Olympus developed its first camera body in 1938, in addition to building its own lens and shutter device, as this was the first totally pure Olympus (the Semi-Olympus II camera) it was an important event. The design which opened on the side of a pressed sheet-metal encasement was a unique feature on a medium-format camera. The camera also included a Galileo reverse tubular viewfinder.
Semi-Olympus II with
mounted KOHO (1938)
Olympus dust removal system wins Japanese invention award
Friday, 18 June 18, 2010
Olympus's dust reduction system, incorporated both in its E-series DSLRs and Micro Four Thirds cameras has won an award in Japan's National Invention Awards 2010. The awards are organized by the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation (JIII) every June to honor the most significant patents of awarded in the previous year. Olympus Development Division manager Kawai Sumio will receive the award sponsored by national newspaper Asahi Shimbun, for the dust reduction system. The original patent application was made in December 2000, with the technology first appearing in the company's E-1 DSLR in 2003.
Click to read the press release (in Japanese)
The Olympus E-System DSLR cameras are designed with revolutionary features that that expand the frontiers of digital photography. From our flagship E-3 aimed at working professionals as well as advanced amateurs, to our more affordable digital SLR models like the E-520 and E-420, you're sure to find an E-System camera that fits your needs.
Image Sensor Sizes
The Four Thirds system is a standard created by Olympus and Kodak for digital single-lens reflex camera (DSLR) design and development.
The system provides a standard that, with digital cameras and
lenses available from multiple manufacturers, allows for the interchange of lenses and bodies from different manufacturers. U.S. Patent 6,910,814 seems to cover the standard. This is claimed to be an open standard; it is however only accessible to companies and under a non-disclosure agreement.
Unlike older SLR systems, Four Thirds has been designed from the ground up to be entirely digital. Lens design has been tailored to the requirements of
digital sensors, most notably through telecentric designs. The size of the sensor is slightly smaller than for most DSLRs (see drawing) and this implies that lenses, especially
telephoto lenses, can be smaller. For example, a Four Thirds lens with a 300 mm focal length would cover about the same angle of view as a 600 mm focal length lens for the 35 mm film standard, and is correspondingly more compact. That is, the Four Thirds System is said to have a
crop factor (focal length multiplier) of about 2.
Olympus Lenses •
Olympus Digital Point &
Shoot Cameras
 Olympus PEN Digital
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Olympus Firmware Updates
Olympus PEN E-PL1 12.3MP Live MOS Micro Four Thirds Interchangeable Lens Camera
with 14-42mm f/3.5- 5.6 Zuiko Digital Zoom Lens The Olympus PEN E-PL1 Digital Camera is a dream come true for many photographers with 12 megapixels and technology normally found in much larger cameras and
High Definition (HD) camcorders.
Typical
Internet price $599.99 Announced Feb 3, 2010
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12/30/2011 |
Olympus E-PL2
 Olympus has introduced the PEN E-PL2 Micro Four Thirds Camera. Situated beneath the E-P2 in the Olympus PEN collection, the E-PL2 displays the identical 12Mp image sensor but also adds a considerable amount of enhancements, including a larger LCD monitor, revamped body, and updated AF. The ground-breaking Live Guide mode, that was first introduced on the Olympus E-PL1 has also been enhanced, and the Olympus E-PL2 features an updated version of the 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6
collapsible kit lens (which first appeared with the Japanese-only E-PL1s).
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Olympus E-PLM |
 Olympus PEN E-P2 12.3 MP Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera
The Olympus E-P2 is nice, small and feels exceptionally solid. I previously held some interest in the Olympus E-P1 but I could never get excited about viewing and composing on
a LCD monitor alone. I was looking at the EP series because I have access to an assortment of half frame film Pen F cameras that were the basis for this camera. I was delighted to
learn that adapters are already available allowing some of those older Pen F lenses to mount on the EP2
plus all Four Thirds lenses can be employed on the PEN E-P2 by using an optional MMF-1 Four Thirds Lens Adapter Typical Internet price $1,073 
Jan 20, 2011 |
 Olympus E-P3 PEN Digital Camera
Combining the classic feeling of a body that's all metal in the trendy Micro
Four Thirds photography vogue, Olympus has announced the company's fifth generation of it's Micro Four Thirds cameras. The P3 shows off a familiar-style PEN body and updated 12MP sensor although almost every other feature of the camera is brand new. The latest Olympus flagship PEN highlight what Olympus claims is the speediest AF-S performance in the world, along with a VGA-equivalent 614,000 dot OLED touch-screen with built-in flash.
Jun 30, 2011  |
 
Olympus PEN Mini (E-PM1) If you simply want to lighten up your load for capturing photographs or you're an ardent Micro Four Thirds fan, the Olympus's
E-PM1 (mini) camera offers you greater lightweight choices than huge DSLR outfits, although featuring a number of bells and whistles while still providing the flexibility and creativity, way above what a point & shot provides. With the Micro 4/3s lens mount, there are a number of available lenses that fit the E-PM1 allowing you to match your particular style of shooting. -
Announced Aug 25, 2011 |
| Olympus Evolt Digital SLR Cameras |
 Olympus E-5 professional
Four Thirds DSLR The Olympus E-5 utilizes a distinctive combination of state of the art technologies to supply the best image quality within the Olympus family. Combined with a 12.3 megapixel Live MOS High-Speed image sensor, the TruePic
V+ Olympus Imaging Processor delivers colorful, clear pictures using the entire
pixel information down at at a single pixel level to deliver the best digital
pictures achievable. Typical internet price is around $1,500.
Oct 30, 2011 |
 Olympus Evolt E-30
12.3MP Digital SLR Camera
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Download Olympus E30 firmware update version 1.1. |
 Olympus
E620 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera
Olympus E-620 Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera containing image stabilization with combined sensor-shift . Engineered for
newbie's and advanced photographers needing a small, the Olympus
E-620 is loaded down with attributes once available only in heavier,
bigger cameras. Typical Internet price
$1,299.99
Oct 19, 2011 |
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Olympus Lenses •
Olympus Digital Point &
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