HiFromSusan

If you think Olympus is the only camera maker in financial trouble, take a look at Nikon

https://www.dpreview.com/news/7429430383/nikon-fy2020-results-revenue-operating-profit-loss-for-imaging-products-business

Canon isn't out of the woods, either.

https://www.dpreview.com/news/7131579309/canon-q1-financial-results-show-imaging-systems-sales-and-profits-are-down-13-9-and-80-6-yoy

Sony's doing a little better, but only a little:

http://www.divephotoguide.com/underwater-photography-scuba-ocean-news/sony-reports-slight-growth-versus-big-losses-canon-nikon/

and they are taking big losses on their mobile products, so. . .

I think the doomsayers are tripping over their own feet in announcing that this JIP move is the death knell of Olympus. If it is, they took a pretty crooked path towards bankruptcy, IMHO, by trying to restructure its losses and regain its sales by PARTNERING with a private investment company (read the Memorandum carefully).

I'm willing to wait and see, and in the meantime I have 2 Oly lenses on order. I am so tired of these kinds of threads, so this is the last one I am going to read. . .best wishes to all who have invested in Oly equipment or are thinking about it. I'm going to take some pictures now!!!

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

I have used MacOS from 1985, and Windows from 1989 forward. Most of that time, I had both platforms on my desk until 2012, and used them for different purposes. From 2008 to present, I’ve run Windows on my Mac with Parallels Desktop.

I had seven different desktop PCs and three laptops. Only my Dell laptop ran with no issues. I had hardware issues with a Toshiba laptop and a generic clone laptop. Two desktop generics, an HP, a couple of Gateways, and two Dells all had issues. Two power supply meltdowns, six drive failures, and a trackpad failure...

Of the 11 Macs, I had issues with three, a 17” PowerBook G4 and a 15” MacBook Pro, that Apple fixed for free due to recalls. In 1987, my Power Mac 800 got dropped off a cart by IT... The rest were abandoned in favor of new.

As for Vaio, the recent reviews have been lackluster. It’s not a Sony product, and features seem outdated.

saichiez Loc: Beautiful Central Oregon

Actually, Minolta sold out to Konica to become Konica Minolta. Both good strong products. Then Sony purchased Konica Minolta. For some time, the Konica Minolta lenses worked on the Sony Camera platform. Hard to transition that to how that relates to what is happening with Olympus.

I have been a strong supporter of Olympus since using their 6X6 folders and then the rangefinder and SLR lines. I was a user of all the Oly OM bodies, and took up their digital offering when Olympus, Panasonic and Leica all formed the 4/3 consortium. Although Leica did not follow through with the 4/3 sensor, they formed a strong Alliance with Panasonic on lens provision.

It's hard for me to envision a world without Olympus. They started the Mirrorless concept at least a decade before other players came into the market. They have the broadest range of lenses of ALL the mirrorless market and the lightest, fastest AF and incredible in body IS.

There is a huge used inventory out there to choose from. Nobody knows at this point what the Investment company who is buying Olympus camera division. But on their tail is Panasonic, virtually a twin platform but with more emphasis on video.

I certainly would not shy from Olympus based only on what is conjecture at the point. But, I can't see them NOT producing camera's and continuing a record of aggressive evolution, as they have for decades.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

This deal is not a done deal yet.

If it goes well, and I think it will, it will be sold off. But the initial indications are that Olympus will retain some holdings in this new company. Management and overall ownership over this new company will JIP. This says to me that the new company will be streamlined for the competitive camera market. And if Olympus does retain some holdings in the new company, are they intending to do it at a loss?

All camera manufacturers are down over 50% in sales. If one looks at the sales for this year, Sony is running about 26% of the market with Canon about 23% and Olympus about 22%. So Olympus is not doing poorly. It is just Olympus has suffered two previous years of losses. They had planned this to be their turn around year. And then the pandemic. And Olympus is not the only one taking profit losses. Even Sony and Canon are taking losses.

And if the sale of the Olympus camera division falls through, what then? My guess is they will hold on to the division and see if they can find another buyer. During that time, the great sale prices that are going on now will continue. My feelings are they then should streamline their marketing and cautiously look for a new buyer. With sales still in line with Sony and even closer to Canon, if this sale does falls through, their division could break closer to even than most people think. If this sale falls through, it could end up with Olympus retaining the camera division (which will probably make a profit next year no matter who owns it).

I am not selling my Olympus gear. It has worked without problems since 2011 and I expect it to continue to do so. I still will be buying new lenses. The 12-100 f4 Pro IS and the coming 100 macro lens are still on my radar. And even if the Olympus brand does disappear in the next five to ten years, I can still use a Panasonic body for any 5 or 10 year future plans.

