Olympus Imaging being sold (Page 2): The crazy thing is...I'm still quite happy with my EM1ii. Rarely do I bump up against image quality issues (that aren't caused by user error).

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

The crazy thing is...I'm still quite happy with my EM1ii. Rarely do I bump up against image quality issues (that aren't caused by user error).

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

If I decided switch...it would probably be to a Panasonic m4/3 body. Or a newer EM1iii body. I was really looking forward to a weather sealed Pen-f mkii body.

Bob3

bikerguy wrote:

Apparently it has not disappeared. There is a website (see below) for the Vaio with usb C, SD card slot and other plugs as well as 4K Ulta HD. If that is disappeared then all laptops have.

https://us.vaio.com/collections/vaio-sx14

Unfortunately they purchased the name from JIT and sell non-Sony Vio computers and do not support Sony products. This will probably happen with Olympus cameras.

HiFromSusan

Bob3 wrote:

Unfortunately they purchased the name from JIT and sell non-Sony Vio computers and do not support Sony products. This will probably happen with Olympus cameras.

Maybe so, but I suspect not. Olympus has some really fantastic technology to share, which wasn't the case with Sony Vaio. Isn't that why we are so lyal to Olympus? JIP would have to be a fool to dismiss all that with a wave of the financial hand, it would be in their best interest to make use of it and further it along.

Also, there is something in the papers about NewCo, of which Olympus will become part-owner. I don't think Olympus is going to go away soon. . . at least, not without a fight.

In the long run, though, we will just have to wait and see. In the meantime, I look forward to some reallyreallyREALLY good bargains as all the naysayers try to dump all they Oly gear!

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Anything that is said here is pure speculation. As John Belushi said in Animal House, "It ain't over 'til it's over!"

Micro 4/3 is a standard. Olympus cameras are built to certain standards and expectations. Anyone buying the camera division from Olympus should know that they have one chance to meet customer expectations, or they will be abandoned.

Here's a link to a news report and a press release:

https://www.dpreview.com/news/6607157941/olympus-in-agreement-to-sell-imaging-business-by-the-end-of-the-year?utm_source=self-desktop&utm_medium=marquee&utm_campaign=traffic_source

Since this is just an Agreement in Principle, it is subject to change...

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

HiFromSusan wrote:

Maybe so, but I suspect not. Olympus has some rea... (show quote)

Good points. VAIO was just another PC clone. The few folks I know who had them said they sucked. They bought Dells or Panasonic Toughbooks or MacBook Pros to replace them.

The used gear market will be interesting to watch. There are some PRIMO Olympus Zuiko lenses I'd consider, at the right price.

dick ranez

The reason I don't buy Sony cameras is that I got stuck with a room full of VAIO computers when they dropped out of the computer business by selling to JIP. Support disappeared, resale value (what little there was) tanked and JIP pulled them from the market. Don't know what they did with the technology but if the same thing happens to Olympus............ I would have thought that Panasonic would have absorbed Olympus for the excellent IBIS and lens technicians to protect the investment in M4/3.

adm

This is shocking but hardly surprising. I think the corona virus was what pushed them over the edge. Camera sales have declined more over the last few months than almost any other product. This is on top of a market that was declining to begin with. If people are stuck at home and cannot go anywhere, even those who are looking for greater than smartphone quality are not going to buy cameras. I am an Olympus shooter and am concerned but am trying not to indulge in a doom and gloom scenario. It is possible that JIP can turn things around and improve an already great system. At least I am willing to give them a chance before bailing from Olympus. One area where Olympus cameras have lagged behind is in sensor quality. 20 megapixels is the max and some of their cameras have only 16 megapixels. There are now 33 megapixel Micro 4/3 sensors, such as the one used by Sharp. If Olympus does eventually fold, I can use my lenses on Panasonic Micro 4/3 cameras or go back to Nikon, since I have many Nikkor lenses from the film era. Let's see what JIP can do.

Tinkwmobile

For a news release

https://www.cnet.com/news/olympus-exiting-the-camera-business/

wthomson Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Just received a note from Tom Stirr: "I received a comment from a reader that shed more light on JIP… they are a vulture capital firm… so this does not look that positive for Olympus. I have taken down the article as my assessment was inaccurate.

Looks like it could be the end for Olympus cameras…"

SIGH....

adm

wthomson wrote:

Just received a note from Tom Stirr: "I received a comment from a reader that shed more light on JIP… they are a vulture capital firm… so this does not look that positive for Olympus. I have taken down the article as my assessment was inaccurate.

Looks like it could be the end for Olympus cameras…"

SIGH....

JIP is the same company that bought VAIO computers from Sony. The brand still exists and is being sold today. Pentax has been bought and sold several times and still exists. So, it is not necessarily the end of the road.

wthomson Loc: Tempe, Arizona

In the "For what it's worth department": Today only, Olympus is selling the refurbished TOUGH TG-6 for $260.

WHOOPS--When I looked up the url, it said "Out of Stock". Sorry for the false alarm.

HiFromSusan

dick ranez wrote:

The reason I don't buy Sony cameras is that I got stuck with a room full of VAIO computers . . .

The reason I don't buy Sony cameras is that they are overpriced and underperform. You have to go up to the ff 7r series before you get most of the features that I have on my EM10iii!

moonhawk Loc: Land of Enchantment

I just took delivery of my em1x today. hope the gloomiest predictions are wrong. At least until the new long zooms are released.

hpucker99 Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

wthomson wrote:

Just received a note from Tom Stirr: "I received a comment from a reader that shed more light on JIP… they are a vulture capital firm… so this does not look that positive for Olympus. I have taken down the article as my assessment was inaccurate.

Looks like it could be the end for Olympus cameras…"

SIGH....

From what I managed to find out about JIP is that they are similar to Bain Capital and others in the US in buying troubled companies and downsizing/right-sizing/asset sales to keep the remains of the company profitable. I hope JIP tries to keep Olympus going for some time, but if after some years of additional losses after their changes in Olympus, assets and patents will be on the auction block.