The CPplus show is accepting registration for the various events to be held in late February. One of the events is organized by OM Digital and they say that they will finally “talk about the future of OM-D”.

In an interview with Asahi, the CTO of the newly-created OM Digital Solutions answered several questions about the company, its products, and its future.

“At least for the time being, we will use ‘Olympus,'” he said. “However, it is better to move away from Olympus as an entity or continue to work under the name Olympus? I want to think about it.”

“The background to this is the shrinking camera market. It is not only our company, but it is quite difficult to grow the company by increasing sales as it is. In order to generate profits, it is necessary to reduce costs and reform the structure for that purpose. Olympus is becoming more and more a ‘Medtech Company’, that is, a company centered on medical devices. Then, the manufacturing process as a medical device manufacturer will be strengthened, and the cameras business will have to follow it as a company rule.”

Now they tell 180 degrees opposite things from even previous summer.

“If the camera market shrinks, we will make products simpler, deliver them, and sell them to our customers. In order to create a structure that can do that, it is better to be independent of Olympus and to be able to do various things with our own difference so that we can continue our business,” he explains.

This is lie.

Japan Industrial Partners was an ideal candidate for the imaging acquisition given its history of restructuring businesses, according to Kataoka. “JIP is good at cutting out businesses from the company, turning them into the black, and revitalizing them,” he says.

JIP is best for killing businesses, this is that they do.

Kataoka promises new products are on the way by the end of the year.

At best it is rehash of same things that Olympus is doing for last 3 years. They don't have any people to do new LSI now and without this - no one can do anything.

Now they need to sell old stock and they have lot of it. In the process finally killing all service and marketing.

I guess he leaked to much as the video was pulled.

OM Digital solution had the video removed yesterday. It was hosted by OM Digital Senior Manager Mark Thackara. The above summary was accurate based on my viewing of the video while it was still available.

My dream Olympus camera:

• Could use the current 20mp sensor. Or a new one, with 1 stop low light advantage, same resolution, with around 26 mp like the Fujis;
• Good PDAF AF, with tracking and face/ey detection, even in video;
• Better codecs, 10bit internal, 4k60 internal (could be only for short clips);
• Punch in focus during video;
• Better EVF / LCD;
• Separate stills / video settings;
• E-M1, E-M5 (better) or Pen F (best - with some ergo tweaks).

Not hard to do.

The end is not too far

Japan had been last market where Olympus had some good sales, no more.

Strange little teaser

What would you say is the biggest challenge faced by OM Digital Solutions (OMDS) in 2021, and how do you plan to address it?

We announced the carving out of the camera division from Olympus last June, and I think a lot of people were worried that it meant Olympus cameras would be different in the future, or our R&D philosophy or our product roadmap would change. I would like to state, once again, that we decided to split off from Olympus, which is a big medical company, in order to better manage our business and do what’s best for our camera customers. In this new company, OMDS, we have senior leaders in place who will bring fresh perspectives to company challenges, and this is a perfect start for a new chapter in the 85-year history of Olympus cameras.

The challenge is proving it. I can say whatever I like, but people need to be able to believe it. Not only existing Olympus users, but non-Olympus and non-Micro Four Thirds photographers. We need to make those users realize that they can invest in our system with confidence. The best way to do that is by introducing innovative products, and I can confirm that will be an exciting product announcement from OMDS later in 2021. I think that will put a lot of people’s minds at rest.

Our Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Setsuya Kataoka gave an interview in February where he mentioned new products, and today I can confirm that the announcement will be this year.

https://www.dpreview.com/interviews/1852244131/interview-aki-murata-of-omds-olympus-we-re-more-flexible-now

I hear bad vibes again among tiny amount of Olympus people who are left in US and EU (besides youtube and similar ass licking guys, see above, who will be happy to work almost for free now as no one else need them).

Most probably new efficient management have some new optimization plan. They already managed to literally destroy strong brand position in Japan by imposing total chaos. We will see in May.

OM Digital says July 3rd is PEN Day