Any chance of an OM-1 firmware update dropping ?

Andrew Ellis said:

I know no one outside OMS really knows the answer to this, but as the OM-1 was launched over 18 months ago, and has had only relatively minor updates, does anyone think OMS will actually get round to updating the camera with a major firmware update (as they have been extremely quiet this year) in the near future ?

I for one can think of at least half a dozen things I'd like sorting or improving. Don't get me wrong I love my OM-1 and it does what I purchased it for, but seeing what for instance Nikon has done to their flagship Z9 in a similar timeframe is very impressive - it's basically a new camera (I know I have one). Yes, I appreciate that OMS's resources are probably much smaller than Nikon's, but like I say, they have been pretty much missing all year ? Or is the consensus that they consider the OM-1 as a final finished product with no further development going into it and we'll have to wait and see if there is an OM1 MK II or OM2 in the future ?

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chipman02 said:

I can't imagine a banker spending money on R&D without some sort of return, which brings up an interesting question. Would you pay for a major update? How much?

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ProDude said:

Andrew Ellis said:

I know no one outside OMS really knows the answer to this, but as the OM-1 was launched over 18 months ago, and has had only relatively minor updates, does anyone think OMS will actually get round to updating the camera with a major firmware update (as they have been extremely quiet this year) in the near future ?

I for one can think of at least half a dozen things I'd like sorting or improving. Don't get me wrong I love my OM-1 and it does what I purchased it for, but seeing what for instance Nikon has done to their flagship Z9 in a similar timeframe is very impressive - it's basically a new camera (I know I have one). Yes, I appreciate that OMS's resources are probably much smaller than Nikon's, but like I say, they have been pretty much missing all year ? Or is the consensus that they consider the OM-1 as a final finished product with no further development going into it and we'll have to wait and see if there is an OM1 MK II or OM2 in the future ?

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Don't hold your breath. I don't see OMDS investing in their tech much at all. They want to reap some profits and leave the rest out it seems

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ahaslett said:

chipman02 said:

I can't imagine a banker spending money on R&D without some sort of return, which brings up an interesting question. Would you pay for a major update? How much?

Click to expand...

It is cheaper to update firmware than release a new body. Having a history of major firmware updates as part of your brand makes new bodies more attractive to prospective purchasers.

Sony tried paid firmware add-ons with the A7R2 and it didn't work. Sony in general don't provide major firmware updates (because they release major hardware updates with the new firmware). Nikon appear to be more like Olympus with at least some famous major firmware updates.

OMDS are running out of time to avoid their brand being seen as a non-updater. Depending on the JIP exit strategy, they may be fine with that.

Andrew

Click to expand...

drj3 said:

ahaslett said:

chipman02 said:

I can't imagine a banker spending money on R&D without some sort of return, which brings up an interesting question. Would you pay for a major update? How much?

Click to expand...

It is cheaper to update firmware than release a new body. Having a history of major firmware updates as part of your brand makes new bodies more attractive to prospective purchasers.

Sony tried paid firmware add-ons with the A7R2 and it didn't work. Sony in general don't provide major firmware updates (because they release major hardware updates with the new firmware). Nikon appear to be more like Olympus with at least some famous major firmware updates.

OMDS are running out of time to avoid their brand being seen as a non-updater. Depending on the JIP exit strategy, they may be fine with that.

Andrew

Click to expand...

Why do so many think JIP has an exit strategy?

Sony once had a computer company that made VAIO computers. However, it was failing. Sony sold VAIO to JIP in 2014, but maintained a 5% stake in the new VAIO company. VAIO still makes computers.

VAIO Laptops Website　 – Vaio USA

In 2021 Olympus transferred 95% of the digital camera business to JIP while maintaining small stake in the company. Hopefully OM Systems will continue to produce digital cameras for at least as many years as JIP has continued with VAIO.

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DLBlack said:

I heard a rumor that firmware 1.6 that is a big fix and 2.0 that is a mid-life refresh are coming.

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ahaslett said:

drj3 said:

ahaslett said:

chipman02 said:

I can't imagine a banker spending money on R&D without some sort of return, which brings up an interesting question. Would you pay for a major update? How much?

Click to expand...

It is cheaper to update firmware than release a new body. Having a history of major firmware updates as part of your brand makes new bodies more attractive to prospective purchasers.

Sony tried paid firmware add-ons with the A7R2 and it didn't work. Sony in general don't provide major firmware updates (because they release major hardware updates with the new firmware). Nikon appear to be more like Olympus with at least some famous major firmware updates.

OMDS are running out of time to avoid their brand being seen as a non-updater. Depending on the JIP exit strategy, they may be fine with that.

Andrew

Click to expand...

Why do so many think JIP has an exit strategy?

