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This timeline concentrates on the "creative" digital camera models from Olympus, i.e. those where there is the possibility to control aperture, shutter speed and focus.
Olympus Corporation is a Japanese manufacturer of optics and reprography products. Olympus was established on 12 October 1919, initially specializing in microscopes and thermometers. Olympus holds roughly a 70-percent share of the global endoscope market, estimated to be worth approximately US$2.5 billion. Its global headquarters are located in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.
The Four Thirds System is a standard created by Olympus and Eastman Kodak for digital single-lens reflex camera (DSLR) and mirrorless camera design and development.
The Micro Four Thirds system is a standard released by Olympus and Panasonic in 2008, for the design and development of mirrorless interchangeable lens digital cameras, camcorders and lenses. Camera bodies are available from Blackmagic, DJI, JVC, Kodak, Olympus, Panasonic, Sharp, and Xiaomi. MFT lenses are produced by Cosina Voigtländer, DJI, Kowa, Kodak, Mitakon, Olympus, Panasonic, Samyang, Sharp, Sigma, SLR Magic, Tamron, Tokina, TTArtisan, Veydra, Xiaomi, Laowa, Yongnuo, Zonlai, Lensbaby, Kowa, Venus Optics and 7artisans amongst others.
The Olympus Pen E-P1 announced on 16 June 2009 is Olympus Corporation's first camera that adheres to the Micro Four Thirds (MFT) system design standard. The first camera to use the Micro Four Thirds mount was Panasonic's G-1 camera.
The Olympus PEN E-PL1 is a digital camera made by Olympus announced on 3 February 2010 and replaced in 2011. It was Olympus's third camera using the Micro Four Thirds system after the Olympus PEN E-P1 and Olympus PEN E-P2, and the first camera in Olympus' "PEN Lite" line.
The Olympus PEN E-PL2, was announced in early January 2011 at the CES. This is Olympus Corporation's fourth camera that uses the Micro Four Thirds mount after the Olympus PEN E-P1, Olympus PEN E-P2 and Olympus PEN E-PL1. At the time it was announced, it had a US dollar MSRP of $599.99. As with earlier PEN models, the E-PL2 is aimed in between the point-and-shoot and D-SLR markets.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 is the sixth camera in Panasonic's Lumix G-series, using the Micro Four Thirds System.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 is a digital mirrorless interchangeable lens camera adhering to the Olympus and Panasonic developed Micro Four Thirds System (MFT) system design standard. It was announced in March 2010 along with a lesser featured Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10 is the sixth digital mirrorless interchangeable lens camera introduced that adheres to the Micro Four Thirds System (MFT) system design standard, and the fourth Panasonic model MFT camera. The G10 model was announced concurrently with its more capable sibling, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2, in March 2010.
The Olympus PEN E-P3 announced on 30 June 2011 is Olympus Corporation's seventh camera that adheres to the Micro Four Thirds (MFT) system design standard. The E-P3 succeeds the Olympus PEN E-P2, and was announced in concert with two other models, the Olympus PEN E-PL3, and the Olympus PEN E-PM1.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 is the eighth camera in Panasonic's Lumix G-series adhering to the Micro Four Thirds System (MFT) design standard, and was announced in June 2011.
The Olympus PEN E-PL3 announced on 30 June 2011 is Olympus Corporation's seventh camera that adheres to the Micro Four Thirds (MFT) system design standard. The E-PL3 succeeds the Olympus PEN E-PL2, and was announced in concert with two other models, the Olympus PEN E-P3, and the Olympus PEN E-PM1. The E-PL3 is commonly said to be the "Lite" version of the E-P3, much as the E-PL1 and E-PL2 were "Lite" versions of the E-P1 and E-P2, respectively.
The Olympus OM-D E-M5, announced in February 2012, is a Micro Four Thirds compact mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. In style and name it references the Olympus OM series of film SLR cameras, but it is not an SLR camera. The successor is the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II.
The Olympus OM-D E-M1 Micro Four Thirds is Olympus' compact mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera introduced on September 10, 2013. It has built-in on sensor phase detection.
The Olympus PEN E-PM1 is an entry-level mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera from Japanese manufacturer Olympus with a Micro Four Thirds lens mount and sensor. It includes a 12.3 megapixel sensor, 3-inch 460,000 pixel LCD screen, and sensor-based image stabilization, but no viewfinder or internal flash, although an external flash can be fitted.
Zuiko is a brand of optical lenses made by Olympus Corporation that was used up to and into the Four Thirds system era. The name Zuiko (瑞光) means 'Light of the Gods', using a character from the Mizuho Optic Research Laboratory (瑞穂光学研究所), where the lens was developed, and a character from Takachiho Corporation (高千穂製作所), which would eventually become the Olympus Corporation.
The Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II is a digital mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera released by Olympus Corporation in December 2016. It replaced the Olympus OM-D E-M1, which was introduced in 2013.
The Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV is the fourth iteration of the entry-level model in the OM-D series of mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras produced by Olympus. The camera utilizes the micro four-thirds system and was announced on August 4, 2020, and launched on September 18 of the same year.
The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III is the third iteration of the enthusiast-level mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera produced by Olympus on the Micro Four-Thirds system. The camera is the successor to the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II and was released on November 15, 2019.
The OM System OM-1 is the flagship mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera produced by OM Digital Solutions on the micro four-thirds system. It is the first high-end digital camera made by OM Digital Solutions after its acquisition of the imaging divisions of the camera manufacturer Olympus. The OM-1 was announced on February 15, 2022. Despite no longer being a product of Olympus, the OM-1 still bears the Olympus wordmark on the front of its electronic viewfinder, tying the camera to Olympus' flagship E-M1 cameras. The camera's name is the same as the Olympus OM-1, the first OM film SLR camera, and was released to coincide with that camera's 50th anniversary.