Sony is selling half its stake in Olympus to investment bank JP Morgan to free up cash for 'strategic investments,' the company has announced. Sony bought a 10% stake in the medical and camera company in 2012, primarily to gain access to the global medical market to which it hoped to apply its sensor, 3D and display technologies. At the time Olympus's future was in doubt, following revelations that it had misstated its accounts having been secretly redirecting money to pay off long-standing debts that has been hidden from investors. Read more
Stories tagged with olympus
James McDaniel is a self-taught photographer with a special interest in roller derby. He's also a Micro Four Thirds shooter, so when we were looking for someone to test out the E-M5 II in the real world with us, we immediately thought of James. Watch our latest video field test to see how how the camera performed on game day, and don't miss an opportunity to see Barney on roller skates. See video
When we attended CP+ last month in Yokohama, Japan we sat down with senior executives from several major camera and lens manufacturers. Among them was Haruo Ogawa, President of the Imaging Business Group and Executive Managing Officer at Olympus Corporation. Among other things we spoke to Mr Ogawa about the current and future direction of Micro Four Thirds and the challenges of introducing 4K video. Click through to read our interview
The Olympus OM-D E-M5 II follows-up on the groundbreaking original E-M5 and brings extra control points (a lot of them) a 40MP high-res mode, better video, improved image stabilization and a host of other refinements, large and small. We've been shooting a lot with the E-M5 II over the past few weeks, and that work has culminated in a full review, with our usual combination of studio and real-world tests. Click through to see what we think
The Olympus Stylus SH-2 is a compact long-zoom camera that bears a remarkable resemblance to the company's PEN series of mirrorless cameras. While it shares the design and 5-axis image stabilization of some of the PEN models, the similarities end there, as the SH-2 is very much a point-and-shoot camera. Learn more about the SH-2 in our hands-on preview. Read more
Olympus has announced an update to its Pen-like travel zoom: the Stylus SH-2. The SH-2 replaces the SH-1 with added support for Raw shooting, while maintaining the previous model's 24x zoom (25-600mm equiv.), 16MP BSI CMOS sensor, 5-axis image stabilization and built-in Wi-Fi. Read more
The Olympus OM-D E-M5 II has attracted a lot of attention, both for its technology and because it succeeds an already popular camera. We sat down with Product Manager Richard Pelkowski to find out more about the technology that went into the E-M5's successor and what might be possible in the future. See video
Our first impressions review of the Olympus OM-D E-M5 II covered the cameras updates, physical features and (of course) our first impressions on using it. Now that we've had some more time with the camera, we've put together some more thoughts on shooting with the E-M5 II - from grey Seattle to the bright sunshine of Bermuda. Read more
According to Setsuya Kataoka, future OM-D cameras will create their multi-shot high resolution images in such a short time that photographers will be able to use the feature handheld. Mr Kataoka, General Manager of Olympus’s product and marketing planning division and the man behind the R&D of the OM film cameras and the E system, spoke to DPReview in the Czech Republic during a European event to demonstrate the features of the new OM-D E-M5 ll. Learn more
We're at the CP+ show in Yokohama Japan, where Olympus is showing its new OM-D E-M5 enthusiast mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, and the 'Air' - a modular camera concept aimed at keen DIY enthusiasts and 'hackers'. As well as the two cameras, Olympus is also showing off two upcoming M43 lenses. Click through for more information, and images
At a glance the Olympus OM-D E-M5 II appears relatively unchanged from its predecessor, so you have to look a little closer to see how much work Olympus has put into the new model. The E-M5 II uses a redesigned 16MP Four Thirds sensor and offers a 40MP high-resolution shot mode powered by its 5-axis image stabilization. See its high-resolution mode in action and learn more about the subtle improvements included in the E-M5 II in our First Impressions Review. Read more
Olympus has unveiled the OM-D E-M5 II. Picking up where its successor left off, the E-M5 II continues to offer weather sealing and 5-axis IS while adding a redesigned 16MP Four Thirds sensor and 5-axis image stabilization. The E-M5 II also boasts a 40MP high resolution shot mode, achieved by shifting the sensor in half-pixel steps and capturing eight images over a period of one second. Read more
