Kind of funny that every scenario brought, you push it toward the direction of OMDS crashing and failing. I think they actually have done quite well so far, having kept the company alive for 4 years (especially through Covid when camera sales in general were dire) and selling multiple new models since then.
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New OLYMPUS branded camera
- Thread starter Cafe Racer
- Start date
gary0319
Veteran Member
Sure beginning to sound that way…
gary0319
Veteran Member
Or “maybe” the OM-1 and the follow-on Mark II, along with the top selling 150-400 and the new 90 macro have been so successful and generated so much profit that the accountants said they needed to shed some cash and OMDS decided to take an R&D flyer on this Astro venture. At worst it gets them out of the fat cash situations, and might turn out to be a new profitable niche market.
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Good point, this niche camera sounds a lot like the older pet projects done by Olympus even though they were of limited profitability. It may be a sign that the company is doing better than expected, and has the money for engineers to have some fun pet projects.
I looked it up and Canon did something similar with the EOS Ra, just swapped out the R sticker with an Ra sticker, changed the IR filter, and added a software 30x zoom function. They didn't bother doing a new mold to customize the camera either.
https://www.usa.canon.com/learning/...list/the-eos-ra-a-new-astrophotography-camera
Also this wasn't mentioned, but OMDS already did a similar Japan-only IR version of the E-M1 III and E-M1X last year. This is just another variation on that theme:
https://www.diyphotography.net/om-d...sions-of-its-e-m1x-and-e-m1-mark-iii-cameras/
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Seems plausible. Might even have been a limited run made on a marketing thought bubble whim. Never released but stored in a few pallets in the warehouse.
Have decided to sell them off before they become too heavily superseded.
Not enough stock for world wide release but the Japanese market will gobble them up in no time flat. Once they are gone they will all be gone.
Some enterprising resellers will probably buy a few and put them on eBay at a premium price.
Cafe Racer
Veteran Member
I find it interesting to consider what some people would rather not consider and read the varied responses. Even when I'm making it obvious that my idle speculation is not intended to be a serious analysis; "Here's another maybe!" "Or maybe not!", I suspect there'll be some people that will take it seriously because they may feel offended at the thought that the interests of the company they support may not align with what they believe.
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Regor250
Veteran Member
you remember the name of a cafe you drove to 54yrs ago, that's unbelievable!
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Roger
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Regor250
Veteran Member
OM-1 Monochrome Special Edition!
I'm more of a Panasonic supporter given the only Olympus product I have is the 12-50mm that I bought for the power zoom function, and all my other M43 gear is Panasonic.
I just found it funny that pretty much every one of your "theories" you throw out point toward OMDS crashing and burning and are pretty much negative, even though there are other theories that are a lot more neutral and also still make sense. That you add "maybe" to it doesn't change the negative bias of the theories.
For example, it's much more probable it is just not worthwhile to make a new mold for a niche camera like this, than it saying anything significant about the viability of the company. As I pointed out in an earlier post, even Canon, which sells multiple times more volume and is doing financially well, just slapped a sticker on their astro camera and called it a day!
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Cafe Racer
Veteran Member
I'm not trying to be neutral I'm inviting further/counter speculation and argumentation. Your opinion is welcome.
Why is it much more probable?
If OMDS can't be bothered to make a new top plate with their current new brand name on it because it's "not worthwhile", why is it even worthwhile bothering with this project? Is it just a cheap route to a quick earner?
Just because a camera can be considered a niche product, does it mean OMDS shouldn't treat it as an important product that's trying to capture a new customer base? Should niche products not get the same level of attention to detail? Is the public perception of their brand, OM System, and a potential new customer base unimportant?
Remember that all three updated cameras released after their rebranding announcement in 2022 are branded OM System not Olympus. So halfway into 2024 it seems odd that they would go back to using the old brand name on a newly released product, even if it is an adaptation of a previous model.
I think it is worthwhile proudly sporting the current new brand name on this camera. I believe the small details do count and can contribute to people's perception of a company.
Like I suggested in my OP, it could be just an internal error with the product image, but if it's not then I'm unimpressed.
Canon cameras are branded Canon!
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PlumShots
Leading Member
Cafe Racer
Veteran Member
PlumShots
Leading Member
If by "hadn't already been developed by Olympus" you mean "R&D had already been started by Olympus Imaging", then most likely no.
But OMDS had to finish what was already started under the Olympus Imaging umbrella, the products didn't magically complete themselves.
I don't understand the argument that the intent of Olympus/JIP/OMDS is to simply clear old Olympus inventory and then close up shop.
Why would Olympus allow /transfer rights to the ZUIKO and OM SYSTEM trademarks?
