Olympus interview at Explora: “Again, Olympus views this transfer as an opportunity to enable its Imaging Division to continue providing value to both new and experienced photographers”

There is a new Q&A with Mr. Aki Murata posted on Explora:

With the support of JIP, we believe the consumer Imaging business will have the ability to build a foundation for improving profit structure and managing the business over the medium to long term as a new company, while accumulating innovative technologies and developing a solid brand position in the market.

Don’t know if those statements are just “damage control” or if they are seriously thinking to somehow continue to work on cameras in partnership with JIP.

Tokina just announced this 400mm f/8 Reflex lens (for MFT too)

Tokina announced this 400mm f/8 Reflex lens which you can use on any MFT camera with the Tokina Mount Adapter TA-015 for Micro 4/3.

Press text:

Tokina SZX SUPER TELE 400mm F8 Reflex MF lens worldwide sales date announcement

Jul 17, 2020

Kenko Tokina Co., Ltd. is pleased to announce the sales release of Tokina SZX SUPER TELE 400mm F8 Reflex MF lens.

Sales will commence on August 7, 2020.

Tokina SZX SUPER TELE 400mm F8 Reflex MF is a 400mm super tele lens that adopts catadioptric type optical design with a constant F8 aperture. The lens offers compact alternative to standard tele photo lenses as more and more photographers are looking for easy-to-carry gear. 400mm F8 Reflex MF is designed keeping in mind active travel photographers seeking for outdoor landscape, wild nature or birds by providing compact and lightweight lens to be rediscovered in the new era of also compact but high-tech mirrorless cameras.

Highlighted Features

  • Extremely compact and lightweight super tele lens
  • Macro shooting with 1:2.5 magnification
  • Specific donut-shaped and super smooth bokeh
  • Easy and precise focusing
  • Super compression effect
  • Versatile mount system for 5 camera mounts including 3 mirrorless mounts

Tokina SZX SUPER TELE 400mm F8 Reflex MF adopts 0.75mm pitch and 42mm thread mount standard, that allows this lens to be attached to any camera by using different mount adapters.

Tokina SZX SUPER TELE 400mm F8 Reflex MF can be required in Solo and Kit packages as below:

  • Tokina SZX SUPER TELE 400mm F8 Reflex MF (w/o mount adapter included)
  • Tokina SZX SUPER TELE 400mm F8 Reflex MF to fit Nikon F (with mount adapter included)
  • Tokina SZX SUPER TELE 400mm F8 Reflex MF to fit Canon EF (with mount adapter included)
  • Tokina SZX SUPER TELE 400mm F8 Reflex MF to fit Sony E (with mount adapter included)
  • Tokina SZX SUPER TELE 400mm F8 Reflex MF to fit Fujifilm X (with mount adapter included)
  • Tokina SZX SUPER TELE 400mm F8 Reflex MF to fit Micro 4/3 (with mount adapter included)

Mount adapters can be also purchased separately:

Olympus tells at Dpreview: “We think the transfer of the Imaging Division will have a positive effect on our imaging business. We will continue to develop the Micro Four Thirds system”


Image courtesy Dpreview

In an interview released at Dpreview Setsuya Kataoka, VP of Global Strategy, Olympus Imaging Division said this:

First, I would like to stress that the sale of the Imaging Division does not mean that we will withdraw from the imaging business. We will continue to offer unique and exciting products. Of course there will be some changes in management, and transformation of the organizational structure after the transfer, but these changes are to stabilize the business and strengthen the organization and our operations. We think the transfer of the Imaging Division will have a positive effect on our imaging business.

Maybe I am missing something but I can’t figure out the meaning of this statement. They sell the Imaging Division but this is not the end of their Imaging Business? Only rationale answer I can give myself is that Olympus will retain a considerable share in the new company they will make with JIP. Still I wonder why than future cameras cannot use the “Olympus” name

And here some more news:

  • Production of existing models will continue even after the sale to JIP
  • He also said: “I don’t expect that anything will happen that will not be good for our users. In all of our conversations about the transfer, ‘user first’ has been the bottom line.“
  • Future focus will be on High-end cameras and lenses and he stresses that “we will continue to develop the Micro Four Thirds system“

I don’t know, but I still have mixed feeling in this. It’s hard to trust Olympus manager after they told us many time this year they wouldn’t seel the Imaging Business…

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