Olympus has announced a revamped, second generation of its 14-150mm F4.0-5.6 zoom. Resistant to dust and moisture, it uses a new ZERO (Zuiko Extra-low Reflection Optical) coating to protect against scratches and minimize flare. Read more
The Olympus OM-D E-M1 is about to get an update with the release of firmware version 3.0 later this month. The update's primary function is to boost maximum framerate from 6.5 fps to 9 when shooting in continuous AF mode, thanks to enhancements for the camera's 37-point phase-detect algorithm. Read more
Olympus has revealed plans for an 8mm F1.8 fisheye lens with its 'Pro' designation. The super-wide lens will offer a
Olympus has refreshed its rugged compact series with the Stylus Tough TG-860. It offers a 16MP BSI-CMOS sensor and is capable of diving to greater depths than its predecessor, the TG-850 iHS, as it's waterproof to 15m/50 ft (compared to 10m/33ft). Other new features include Wi-Fi and a pair of customizable buttons. Read more
Olympus has released v2.0 firmware for its OM-D styled premium compact camera, the Stylus 1, which will enable users to fit a wide angle converter to the lens. The update also introduces useful features like focus peaking, 35mm equiv. step zoom, interval shooting and time lapse modes. Read more
Each year Olympus hosts an international competition for images captured through light microscopes. Entries come in from around 70 countries and number in the thousands, revealing the weird and wonderful microscopic world otherwise hidden from the human eye. See this year's winning entries
Rumors are circulating about a possible successor to the Olympus OM-D E-M5. According to rumor site 43rumors.com, the camera is likely to be called the Olympus E-M5II or the Olympus E-M5 Mark II and is said to feature a 16MP sensor but with a sensor shift function allowing users to boost resolution up to an equivalent 40MP. Read more (albeit not all that much more)
Rumors have surfaced that the Olympus E-M5 has reached the end of its production. According to 4/3rumors, retailers in US and Europe have received notice from Olympus that it has stopped production of the camera. Olympus hasn't made an official announcement yet. Read more
When Olympus announced the high-end OM-D E-M1, it promised that it would be making a wideangle zoom and super-telephoto prime in its matching 'PRO' line of lenses. The M.Zuiko Digital ED 7-14mm 1:2.8 PRO shares many design features with the current 12-40mm 1:2.8 PRO, while the M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm 1:4 PRO offers a 600mm equivalent angle of view. We got our hands on some pre-production samples at this year's Photo Plus Expo in New York. Click through for pictures
Olympus has announced the Japan-only release of the Stylus 1s, a successor to its Stylus 1 enthusiast compact camera. Maintaining almost all of the same hardware as the Stylus 1, the Stylus 1s offers an OM-D based design with a fixed lens and provides some software upgrades. Read more
Today Olympus announced the release of its Olympus Capture software, which is designed to bring tethering to owners of the OM-D E-M1. The software, along with the new E-M1 firmware 2.0, was announced last week at Photokina, but today photographers can finally take advantage of the new feature set. Read more
The Olympus booth was relatively quiet compared to the madhouses at Nikon and Canons' stands, which made it easier to get up close and personal with the company's new lenses. We also took a look at some of their recent cameras, and have a few cutaways, as well. Read more.
Olympus has announced the M.Zuiko ED 40-150mm F2.8 Pro lens. Built to withstand the elements, this dust, splash and freezeproof telephoto zoom covers a range equivalent to 80-300mm. Also announced is a 1.4x teleconverter, which when used with the 40-150mm boosts the equivalent telephoto reach to 420mm. Read more
Olympus celebrates the start of Photokina with the announcement of a major firmware update for the OM-D E-M1 that enables tethered shooting, in-camera 'digital shift' keystone composition, and the E-M10's Live Composite mode. Also announced is the availability of a silver version of the previously only-available-in-black E-M1. Read more
At first glance the Olympus PEN E-PL7 looks like yet another compact, selfie-friendly mirrorless camera -- but looks can be deceiving. The innards of the camera come largely from the excellent OM-D E-M10, and Olympus touts the E-PL7's autofocus system as its best yet. For all the details on the latest PEN, check out our First Impressions Review.