Why incur the cost of creating a new entity, organization, brand, infrastructure, as well as producing and distributing new and re-branded products?
Cheers.
Regor250
Veteran Member
No one know what JIP (aka OMDS) intent is, but OMDS actions lead to an erosion of confidence in what their intent might be beyond 5-8yrs. We see no new product lines, just simple adaptations of existing products, including the OM-1mkii and minimal effort to develop or promote anything new. They're hanging onto small niche markets mostly ignored by the competition, and have obviously chosen not to compete. They're doing everything to get a buck out of existing stocks and system, but one has to wonder if there's any R&D beyond that goal.
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Roger
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Because that's how the industry does things for niche cameras, including Canon?
As linked above they did the same thing with Japan-only IR conversion cameras back in 2023. It's just an inexpensive way to offer a new variant for minimal cost. Again, Canon did the same thing with their astro camera.
I'll again point out you seem to have an irrational obsession with the brand name plate that Olympus/OMDS doesn't share.
Olympus still sells the OM-1 (which is a much higher volume seller) with the Olympus plate on their website. Why would if matter if a niche Japan-only camera does the same thing?
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explore.omsystem.com
They don't, Canon didn't either for their equivalent product, and they have much deeper pockets and volume to pay for any extra R&D.
It's not important enough to make a new mold for a niche camera that will probably sell in extremely low volumes, especially given they are still selling the OM-1 also with the Olympus plate.
Again they are still selling the OM-1 today with the Olympus branding. It's far less important than you are making it out to be.
Maybe it matters a lot to you, but apparently not to the Astro market given there have been other cameras sold also with such minimal changes.
That's a red herring. The important point is they didn't bother to make any significant change to the camera.
Cafe Racer
Veteran Member
Thanks for your opinion. What I seem to be hearing is a bunch of excuses rather than any explanation of how OMDS have demonstrated their commitment to the brand. You may not want to acknowledge that the cameras still being sold with the Olympus brand name were produced before their rebranding announcement, but they were. More than halfway through 2024 and OMDS releases an adaptation of a previous camera baring the old Olympus brand name because apparently it's just "not worthwhile" putting the current OM System brand name on it. In contrast, when Minolta announced they were transferring their camera assets to Sony it was only six months later that we saw the first Sony branded DSLR.
What you're failing to acknowledge is that this is about the broader picture not simply about this current Astro camera release. What this Astro camera release demonstrates is OMDS backtracking on their rebranding announcement in 2022 for the sake of what appears to be a cheap route to a quick earner. I would have thought promoting the OM System brand by putting the name on this camera would be important, but apparently it's just "not worthwhile" despite pricing it at the equivalent of $2k. I think this fails to demonstrate any genuine commitment to the brand by OMDS, outside of a cheap route to a quick buck.
I agree with forum member Regor250 that OMDS actions lead to an erosion of confidence in what their intent might be beyond 5-8yrs.
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gary0319
Veteran Member
I think you are reading way more into this naming issue than is warranted.
But, if naming is the measure of commitment, then I think we can surmise that OMDS is at least committed to the 1 series with the OM1 and OM1 II, and the 5 series with the OM-5; add to that the Tough series with the TG-7... all with the OM logo. A quick check of the OMDS US website shows that all of these models (and the E-M10 IV) are all for sale. What's not for sale is the Pen series, but there is still promo material about the Pen series, so there might be some follow on yet, or perhaps just not in the US Market.
I think this ASTRO is nothing more than a one-off to use up some excess parts and test a market niche with minimal investment. More along the line of the E-M1 X which we all now know was a "one and done" but led to some new technology being added to the E-M1 III offering.
If I had any concerns about the OMDS commitment to the camera market, I wouldn't have bought my OM-1 II, OM-5 and TG-7. I'm still holding onto my E-M10 IV in anticipation of what will come next.... no fears at all.
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As another pointed out, you are making a big deal out of nothing and reading way too much into a niche Japan-only product. OMDS is still selling a ton of cameras with the Olympus logo on it and featuring it prominently too (as I linked)! If the top plate mattered so much, they wouldn't be doing that. I would see a little bit of logic in your point if this camera was the only camera they are selling with the Olympus top plate, but it's very much not.
As for the 2022 announcement, I highly doubt much if any of the camera buyers know about or even care about it to the extent you do. This is just a minor modification of an existing camera (they didn't even have to necessarily add the Astro sticker; they didn't for the IR versions). It changes nothing about their plans to convert the line going forward. Wasting money on useless changes that the rest of the industry wouldn't do either is not how a company would survive (especially true if they were using old parts stock).
But I guess there isn't much else to discuss, I've made my point which you clearly disagree (as I disagree with yours).
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