Olympus publishes Annual Report. Says wants to focus on OMD cameras, 8K video and PRO lens development

Share

Olympus published their full Annual Report documents. Here are few highlights about their future goals in the Imaging Business:

1) Focus on the development of high-value-added mirrorless cameras (primarily OM-D series) and interchangeable lenses
(PRO series) boasting competitive prices
2)  Develop systems that allow for improved efficiency in new product manufacturing start-ups and mass production by
transferring production to Vietnam
3) Establish comprehensive range of technologies for 4K and 8K video, development of devices necessary for recording at
these resolutions, and optimization of interface with outputs (monitors)

I guess this means the PEN range will have a minor role in the future (make sense). I am surprised to hear Olympus talk about 8K video commitment.

This is what the detailed report:

Operating Environment and Forecasts
The compact digital camera market is rapidly contracting due to the spread of smartphones, and the Imaging Business continues to face a harsh operating environment as a result. In order to address this major market change, we are pushing forward with structural reforms to shrink the Imaging Business to a more appropriate scale. As one facet of this undertaking, we have developed conservative sales plans with a narrower scope—only including focus products and market segments—that do not presume the pursuit of sales growth, even in the core mirrorless camera market. We aim to minimize risks through this limited scope. In conjunction with this shift in focus, we are revising cost structures to realize a business structure that will enable the Imaging Business to continue generating income, despite the reduced sales. We are also enhancing earnings structures by strengthening sales of high-margin interchangeable lens products

Share

Panasonic-Leica 8-18mm test at Lenstip: “one of the most interesting ultra wide-angle lenses available on the market”

Share

Lenstip posted the full Leica 8-18mm lens review:

It is a solid device, with good aperture fastness, physically small and handy, allowing you to use filters with a normal diameter. It is also characterized by an excellent image quality in the frame centre and a very good correction of the majority of optical aberrations. If only the image quality on the edge was a bit better and the price a tad lower, you would have an ideal instrument.

Pros:

  • Solid, metal casing,
  • Excellent image quality in the frame centre at all focal lengths,
  • Imperceptible longitudinal chromatic aberration,
  • Slight lateral chromatic aberration,
  • Lack of problems with spherical aberration,
  • Properly corrected coma,
  • Lower vignetting than in the case of the majority of rivals,
  • Silent, very fast, and efficient autofocus.

Cons:

  • Very high distortion level for RAW files,
  • Image on the edge of the frame at longer focal lengths could have been better.

Leica 8-18mm lens at  Adorama, BHphoto, Panasonic and Amazon. In Europe at Amazon.de.

Share

Weekly 43rumors readers pictures roundup…

Share


Mason Morris
Got a light?! #LuckyStrike @ the #PortWashington #lighthouse.
Captured w/ Get Olympus Em1.m2 & #ZuikoPro 40-150 f/2.8 #m43 43rumors #WIWX

1) You can share your pics by using posting on our 43rumors Facebook page (Click here).
2) All 43rumors readers pictures can be seen here: https://www.facebook.com/43rumors/posts_to_page/. Like the pictures you like and chat with the authors if you want to know how they took the shot!
3) The most liked pictures and some pics selected by myself will be posted weekly on 43rumors

This is the weekly selection:

Share
Read more

Back in Stock: Reconditioned E-M1II for $1,699

Share

It’s back in Stock: Reconditioned E-M1II for $1,699 at GetOlympus.

Reminder:
New Olympus trade-in program at BHphoto, Adorama and GetOlympus.
The Olympus 17mm f/1.8 got a new price drop and now sells for $349 at Amazon, Adorama, Bhphoto and GetOlympus.
You now pay the lowest price ever on the Olympus 60mm macro lens sold by Amazon, BHphoto, GetOlympus and Adorama.
You save $100 on the Olympus lens kits sold by BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama and GetOlympus.

Share

a bit of everything…

Share


Nikon W300 vs. Olympus TG-5 Road Trip Shootout

Spekular is a modular LED lighting system you can reshape to suit your needs (Dpreview).
WD My Book Duo Features New Design and USB-C (Explora).
Plenty of news on the facebook E-M1II group and the GH5 group.

Little Island Media: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHnstnZVo_A My first weekend with the GH5 I did a one hour test shoot at the gym. Video was shot at 200 IS0 in a modified Cinelike D picture profile. I used the olympus 25mm 1.8 and 45mm 1.8 exclusively. Please share with the community if you like it!

Taka:Just wanted to share a video i took for the solar eclipse of 2017.  Shot with GH3 with Canon FD 400mm f4.5 with 2x tele converter.  Thanks!
https://vimeo.com/231649408

Mike:Last year you guys were gracious enough to share the trailer for my feature documentary South Bureau Homicide, shot entirely (with the exception of a few GoPro shots) on the Panasonic GH3. The film is now available in the US on Amazon Video, free to stream for Prime Members, as well as available for sale and rent. Would love for you guys to add this to an appropriate post as I think the project shows the capability for long form documentary with micro four thirds gear: http://a.co/6Z3PxIs, http://www.southbureauhomicide.com

Share