Olympus has announced the PEN E-PL7, refreshing its entry-level mirrorless line. It offers a 16MP CMOS sensor, 3-axis image stabilization system borrowed from the OM-D E-M10, 8 fps continuous shooting and built-in Wi-Fi. Not forgetting the self-portrait-obsessed masses, the E-PL7 provides an articulated 3" touch LCD capable of flipping downward by 180°. Along with the E-PL7, Olympus has also announced an update to its OI.Share app as well as a black version of its 12mm F2.0 prime. Read more
The Olympus Pen E-PL6, first announced in 2013 for the Asian market, is set to be introduced to the UK kitted with a pancake-style zoom lens and a Wi-Fi memory card. The M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 EZ zoom lens is a pancake design, which Olympus claims is the slimmest of its type in this class. The 16.1 megapixel camera uses the same Live MOS sensor and TruePic VI processor as the 2012 PEN E-PL5 it replaces. It will retail in the UK for £429.99 from mid-July.
Olympus US has announced a new video series. Titled 'Anywhere Classroom', the videos provide beginners with tips for a variety of shooting scenarios. The first three videos launch today, featuring Olympus Visionary Jay Dickman offering tips for outdoor photography and demonstrating with the OM-D E-M1. A second season is planned for fall 2014 featuring advice for light painting and night shooting. See video
The Olympus Stylus SP-100 EE is a superzoom camera with a built-in dot-sight that enables you to easily track moving subjects while the lens is zoomed in. The dot-sight pops up just above the high-resolution electronic viewfinder. To make long zoom focusing easier, the SP-100 also features a focus limiter, which lets the user choose what distances the camera searches. The SP-100 combines a 16MP BSI CMOS sensor with a 24-1200mm 50x optical zoom that captures 1080/60p HD video. We've been playing with it for a couple of weeks, to see how well it performs. See gallery
The Olympus Tough TG-3 is a slightly more enthusiast-focused rugged compact, offering a 25-100mm equiv. F2.0-4.9 lens, 16 megapixel sensor, built-in GPS and Wi-Fi. It's waterproof to 15m/50 ft, shockproof to 2.1m/7 ft and freezeproof to -10° C/14° F. Like its peers it records 1080p HD video. We put its waterproof claims to the test - find out how it did in the real-world. See gallery
It seems that Olympus might be planning to jump on the wearable camera bandwagon with a device that looks similar to Google's 'Glass'. A newly published Oly patent (JP2013/075623) describes a wearable device that comes with either one or two transparent screens in front of the wearer's eye. Click through for more information on connect.dpreview.com.
Update: Following on the release of a significant new v1.4 firmware update for the Pen E-P5 last week, Olympus has issued another fix. Version 1.5 reportedly addresses a problem introduced by 1.4 in which displayed values for shooting parameters did not change. Firmware v1.4 introduced improved Wi-Fi remote control functionality to the E-P5 and a '0 sec' anti-shock setting. The latter was added to help prevent blurred images at certain shutter speeds - our main gripe when we reviewed the camera.
Olympus has issued new firmware versions for the OM-D E-M10 and E-M1. The E-M10 gets the same zero-second anti-shock mode recently added to the Pen E-P5 in an attempt to work around shutter shock problems. The E-M1 update adds a variety of new features, including several when used with Olympus OI.Share smartphone app. Learn more
A year on from the camera's announcement, Olympus has issued a significant firmware update for its PEN E-P5. The update not only adds a trigger-only 'cable release' mode to its Wi-Fi functions, it also provides a feature to combat the biggest problem with the camera. The new '0 sec Anti-Shock' option provides a work-around for the image shake that held the E-P5 back in our original review. Is the new firmware enough to elevate the E-P5 to the select company of Gold award winners? Find out
Olympus has updated the firmware of its PEN E-P5 mirrorless camera, introducing improved Wi-Fi remote control functionality and a '0 sec' anti-shock setting. The latter should help prevent blurred images at certain shutter speeds - our main gripe when we reviewed the camera. There's also an update for the Stylus 1 enthusiast compact with similarly-enhanced Wi-Fi control. Both updates are available to download and install now.
The Olympus Stylus SH-1 brings the manufacturer's well-regarded 5-axis image stabilization to a fixed lens compact for the first time. The SH-1 looks the part too with its Pen-inspired styling, and offers a substantial 25-600mm equivalent zoom. Who could resist taking it for a spin? That's exactly what we did, and we've come back with a gallery of real-world samples to prove it. See photos
Reuters reports six Japanese trust banks have filed a lawsuit against Olympus for ¥27.9bn (around $273 million) in damages relating to the company’s false financial statements. According to the report this is the fifth publicly recognized lawsuit stemming from a 2011 accounting scandal. Olympus said it would set aside ¥17bn ($166.49m) to settle three of those five suits. Learn more
Mockups have been published showing a new Olympus OM-D OM-G. Apparently released to mark the 30th anniversary of the original film OM-G (sold as the OM-20 in Europe), we understand the OM-G will offer full native support for legacy manual focus Olympus lenses, and a full-frame BSI-CMOS sensor. Details are scarce but rumors suggest the OM-G will offer a hybrid optical and electronic viewfinder with a ground glass focusing screen and six-axis image stabilization. Click through to read more.
