Olympus Press Releases

Olympus Will Celebrate Its 100th Anniversary: 1919 – 2019

The following video presents Olympus. True to Life.:
Innovation at Olympus is a shared cause. We come together to celebrate our most impactful achievements and bring them to market to change lives. This is who we are. We are Olympus.

Olympus Cameras from 1936 to 2016:

Olympus Cameras (left-hand side, counterclockwise): 1936, Semi-Olympus I was the first Olympus camera fitted with the newly developed Zuiko lens; 1948, Olympus 35 I was the first 35mm camera sold in the Japanese market; 1952, the Olympus Flex I was the first twin-lens reflex camera; (right-hand side, clockwise) - 1955, Olympus Wide camera for wide-angle photography; 1959, first-generation Olympus Pen camera; 1963, Olympus Pen F was the world's first and only half-frame system single-lens reflex camera

Olympus Cameras (left-hand side, counterclockwise): 1936, Semi-Olympus I was the first Olympus camera fitted with the newly developed Zuiko lens; 1948, Olympus 35 I was the first 35mm camera sold in the Japanese market; 1952, the Olympus Flex I was the first twin-lens reflex camera; (right-hand side, clockwise) – 1955, Olympus Wide camera for wide-angle photography; 1959, first-generation Olympus Pen camera; 1963, Olympus Pen F was the world’s first and only half-frame system single-lens reflex camera

Olympus Cameras: (top row, left to right) - 1968, Olympus TRIP 35; 1971, Olympus 35DC; (middle row, left to right) 1973, OM-1 was the first product in the OM Series (it earned wide acclaim as the world's smallest and lightest 35mm single-lens reflex camera); 1975, OM-2 had the world's first TTL direct metering system, which measures light reflected off the surface of the film; 1979, XA capsule camera was fitted with a barrier-type lens cover that eliminated the need for a case; (bottom row, left to right) - 1983, the Olympus AFL was one of the first cameras powered by a lithium battery; 1986, OM-4Ti was the first 35mm focal plane camera in the world to support flash synchronization at all shutter speeds

Olympus Cameras: (top row, left to right) – 1968, Olympus TRIP 35; 1971, Olympus 35DC; (middle row, left to right) 1973, OM-1 was the first product in the OM Series (it earned wide acclaim as the world’s smallest and lightest 35mm single-lens reflex camera); 1975, OM-2 had the world’s first TTL direct metering system, which measures light reflected off the surface of the film; 1979, XA capsule camera was fitted with a barrier-type lens cover that eliminated the need for a case; (bottom row, left to right) – 1983, the Olympus AFL was one of the first cameras powered by a lithium battery; 1986, OM-4Ti was the first 35mm focal plane camera in the world to support flash synchronization at all shutter speeds

Olympus Cameras: (left-hand side, clockwise) - 1988, the O-product was a compact camera with an aluminum body; 1990, L-1; 1991, μ[mju:] (Stylus); (right-hand side, counterclockwise) - 1996, CAMEDIA C-800L; 1997, CAMEDIA C-1400L was a fixed-lens digital single-lens reflex camera; 1999, CAMEDIA C-2000 ZOOM

Olympus Cameras: (left-hand side, clockwise) – 1988, the O-product was a compact camera with an aluminum body; 1990, L-1; 1991, μ[mju:] (Stylus); (right-hand side, counterclockwise) – 1996, CAMEDIA C-800L; 1997, CAMEDIA C-1400L was a fixed-lens digital single-lens reflex camera; 1999, CAMEDIA C-2000 ZOOM

Olympus Cameras: (left-hand side, counterclockwise) - 2000, E-10 was a digital single-lens reflex camera for professionals; 2001, CAMEDIA C-700 Ultra Zoom; 2003, E-1 was the first Olympus digital single-lens reflex camera with support for exchangeable lenses; (right-hand side, clockwise), 2003, μ-10 Digital featured a metallic body and was the world's first weatherproof compact digital camera; 2006, E-330 was the world's first DSLR AF camera with Live View; 2006, μ720SW was shock-resistant and waterproof to 3m

Olympus Cameras: (left-hand side, counterclockwise) – 2000, E-10 was a digital single-lens reflex camera for professionals; 2001, CAMEDIA C-700 Ultra Zoom; 2003, E-1 was the first Olympus digital single-lens reflex camera with support for exchangeable lenses; (right-hand side, clockwise), 2003, μ-10 Digital featured a metallic body and was the world’s first weatherproof compact digital camera; 2006, E-330 was the world’s first DSLR AF camera with Live View; 2006, μ720SW was shock-resistant and waterproof to 3m