Sony once had a computer company that made VAIO computers. However, it was failing. Sony sold VAIO to JIP in 2014, but maintained a 5% stake in the new VAIO company. VAIO still makes computers.

VAIO Laptops Website　 – Vaio USA

In 2021 Olympus transferred 95% of the digital camera business to JIP while maintaining small stake in the company. Hopefully OM Systems will continue to produce digital cameras for at least as many years as JIP has continued with VAIO.

Click to expand...

JIP is an investment house that makes money by investing private equity into industrial companies. They have a current portfolio of 20 investments and have exited 16 since foundation in 2002. PE firms make money by some combination of dividends during ownership and increase in valuation on trade sale (or flotation).

They appear to have an investment lifecycle of around 6-8 years, although I haven’t delved into the details. It is early in the life of OMDS for them. However 6-8 years is quite short in terms of product development pipelines for camera gear, maybe 2 generations at most.

Suppose their ambition is to sell to Sony, having established a desired geographical market portfolio? Suppose they intend to slim the company down and then close it after extracting cash? No doubt they have multiple exit options under consideration. With PE, you have to hand the money back at some stage.

Andrew

Click to expand...

drj3 said:

ahaslett said:

drj3 said:

ahaslett said:

chipman02 said:

I can't imagine a banker spending money on R&D without some sort of return, which brings up an interesting question. Would you pay for a major update? How much?

Click to expand...

It is cheaper to update firmware than release a new body. Having a history of major firmware updates as part of your brand makes new bodies more attractive to prospective purchasers.

Sony tried paid firmware add-ons with the A7R2 and it didn't work. Sony in general don't provide major firmware updates (because they release major hardware updates with the new firmware). Nikon appear to be more like Olympus with at least some famous major firmware updates.

OMDS are running out of time to avoid their brand being seen as a non-updater. Depending on the JIP exit strategy, they may be fine with that.

Andrew

Click to expand...

Why do so many think JIP has an exit strategy?

Sony once had a computer company that made VAIO computers. However, it was failing. Sony sold VAIO to JIP in 2014, but maintained a 5% stake in the new VAIO company. VAIO still makes computers.

VAIO Laptops Website　 – Vaio USA

In 2021 Olympus transferred 95% of the digital camera business to JIP while maintaining small stake in the company. Hopefully OM Systems will continue to produce digital cameras for at least as many years as JIP has continued with VAIO.

Click to expand...

JIP is an investment house that makes money by investing private equity into industrial companies. They have a current portfolio of 20 investments and have exited 16 since foundation in 2002. PE firms make money by some combination of dividends during ownership and increase in valuation on trade sale (or flotation).

They appear to have an investment lifecycle of around 6-8 years, although I haven’t delved into the details. It is early in the life of OMDS for them. However 6-8 years is quite short in terms of product development pipelines for camera gear, maybe 2 generations at most.

Suppose their ambition is to sell to Sony, having established a desired geographical market portfolio? Suppose they intend to slim the company down and then close it after extracting cash? No doubt they have multiple exit options under consideration. With PE, you have to hand the money back at some stage.

Andrew

Click to expand...

I have no doubt they will close OM Systems if it fails to produce a profit. They would have undoubtedly closed VAIO it they had not succeeded in finding a profitable niche, but it is now 9 years since the transfer from Sony.

If OM Systems is not able to find a profitable niche it will be shut down. Of course, the same thing could happen with all the camera companies other than Canon and Sony if the decrease in interest in ILCs continues.

Click to expand...

ahaslett said:

drj3 said:

ahaslett said:

drj3 said:

ahaslett said:

chipman02 said:

I can't imagine a banker spending money on R&D without some sort of return, which brings up an interesting question. Would you pay for a major update? How much?

Click to expand...

It is cheaper to update firmware than release a new body. Having a history of major firmware updates as part of your brand makes new bodies more attractive to prospective purchasers.

Sony tried paid firmware add-ons with the A7R2 and it didn't work. Sony in general don't provide major firmware updates (because they release major hardware updates with the new firmware). Nikon appear to be more like Olympus with at least some famous major firmware updates.

OMDS are running out of time to avoid their brand being seen as a non-updater. Depending on the JIP exit strategy, they may be fine with that.

Andrew

Click to expand...

Why do so many think JIP has an exit strategy?

Sony once had a computer company that made VAIO computers. However, it was failing. Sony sold VAIO to JIP in 2014, but maintained a 5% stake in the new VAIO company. VAIO still makes computers.

VAIO Laptops Website　 – Vaio USA

In 2021 Olympus transferred 95% of the digital camera business to JIP while maintaining small stake in the company. Hopefully OM Systems will continue to produce digital cameras for at least as many years as JIP has continued with VAIO.

Click to expand...