Olympus has updated the firmware for its flagship mirrorless camera, the OM-D E-M1, adding a mode that's designed to eliminate image blurring due to 'shutter shock' by using an electronic first curtain at speeds below 1/320sec. The update also adds more options for audio control during movie recording. It's available to install now, using the 'Olympus Digital Camera Updater' program.
The Olympus Stylus SH-1 may look like a PEN mirrorless camera, but it's actually a compact travel zoom. But it has inherited a pretty big feature from the PEN: 5-axis image stabilization. Other features of note include a 16MP BSI-CMOS sensor, 25-600mm equiv. F3.0-6.9 lens, touchscreen 3" LCD, limited manual control, 1080/60p video, and built-in Wi-Fi. It will be available in May in black, white, and silver for under $400.
Olympus has announced the Tough TG-3, which takes its place as the flagship in the company's rugged camera lineup. The TG-3 sports a 16MP BSI-CMOS sensor and 25-100mm equiv. F2.0-4.9 lens, plus a 3-inch LCD, GPS, and Wi-Fi. It's waterproof to 15m, shockproof to 2.1m, crushproof to 100kgf, and freezeproof to -10C. The TG-3 supports a new Light Guide accessory, which turns the built-in LED lamp into a macro ring light.
The Olympus OM-D E-M10 is the third incarnation of Olympus' popular range of high-end mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras. The E-M10 boasts some impressive DNA, using the same excellent 16MP Four Thirds sensor as its E-M5 sibling. We've been shooting with it extensively over the past few weeks, hoping to find out whether this 'digital' OM is as capable as the two that preceded it. Those are two solid acts to follow - how does the OM-D E-M10 perform? Find out in our review
Earlier this week, Japanese patent blog Egami reported that Olympus has patented a technology that would allow the photographer to selectively adjust exposure of different scene areas during an exposure. This might allow for a more balanced exposure of scenes where cameras might normally struggle. Click through for an explanation of what we think the patent might mean for photographers.
The Olympus OM-D E-M10 was announced about a month ago, the third addition to the digital revival of the OM line. It lacks the weather sealing of its siblings but inherits a number of excellent features from the existing OM-D models. Sound enticing? We've gotten familiar with the E-M10 over the past few weeks. The full review is on the way but for now, read our shooter's report, and compare the E-M10 to a growing list of cameras in our new studio test scene.
After the CP+ show in Yokohama closed last week, editor Barnaby Britton journeyed out to Olympus's design facility in Hachioji to speak to executives and engineers. Among the people he spoke to was Hirofumi Imano, Division Manager of Product Strategy. In a broad-ranging interview, Mr. Imano explained the company's strategies for competing in a tough market, the genesis of the OM-D line, opportunities in video and why he thinks Canon and Nikon might not be making high-end mirrorless cameras.
After the CP+ show in Yokohama closed last week, editor Barnaby Britton journeyed out to Olympus's design facility in Hachioji to speak to executives and engineers. Among the people he spoke to was Hirofumi Imano division manager of product strategy.
When Olympus announced the high-end OM-D E-M1, it promised that it would be making a wideangle zoom and super-telephoto prime in its matching 'PRO' line of lenses. Now it's given a few more details for those products. The M.Zuiko Digital ED 7-14mm 1:2.8 PRO shares many design features with the current 12-40mm 1:2.8 PRO, while the M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm 1:4 PRO offers a 600mm equivalent angle of view. Both lenses are dust- and splash-proof, and will be available next year. Click through for more details and pictures of the lenses
Olympus has issued a firmware update for the OM-D E-M5, adding two new features that owners should welcome: an extended 'Low' ISO setting and smaller AF points. The ISO 100-equivalent setting promises lower noise, and enables shooting of fast primes at closer to maximum aperture in daylight, but comes at the cost of earlier highlight clipping. Also being added to the E-M5 is the ability to select smaller AF target points for more accurate focusing. Get the update
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