t take before, and I think that will continue to be the same.

As nothing would have happened in the meantime :)

Real talk about the OM-D system (English Version)

Capturing festive Bokeh by Daisy Dickinson.
Filter Holders for Ultra-Wide-Angle Lenses (Explora).
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 150-400/4.5 PRO – Secret Feature (Kroupski – activate youtube translation).
Camera Conspiracies: Best Smartphone vs Best Camera (Huawei P40 Pro vs Olympus EM1 III and Gopro 9)

Plenty of news on the facebook OMD group, Panasonic FF and the GH5 group.

Sirui 35mm F1.8 –Affordable Anamorphic

Get Excited, the Pen F II Might Be Made! Here’s What We’d Love to See (ThePhoBlographer).
lympus PEN-F II Coming? I became an ambassador, again! (Red35).
Adobe Photoshop Elements: The Best Entry to Advanced Photo Editing (Explora).
Olympus 150-400mm PRO lens tested at Mobile01.

Plenty of news on the facebook OMD group, Panasonic FF and the GH5 group.