Olympus claims its imaging division will continue as usual, despite the company’s financial issues.
Olympus OM-D First Look from CP+
CLICK HERE FOR LINKS TO STORIES ABOUT OLYMPUS SCANDAL
CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLES ABOUT OLYMPUS WHISTLEBLOWER MICHAEL WOODFORD
CLICK HERE FOR EXCLUSIVE AP INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL WOODFORD, FEBRUARY 2012
Speaking at a European press event for the new Olympus OM-D E-M5, Toshiyuki Terada, manager of the Product Marketing and Planning Group, was positive when asked whether the company’s financial issues will impact on future product launches.
He told AP that the ‘imaging side of the business will continue as normal and will not be affected by what else is going on inside the company’.
Terada also gave some insight as to what we can expect to see from Olympus this September, at Photokina.
He stated that it was unlikely there would be another camera in the OM-D line by the time of the Photokina fair, which is held every two years in Cologne, Germany.
However, he did indicate that the next Olympus micro four thirds camera would be in the Pen series.
With regards to future lenses aimed more specifically towards OM-D series users, Terada said that Olympus ‘was always looking at prime lenses and listening to the demands’.
Micro four thirds users can also expect more news on the recently announced M.Zuiko Digital ED 75mm f/1.8 and M.Zuiko Digital 60mm f/2.8 Macro lenses.
Terada said both lenses should be ready for release in ‘late summer’, again fitting in with a likely announcement at the start of the Photokina fair.
He added that, of the two, the 75mm portrait lens will probably be available first.
At the event, Claudia Baehr, European Product Manager for Olympus, was keen to remind assembled journalists that the Olympus four thirds E-series cameras still represent the company’s professional camera line.
She said the new OM-D product line was not aimed at professional photographers, but at advanced enthusiasts, and said it was possible there would be a new professional level E-Series Olympus camera at some point in the future.
Terada also emphasised that the E-M5 was not a professional level camera, adding that Olympus has ‘yet to decide whether to release a professional specification body or not’ as the company is ‘waiting to see how the E-M5’s price and technology will be accepted by the market. However [a professional OM-D camera] is a possibility’.
[Editing by Chris Cheesman]
Interview with Olympus whistleblower Michael Woodford 16 February 2012
