Olympus' Last Sp Camera: An In-Depth Look

The last SP camera made by Olympus was the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV, released in 2020. The OM-D E-M10 Mark IV is a micro four-thirds lens system camera with a 5-axis image stabilisation system. It is capable of full-resolution 8.6 fps-AF, 4K video, and has a maximum bitrate of 24 Mbit/s.

The first camera released by Olympus was the Semi-Olympus I in the 1930s

The first camera released by Olympus was the Semi-Olympus I, a 4.5x6 folder camera, in the 1930s. The body of the camera was a copy of the German Baldax large model and was the same as the body of the Semi Proud camera. The Semi-Olympus I was released in September 1936.

The company Takachiho Seisakusho, later renamed Olympus, was founded in 1919. Initially, the company focused on manufacturing microscopes and thermometers. In 1934, the company began researching camera lenses to diversify its product line. In 1935, a separate company, Mizuho Kōgaku Kenkyūjo, was established to focus on camera lens development.

The Semi-Olympus I was the result of Olympus' efforts to create a camera around their newly developed camera lenses. The camera body was supplied by Miyazaki Shizuma, the founder of Proud-sha, while the lens was produced by Olympus.

The Olympus Chrome Six was a series of folding cameras made from 1948 to 1956

In 1951, Olympus launched the Chrome Six III, a successor to the Chrome Six I. The Chrome Six III featured a film tensioner which held the film flat against the pressure plate, the first implementation of this feature. The Chrome Six IV was released in 1954, and the Chrome Six V in 1955. The last model of the line, the Chrome Six RII, was released in 1955 and featured an uncoupled rangefinder, an advance lever, and an auto-stop advance device.

The first innovative camera series from Olympus was the Pen, launched in 1959

A series of derivatives followed the original Pen, some easier to use with the introduction of exposure automation, and others with a wider aperture lens and a manual meter. The Pen D, launched in 1962, was a more expensive model with a 32mm f/1.9 F Zuiko lens, a shutter going to 1/500, and an uncoupled selenium meter. The Pen EE, introduced in 1961, was the amateur model, with fully automatic exposure and fixed focusing. It is a true point-and-shoot camera and has a 28mm f/3.5 lens. The Pen EE family is easily recognized by the selenium meter window around the lens.

In 1966, the arrival of the Rollei 35, a camera almost as compact but making normal 24x36 exposures, marked the beginning of the end for the half-frame concept. However, Olympus continued producing the simpler models of the Pen family until at least 1983. 17 million Pen half-frame cameras were sold.

The OM-D series is a modern, digital implementation of the legendary OM series

The OM-D series is a revival of the OM series from the 1970s and 1980s, with a similar design language but updated with modern technology, such as digital image sensors and video recording capabilities. The OM-D series is currently the highest-end line of Olympus cameras, positioned above the PEN mirrorless and Stylus point-and-shoot cameras.

The OM-D cameras offer advanced shooting features, superior image quality, and a compact, lightweight design. They are known for their effective image stabilisation, fast and accurate autofocus, and weather-sealed construction. The series also includes advanced video features, such as high bit-rate recording, variable frame rates, and focus peaking.

The OM-D series has three main categories: the E-M10 Mark IV (entry-level), the E-M5 Mark III (mid-range), and the E-M1 Mark III (high-end). The E-M1 Mark III, for example, features a built-in vertical grip, ergonomic handling, a large electronic viewfinder, and advanced video capabilities.

In 2021, Japan Industrial Partners acquired the camera division of Olympus, and they plan to continue the OM-D series in the future.

The latest Olympus camera as of 20 August 2020 is the OM-D E-M10 Mark IV

The OM-D E-M10 Mark IV is a Micro Four Thirds lens system with 5-axis image stabilization. It has a full-resolution 8.6 fps-AF, 4K video, and a maximum bitrate of 24 Mbit/s.

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