Editing Olympus Corporation (section)

===Cameras and audio===
In 1936, Olympus introduced its first camera, the Semi-Olympus I, fitted with the first [[Zuiko]]-branded lens.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.olympus-global.com/technology/museum/camera/products/camera/semi-oll/?page=technology_museum |title=Semi-Olympus I |website=Olympus Global|access-date= 24 June 2020}}</ref> The [[Olympus Chrome Six]] was a series of folding cameras made by Takachiho, and later Olympus, from 1948 to 1956, for 6×4.5&nbsp;cm or 6×6&nbsp;cm exposures on 120 film.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Olympus Chrome Six – Camera-wiki.org – The free camera encyclopedia|url=http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Olympus_Chrome_Six|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210605011644/http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Olympus_Chrome_Six|archive-date=2021-06-05|access-date=2021-12-26|website=camera-wiki.org}}</ref>

The first innovative camera series from Olympus was the [[Olympus Pen|Pen]], launched in 1959.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/56999790|title=McKeown's price guide to antique and classic cameras|date=2004|publisher=Centennial Photo Service|others=James M. McKeown, Joan C. McKeown|isbn=0-931838-40-1|edition=12th ed., 2005-06|location=Grantsburg, Wis.|pages=749|oclc=56999790}}</ref> It used a [[Half-frame camera|half-frame format]], taking 72 18×24&nbsp;mm photographs on a standard 36-exposure 35mm [[film cassette]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.olympus-global.com/technology/museum/camera/products/pen/pen/?page=technology_museum |title=Olympus Pen |website=Olympus Global|access-date= 24 June 2020}}</ref> which made Pen cameras compact and portable for their time.{{Citation needed|date=September 2019}}

[[File:Olympus Pen FT 2015.jpg|thumb|Olympus Pen FT and 38mm f1.8 Zuiko lens]]
[[File:OMLenses.jpg|thumb|left|288px|Olympus OM Zuiko lenses]]

The Pen system design team, led by [[Yoshihisa Maitani]], later created the [[Olympus OM system|OM system]], a full-frame professional 35mm SLR system designed to compete with [[Nikon]] and [[Canon Inc.|Canon's]] bestsellers. The OM system introduced a new trend towards more compact cameras and lenses, being much smaller than its competitors and presenting innovative design features such as off-the-film (OTF) metering and OTF flash automation.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.olympus-global.com/technology/museum/camera/products/om/om-2/?page=technology_museum |title=35mm SLR OM-2 |website=Olympus Global|access-date=18 January 2025}}</ref> Eventually, the system included 14 different bodies, approximately 60 [[Zuiko]]-branded lenses, and numerous camera accessories.{{Citation needed|reason=No source|date=September 2019}}

[[File:Quick Flash AFL.jpg|thumb|right|Olympus Quick Flash camera]]

In 1983, Olympus, along with Canon, branded a range of video recording equipment manufactured by [[JVC]],{{Citation needed|date=February 2007}} and called it "Olympus Video Photography", even employing renowned photographer Terance Donovan to promote the range.{{Citation needed|date=February 2007}} A second version of the system was available the year after, but this was Olympus's last foray into the world of consumer video equipment until digital cameras became popular.{{Citation needed|date=February 2007}}

