Olympus announces that it has cut its camera business loose

Olympus has released a statement today (June 24, 2020) advising the public that it has signed a deal to sell its imaging division. This area of its business, which concerns cameras such as the OM-D series, will become a separate company, a process to be managed by another signatory to this new agreement, Japan Industrial Partners (JIP).

This does not necessarily entail an end to familar brands such as Zuiko and OM-D itself; the new entity will take them with it in setting itself up as a manufacturer of their next-gen products under JIP's stewardship.

However, they will do so without the Olympus name, which has been a part of iconic or trailblazing imaging devices throughout this company's history, its innovative Pen compact series included.

Olympus and JIP assert that the freshly-minted imaging OEM will "continue to offer high-quality, highly reliable products", and will also take on support obligations associated with the former company's existing camera and lens products.