My basic system is a E-M1 mkII with a 7-14 f2.8 Pro lens, an older 14-54 f2.8/3.5 non-micro Pro lens, and a film day's 90 f2 macro lens. With two flashes (one is the small flash that came with the E-M1 mkII), filters, extra battery, camera bag, and other accessories, it is all under 7.5 pounds and fits in the 6 X 11 X 12 bag. Panasonic is also in the same category and available if you really are fearful of buying Olympus. But they lack the dual sensor for things like birds in flight. Maybe they will have it in the near future.

I personally think you will be safe buying Olympus for now and the future of the 4/3rds systems. Your back and arms will thank you.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

It could be that in 5 years from now, photographers that sold their 4/3rds gear in a panic will be kicking themselves in the rear for doing so.

adm

I am an Olympus user. I love the system but am concerned as well. I think there is a much better than even chance that the new owner will continue to make cameras for the foreseeable future. In the unlikely event that they stop making cameras after several years, there will be many cameras on the used market. Also, all of your Olympus lenses will work on Panasonic Lumix Micro 4/3 cameras. Panasonic appears to be committed to the Micro 4/3 system and in fact has just introduced a new model. There is always a risk but I say if you like the Olympus Micro 4/3 system, go for it.

n3eg Loc: West coast USA

There's always the support issue. Olympus about a month or so ago decided they weren't going to update their Camera Updater and Workspace software to allow saving settings in the EM5 III and E-M1 III cameras. This means to me that their software engineers are already gone. I would consider support and repair as significant issues going forward.

As far as future cameras, lenses, and so on: I wouldn't count on it - and I say this as an Olympus user since 2013 and supporter of the micro four thirds system. I wouldn't count on Panasonic either - they have one foot in FF already.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

I love M43 I have been using M43 since 2008. I bought an OM-D in 2017 and I love it. I was planning on investing more in Olympus lenses.

It’s business as usual for now. But with the sale nobody knows the future of the Olympus system after Jan 2021. Will it continue or be dismantled? Will it be possible to get repairs, parts? Or will all the Olympus cameras be isolated from support?

Until I know the answers i can’t see investing any money in Olympus camera bodies.

Olympus Lenses are a different story as they will work on Panasonic m43 bodies.

aikiboy

I have a Panny G9 and G85 and an Olympus em10 ii. I like each for different reasons. I suggest that you consider whether you want to buy into micro 4/3 first, and if you do, figure that Pansonic will likely be around for a while and you can also pick up some nice deals on Olympus lenses and bodies in the next year. I like the menu and handling of the Lumix cameras more, and the size of the Oly when I don't want to carry much.

hpucker99 Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

I switched from the Sony APS-C A6300 last fall to an Olympus E-M1m2 with the 14-150 lens. I have added some used Olympus lens and Panasonic Leica lens to round out the suite. I would not hesitate to make the move even with the recent announcement from Olympus. The cameras are well built and felt better in my hands than the Sony A6300.

There a few lenses that I am interested in picking up for the right price. If people start to panic and unload their Olympus gear, I may find a great deal.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Fujifilm has APS-C and medium format. Panasonic has full frame and Micro 4/3. Canon, Nikon, and Sony have APS-C and full frame. All that means is, each company has different niche markets to serve.

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

Olympus problems stem from bad financial management and huge problems in that respect four years ago. This badly affected their photographic arm.
Panasonic have been the major partner in developing M43 over 12 years from non existence to becoming a Mark to be reckoned with. They have no plans to abandon this success story, rather, as the other major players have muscled in on mirrorless, Panasonic are bringing their better management and design philosophy to bear and have entered the market of those other major players by way of full frame. Interest in further development of crop sensor DSLRs is waning fast.

Norm Rosenberg

THink very carefully. I really like my Samsung NX-10. I use it often. Where is Samsung now

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Samsung made cameras? (Just joking! I know they started to. They got cold feet and ceded m43 to Panasonic and Olympus. They make great TVs and refrigerators, though.)

If I had a dollar for every instance where I’ve seen challenge become opportunity, I’d buy a nice dinner at a fancy restaurant.

In 1997, everyone thought Apple was doomed. But with real leadership, vision, and a culture of passion, they became one of the most successful companies ever.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

Again, if you decide to buy Olympus, you will not regret the savings in size, weight, and cost. 4/3rds is a format that is here to stay specifically because of size, weight, and cost. For the image quality you will get, neither APS-C nor full frame travels as easily as 4/3rds.