Tsuyoshi Kikukawa, who was later to become president of Olympus, foresaw the demand for the digital SLR, and is credited with the company's strategy in digital photography. He fought for commitment by Olympus to enter the market in high-resolution photographic products. As a result of his efforts, Olympus released an 810,000-pixel digital camera for the mass market in 1996, when the resolution of rivals' offerings was less than half.<ref name=nikkei20111031>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111104052113/http://business.nikkeibp.co.jp/article/eng/20111031/223514/ "Dismissed CEO Turns Focus on Troubles at Olympus"], ''Nikkei Business''. 31 October 2011. Archived from [http://business.nikkeibp.co.jp/article/eng/20111031/223514/ the original] on 25 November 2011. Retrieved 25 November 2011.</ref> The next year, Olympus hit the market with a 1.41&nbsp;million pixel camera. By 2001, the company's annual turnover from digital photography was in excess of ¥100&nbsp;billion.<ref name=nikkei20111031/> Olympus manufactures compact [[digital cameras]] and is the designer of the [[Four Thirds system]] standard for [[digital single-lens reflex camera]]s. Olympus's Four Thirds system flagship DSLR camera was the [[Olympus E-5|E-5]], released in 2010. Olympus is also the largest manufacturer of Four Thirds lenses, under the Zuiko Digital brand. After the introduction of the [[Micro Four Thirds system]], and the general market growth of the [[Mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera|Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Cameras]], the regular Four Thirds system became neglected. Then, in 2017, after three years without a new lens, and seven years without a new body, Olympus officially discontinued the Four Thirds system<ref>{{Cite web|title=In memoriam: Olympus brings down the curtain on the legacy Four Thirds system|url=https://www.dpreview.com/articles/9877975278/olympus-brings-down-the-curtain-on-the-four-thirds-system|access-date=2020-08-20|website=DPReview}}</ref>
[[File:Olympus OM-D E-M1- 20131118.jpg|alt=|thumb|[[Olympus OM-D E-M1]] with an Olympus [[M.Zuiko]] Pro 12-40mm f2.8 lens]]
Olympus and [[Panasonic]] started a new development together, called the [[Micro Four Thirds system]]. It is an [[Lens mount|interchangeable lens]] system, with the Four Thirds sensor size, and no mirrors ([[Mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera|Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera]]). The lack of mirrors allowed the camera body to be a lot smaller than that of a [[Digital single-lens reflex camera|DSLR]], while maintaining its image quality and the interchangeability of the lenses. The first product in the [[Micro Four Thirds system]] was the [[Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1]], released in 2008. The first Olympus-branded [[Micro Four Thirds system|MFT]] camera was the [[Olympus PEN E-P1]]. Because it was very expensive, they made a cheaper option, called the [[Olympus PEN E-PL1|Olympus PEN Lite E-PL1]]. The market growth of the [[Mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera|MILC]] cameras made Olympus introduce a new series in their lineup, which was the modern, [[Digital camera|digital]] implementation of the legendary [[Olympus OM system|OM series]], the [[Olympus OM-D series|OM-D]]. It maintained the [[Micro Four Thirds system]], but added a built-in [[electronic viewfinder]], a more ergonomic button layout packaged in a retro style chassis. The first model in this family was the [[Olympus OM-D E-M5|E-M5]], released in 2012. Since then, Olympus has developed their two lines ([[Olympus Pen|PEN]] and [[Olympus OM-D series|OM-D]]) and the [[Micro Four Thirds system]], still alongside [[Panasonic]]. The latest Olympus camera is the [[Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV]] as of 20 August 2020.

[[File:Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm f 2.8 Macro Lens.jpg|thumb|Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm f/2.8 Macro Lens]]

At one time, Olympus cameras used only the proprietary xD-Picture Card for storage media. This storage solution is less popular than more common formats, and recent cameras can use [[Secure Digital|SD]] and [[CompactFlash]] cards. The most recent development is Olympus's focus on the [[Micro Four Thirds system]].{{Citation needed|reason=No source|date=September 2019}} Olympus has also been using special proprietary USB cables, such as the CB-USB8, instead of following standards.

Olympus first introduced the [[Microcassette]].  The Olympus Pearlcorder L400, released in the 1980s, was the smallest and lightest microcassette [[voice recorder]] ever offered for sale, 2.9 (L) × 0.8 (H) × 2.0 in. (W) / 73 (L) × 20 (H) × 52 (W) {{convert|3.2|oz|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pimall.com/nais/pivintage/pearlcorder.html |title=Ultra Compact Pearlcorder L400 Micro, 1980s |access-date=3 March 2007 |last=Thomas |first=Ralph D. |year=2006 |publisher=Thomas Investigative Publications, Inc}}</ref>

In 2012, the company announced that Sony and Fujifilm had offered forming a capital alliance and the company would focus on [[Mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera]]s (MILC).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thenewcamera.com/?p=9960 |title=Olympus plans to cut its camera line-up |access-date=6 May 2012}}</ref>

In 2020, Olympus announced that the camera department would be sold to [[Japan Industrial Partners]] at the end of the year.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.olympus-global.com/ir/data/announcement/2020/contents/ir00013.pdf |title=Signing of Memorandum of Understanding for Divestiture of Imaging Business |access-date=25 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=24 June 2020|title=Olympus quits camera business after 84 years|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-53165293|access-date=2020-09-16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|first=Matthew|last=Humphries|date=24 June 2020|title=After 84 Years, Olympus Is Exiting the Camera Business|url=https://uk.pcmag.com/digital-cameras/127523/after-84-years-olympus-is-exiting-the-camera-business|access-date=2020-09-16|website=PCMag UK|language=en-gb}}</ref> In October 2020, Olympus transferred its Imaging division to the newly established [[OM Digital Solutions]]. On 1 January 2021, 95% of the shares in OM Digital Solutions were transferred to OJ Holdings, Ltd, a specially established subsidiary of Japan Industrial Partners. Olympus retained ownership of the remaining 5%.<ref name="Pressemitteilung2021">{{cite web|title=Olympus Completes Transfer of Imaging Business|publisher=Olympus|url=https://www.olympus.de/company/de/news/pressemitteilungen/2021-01-04t12-14-39/press-release-detail-page_29888.html|access-date=|date=4 January 2021|language=en}}</ref>