JIP is an investment house that makes money by investing private equity into industrial companies. They have a current portfolio of 20 investments and have exited 16 since foundation in 2002. PE firms make money by some combination of dividends during ownership and increase in valuation on trade sale (or flotation).

They appear to have an investment lifecycle of around 6-8 years, although I haven’t delved into the details. It is early in the life of OMDS for them. However 6-8 years is quite short in terms of product development pipelines for camera gear, maybe 2 generations at most.

Suppose their ambition is to sell to Sony, having established a desired geographical market portfolio? Suppose they intend to slim the company down and then close it after extracting cash? No doubt they have multiple exit options under consideration. With PE, you have to hand the money back at some stage.

Andrew

Click to expand...

I have no doubt they will close OM Systems if it fails to produce a profit. They would have undoubtedly closed VAIO it they had not succeeded in finding a profitable niche, but it is now 9 years since the transfer from Sony.

If OM Systems is not able to find a profitable niche it will be shut down. Of course, the same thing could happen with all the camera companies other than Canon and Sony if the decrease in interest in ILCs continues.

Click to expand...

JIP was rumoured to have paid $490M for 95% of VAIO with Sony retaining ownership of the brand and IP. I guess JIP made their investment back in dividends and can decide what to do with VAIO at their leisure. As long as it is cash generative they don’t need to do anything under pressure.

So far the signs are that JIP plan A is to sell OMDS at some point, probably not for several years more. It’s a small investment probably seen as doing OK under its management. Look at the stuff they need to sort out in their more recent acquisitions.

Andrew

Click to expand...

drj3 said:

ahaslett said:

drj3 said:

ahaslett said:

chipman02 said:

I can't imagine a banker spending money on R&D without some sort of return, which brings up an interesting question. Would you pay for a major update? How much?

Click to expand...

It is cheaper to update firmware than release a new body. Having a history of major firmware updates as part of your brand makes new bodies more attractive to prospective purchasers.

Sony tried paid firmware add-ons with the A7R2 and it didn't work. Sony in general don't provide major firmware updates (because they release major hardware updates with the new firmware). Nikon appear to be more like Olympus with at least some famous major firmware updates.

OMDS are running out of time to avoid their brand being seen as a non-updater. Depending on the JIP exit strategy, they may be fine with that.

Andrew

Click to expand...

Why do so many think JIP has an exit strategy?

Sony once had a computer company that made VAIO computers. However, it was failing. Sony sold VAIO to JIP in 2014, but maintained a 5% stake in the new VAIO company. VAIO still makes computers.

VAIO Laptops Website　 – Vaio USA

In 2021 Olympus transferred 95% of the digital camera business to JIP while maintaining small stake in the company. Hopefully OM Systems will continue to produce digital cameras for at least as many years as JIP has continued with VAIO.

Click to expand...

JIP is an investment house that makes money by investing private equity into industrial companies. They have a current portfolio of 20 investments and have exited 16 since foundation in 2002. PE firms make money by some combination of dividends during ownership and increase in valuation on trade sale (or flotation).

They appear to have an investment lifecycle of around 6-8 years, although I haven’t delved into the details. It is early in the life of OMDS for them. However 6-8 years is quite short in terms of product development pipelines for camera gear, maybe 2 generations at most.

Suppose their ambition is to sell to Sony, having established a desired geographical market portfolio? Suppose they intend to slim the company down and then close it after extracting cash? No doubt they have multiple exit options under consideration. With PE, you have to hand the money back at some stage.

Andrew

Click to expand...

I have no doubt they will close OM Systems if it fails to produce a profit.

Click to expand...

drj3 said:

They would have undoubtedly closed VAIO it they had not succeeded in finding a profitable niche, but it is now 9 years since the transfer from Sony.

If OM Systems is not able to find a profitable niche it will be shut down. Of course, the same thing could happen with all the camera companies other than Canon and Sony if the decrease in interest in ILCs continues.

Click to expand...

drj3 said:

ahaslett said:

drj3 said:

ahaslett said:

drj3 said:

ahaslett said:

chipman02 said:

I can't imagine a banker spending money on R&D without some sort of return, which brings up an interesting question. Would you pay for a major update? How much?

Click to expand...

It is cheaper to update firmware than release a new body. Having a history of major firmware updates as part of your brand makes new bodies more attractive to prospective purchasers.

Sony tried paid firmware add-ons with the A7R2 and it didn't work. Sony in general don't provide major firmware updates (because they release major hardware updates with the new firmware). Nikon appear to be more like Olympus with at least some famous major firmware updates.

OMDS are running out of time to avoid their brand being seen as a non-updater. Depending on the JIP exit strategy, they may be fine with that.

Andrew

Click to expand...

Why do so many think JIP has an exit strategy?

