Olympus Is Getting Out of the Camera Business

Olympus has announced that it is getting out of the camera business. The company has been producing cameras in the Micro Four Thirds format, which uses a smaller sensor than the more popular APS-C format and is about one quarter the area of full-frame sensors used in professional gear. However, the Olympus cameras have been popular with sports and wildlife photographers, because of their smaller size and extended reach created by the smaller sensor. (A 50 mm. lens on an Olympus camera effectively functions as a 100 mm. telephoto). 

In a press release issued today, Olympus says that following due diligence it will sell its imaging business to Japan Industrial Partners by September 30, 2020. With Olympus’ exit from the camera game, the company will refocus its efforts on its medical and industrial imaging products, while JIP (which is the same company that took over Sony’s Vaio PC business in 2014) looks to restructure Olympus’ camera division into a new “efficient and agile” company that can “realize its self-sustainable and continuous growth.”

However, while Olympus is removing itself from day-to-day operations of its former camera business, it’s influence may not disappear completely, as Olympus says it will help operate the new camera company with JIP as JIP looks to preserve things like the “OM-D” and “Zuiko” branding.

This transition could be especially important for anyone with a Micro Four Thirds camera, which is a camera format that has been jointly managed by Olympus and Panasonic since its creation back in 2008. However, with Olympus now getting out the camera market and Panasonic having found success with its recent line of full-frame mirrorless cameras, it quite possible that Olympus’s exit from the camera world could also result in the death of the Micro Four Thirds standard sometime in the not-too-distant future.

It could be a tough time for camera manufacturers, as phone cameras continue to get better and better. I've heard rumblings that Nikon could be in trouble, for example. And the pandemic is affecting both production and marketing of new equipment.