FujiFilm rumored to be interested in Olympus

[Snarfy]

Few things in camera news get me really excited.

Fujifilm May Be In The Hunt for Olympus

This, however, gets me REALLY REALLY excited!

[groovyone]

That could lead to some interesting results! The Oly mirrorless AF and color is really pretty good.

[Richard_B]

Originally Posted by Snarfy

<snip>
This, however, gets me REALLY REALLY excited!

OK, I'll bight. Why?

[Snarfy]

Originally Posted by Richard_B

OK, I'll bight. Why?

In the last couple of years, the two companies have stepped up in the mirrorless camera market and really pushed things along. They're making cameras that are compact with large sensors, brilliant handling and features, and inspired design.

Their emphasis is on a culture of accessible shooting, not on gadgetry. That puts a smile on my face. The idea of the two becoming one (the PEN EP series mated with the X series) gets me excited! Hybrid mutant mirrorless babies for all!

[Hogleg 44]

Well, it is said that the camera end of their business is loosing money. And in light of the precarious position they find themselves in because of upper management money mishandling...why not sell???

I agree with Chris, Interesting possibilities...

[Richard_B]

"Hybrid mutant mirrorless cameras."



If the medical and camera divisions are split up and sold separately I do not see a long list of potential buyers for the camera division. There are some hints of Fuji being interested, but they have a director on the Olympus BOD and that makes me wonder if they are in a position to do so. Nikon is not a realistic possibility because NIH (not invented here). The rest have to ask just what value Olympus would bring to their camera lineup and I am afraid that the answer is probably "not much". The only name I could envision surviving is the "PEN" lineup. The Olympus name would surely go away. I do not know if Olympus have patents of any particular value, but I doubt that there are any which are compelling so that does indeed leave...Panasonic who could benefit from the lenses in the µ4/3rds format to extend their own product lineup, but it probably would not be worth the price in view of the product overlap. Canon is a great unknown. They are a larger company than Nikon and there continue to be rumors of work on a mirrorless Canon entry, but would they benefit from the acquisition? I just don't think so.

The way, indeed the only way, I see the Olympus camera division becoming anything other than another footnote to history is if it is sold as a package along with the medical division. If that were to happen, I believe that it would maximize value to the Olympus shareholders. It would also present the buyer with a near no cost option to utilize whatever they found of value in the camera division. Personally, I would think Canon could do some interesting things as their sensor design and production capability is about as good as any other.

I suppose that Panasonic probably has a better understanding of what Olympus' capabilities are than anyone else because of their affiliation through the µ4/3rds consortium.

In any event it does look as though we well be bidding farewell to Olympus.

[Edit] P.S. Yes, I know that Fuji is in the µ4/3rds consortium, but they do not seem to have done much, at least that we know about and the trend in mirrorless cameras seems to be to sensors either larger or smaller than µ4/3rds.

[Snarfy]

My excitement is in the idea of the creative product design teams from both companies getting mashed together and creating something that ultimately changes photography.

[Richard_B]

Originally Posted by Snarfy

My excitement is in the idea of the creative product design teams from both companies getting mashed together and creating something that ultimately changes photography.

Frankly, I greatly prefer your scenario to the one I think likely to happen.

I am afraid that the Olympus camera division is going to look like a turkey carcass the day after Thanksgiving. The choice bits will have been picked over and the rest left to who knows what.

Time will tell.

Cheers