How many of you have heard of the MDN? The MDN was the centerpiece of a prototype modular 35-mm camera system called the M-System developed by legendary Olympus engineer Yoshihisa Maitani. The idea was that you could combine the MDN camera unit with modules of your choice, including viewfinder modules, lens modules, motor drive modules, and film magazine modules, depending on your needs.
It was actually the MDS unit, a simplified version of the MDN, that later evolved into a camera we all know as the OM-1. Development of the OM-1 was prioritized over the development of the M-System, and the M-System ended up never making it to the market.
However, it was the advanced M-System prototype that helped make the OM-1 overcome common SLR issues such as being big and bulky, heavy, and prone to shutter shock. And it was the various motor drives, macro units, etc., that paved the way for the OM-1’s full camera system rich with accessories. In such ways, the origins of the OM-1 can be found in the modules of the M-Systems. Read the descriptions of each individual image to find out more.
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