Olympus Cameras: (left-hand side, clockwise) - 2008, E-30 is mid-class digital SLR compatible with interchangeable lenses as a Four Thirds System camera; 2009, OLYMPUS PEN E-P1, the company's first mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera compliant with the Micro Four Thirds System standard; 2012, OM-D E-M5, a small, lightweight mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera compliant with the Micro Four Thirds System standard; (right-hand side) 2013, OM-D E-M1 (top) was a Micro Four Thirds System mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera packaged in a small, lightweight, weatherproof body; 2016, OLYMPUS PEN-F (bottom), a mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera

Olympus Cameras: (left-hand side, clockwise) – 2008, E-30 is mid-class digital SLR compatible with interchangeable lenses as a Four Thirds System camera; 2009, OLYMPUS PEN E-P1, the company’s first mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera compliant with the Micro Four Thirds System standard; 2012, OM-D E-M5, a small, lightweight mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera compliant with the Micro Four Thirds System standard; (right-hand side) 2013, OM-D E-M1 (top) was a Micro Four Thirds System mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera packaged in a small, lightweight, weatherproof body; 2016, OLYMPUS PEN-F (bottom), a mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera

Olympus PEN-F, silver

Olympus PEN-F, silver

The following video presents Jamie. True To Possibilities.:
Everyone takes their own path in life, and we sometimes need the tools that let us stay true to our vision. Jamie seizes life’s moments that few get to experience for themselves, and Olympus provides him the opportunity to capture it in a way that is true to his vision.

NEWS RELEASE

Olympus to Mark 100th Anniversary in 2019

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., (January 7, 2019) – Olympus Corporation today announced that it will celebrate its 100th Anniversary this October 12, 2019.

Olympus Corporation to Mark 100th Anniversary on October 12, 2019

Olympus Corporation today released the following statement about the upcoming Olympus 100th Anniversary on October 12, 2019.

We are sincerely grateful to all of our customers and stakeholders who have supported the Company’s development and progress since our founding 100 years ago. Going forward, Olympus will continue to contribute to society by making people’s lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling around the world.

Takachiho Seisakusho, the precursor of Olympus, was founded in 1919 to produce microscopes for the Japanese market. Takeshi Yamashita, the founder of the Company, had a strong desire to create something truly original, believing that mere imitations of imported products would not suffice. In the following year, Yamashita’s dream of producing a domestic microscope was realized with the introduction of the Asahi — the first microscope manufactured by Takachiho. Thereafter, the same optical technologies developed for our microscopes and the Company’s focus on specialist needs, continued to be applied and infused into additional innovations, including the Company’s first camera — the Semi-Olympus I — and the world’s first practical gastrocamera, a precursor to the endoscope. This approach has carried Olympus through to the present day.

Semi-Olympus I Camera in 1936: Priced at 103 JPY (US $0.9504 at the current exchange rate)

Semi-Olympus I Camera in 1936: Priced at 103 JPY (US $0.9504 at the current exchange rate)

Throughout our rich history, Olympus has been known for pioneering many “world’s first” products and providing innovative, advanced products and services in the medical, scientific solutions and imaging fields. As Olympus marks its 100th Anniversary, employees around the world will celebrate and reflect on the Company’s history, while also looking to the future as we move forward and continue to realize Our Purpose of “Making people’s lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling” as a forward-looking innovator.

Our 100th Anniversary logo commemorates our historic milestone and embodies the Company’s determination to reach new heights. During this Olympus 100th Anniversary year, all Olympus employees will take part in a variety of activities, uniting us across the globe and contributing to the communities in which we live and work.

About Olympus
Olympus is a global technology leader, crafting innovative optical and digital solutions in medical technologies; life sciences; industrial solutions; and cameras and audio products. Our solutions enable specialists to look inside the human body, further scientific research, ensure public safety and capture images of the world. Throughout our 100-year history, Olympus has focused on being true to society and making people’s lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling.

Olympus Corporation of the Americas (OCA)-a wholly owned subsidiary of Olympus Corporation in Tokyo, Japan-is headquartered in Center Valley, Pennsylvania and employs more than 5,300 employees throughout locations in North and South America. For more information, visit olympusamerica.com and truetolife.com.

Olympus… True to You. True to Society. True to LIFE.


The Olympus PEN-F

The following video presents OLYMPUS PEN-F – Jimsandkittys Los Angeles Adventure:
Content creators Jimsandkittys give us a tour of Los Angeles with the new Olympus PEN-F.


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