Sony once had a computer company that made VAIO computers. However, it was failing. Sony sold VAIO to JIP in 2014, but maintained a 5% stake in the new VAIO company. VAIO still makes computers.

VAIO Laptops Website　 – Vaio USA

In 2021 Olympus transferred 95% of the digital camera business to JIP while maintaining small stake in the company. Hopefully OM Systems will continue to produce digital cameras for at least as many years as JIP has continued with VAIO.

Click to expand...

JIP is an investment house that makes money by investing private equity into industrial companies. They have a current portfolio of 20 investments and have exited 16 since foundation in 2002. PE firms make money by some combination of dividends during ownership and increase in valuation on trade sale (or flotation).

They appear to have an investment lifecycle of around 6-8 years, although I haven’t delved into the details. It is early in the life of OMDS for them. However 6-8 years is quite short in terms of product development pipelines for camera gear, maybe 2 generations at most.

Suppose their ambition is to sell to Sony, having established a desired geographical market portfolio? Suppose they intend to slim the company down and then close it after extracting cash? No doubt they have multiple exit options under consideration. With PE, you have to hand the money back at some stage.

Andrew

Click to expand...

I have no doubt they will close OM Systems if it fails to produce a profit. They would have undoubtedly closed VAIO it they had not succeeded in finding a profitable niche, but it is now 9 years since the transfer from Sony.

If OM Systems is not able to find a profitable niche it will be shut down. Of course, the same thing could happen with all the camera companies other than Canon and Sony if the decrease in interest in ILCs continues.

Click to expand...

JIP was rumoured to have paid $490M for 95% of VAIO with Sony retaining ownership of the brand and IP. I guess JIP made their investment back in dividends and can decide what to do with VAIO at their leisure. As long as it is cash generative they don’t need to do anything under pressure.

So far the signs are that JIP plan A is to sell OMDS at some point, probably not for several years more. It’s a small investment probably seen as doing OK under its management. Look at the stuff they need to sort out in their more recent acquisitions.

Andrew

Click to expand...

The rumor was that there was no private equity invested, that Olympus may have paid JIP to make the deal. However, I have not been able to find out any of the financial details.

Click to expand...

Regor250 said:

drj3 said:

ahaslett said:

drj3 said:

ahaslett said:

chipman02 said:

I can't imagine a banker spending money on R&D without some sort of return, which brings up an interesting question. Would you pay for a major update? How much?

Click to expand...

It is cheaper to update firmware than release a new body. Having a history of major firmware updates as part of your brand makes new bodies more attractive to prospective purchasers.

Sony tried paid firmware add-ons with the A7R2 and it didn't work. Sony in general don't provide major firmware updates (because they release major hardware updates with the new firmware). Nikon appear to be more like Olympus with at least some famous major firmware updates.

OMDS are running out of time to avoid their brand being seen as a non-updater. Depending on the JIP exit strategy, they may be fine with that.

Andrew

Click to expand...

Why do so many think JIP has an exit strategy?

Sony once had a computer company that made VAIO computers. However, it was failing. Sony sold VAIO to JIP in 2014, but maintained a 5% stake in the new VAIO company. VAIO still makes computers.

VAIO Laptops Website　 – Vaio USA

In 2021 Olympus transferred 95% of the digital camera business to JIP while maintaining small stake in the company. Hopefully OM Systems will continue to produce digital cameras for at least as many years as JIP has continued with VAIO.

Click to expand...

JIP is an investment house that makes money by investing private equity into industrial companies. They have a current portfolio of 20 investments and have exited 16 since foundation in 2002. PE firms make money by some combination of dividends during ownership and increase in valuation on trade sale (or flotation).

They appear to have an investment lifecycle of around 6-8 years, although I haven’t delved into the details. It is early in the life of OMDS for them. However 6-8 years is quite short in terms of product development pipelines for camera gear, maybe 2 generations at most.

Suppose their ambition is to sell to Sony, having established a desired geographical market portfolio? Suppose they intend to slim the company down and then close it after extracting cash? No doubt they have multiple exit options under consideration. With PE, you have to hand the money back at some stage.

Andrew

Click to expand...

I have no doubt they will close OM Systems if it fails to produce a profit.

Click to expand...

Indeed, JIP will not sink money into OMDS to keep it afloat, they're on their own and can't be running a deficit beyond what the bank(s) can tolerate. That much more reason for a major firmware update; the lowest cost by far to remain competitive a bit longer.

Regor250 said:

They would have undoubtedly closed VAIO it they had not succeeded in finding a profitable niche, but it is now 9 years since the transfer from Sony.

If OM Systems is not able to find a profitable niche it will be shut down. Of course, the same thing could happen with all the camera companies other than Canon and Sony if the decrease in interest in ILCs continues.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Trolleyman said:

Maybe they should develop a safer method of installing firmware first.

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