In a message dated 9/24/98 12:49:02 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
Richard.Schaetzl@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
<< > I think it's more likely that Olympus decided to create a first-class
> camera system to fully compete with Nikon F2 and Canon F1. The Oly system
> would have the depth of both, but would be considerably smaller and
> lighter, which should appeal to just about every kind of pro. At some point
> though Oly realized they were not going to join the ranks of C&N, and, with
> amateur SLR sales also plunging, threw in the towel.
If so, Olympus executives have an tremendous amount of patience. From
the the introducing of the OM-1 1972 to 1987 when the OM-4Ti was
released, 15 years. Minolta had less patience, after there initial 9000
model didn´t take the pro, high end photography market in storm, they
never again tried to position themself in this market share (same with
XM in MD days) and they did well and prospered.
I personaly doubt, that an company can live on pro photographers, it may
even an loss making prestige market.
Olympus surely targeted differnt markets, sientific photography,
extension to there microscopical, medical products. They catered for the
price sensitive market with there OM-10 etc. and I´m pretty sure this
was very profitable.
The single digit OM should please the serious, quality loving, amateur
too and I´m sure this is the market every manufactor is heading with
there "pro" models. >>
I agree with Richard. If the OM line is going to continue, I don't think the
pro market is what will keep it afloat. If Olympus is serious about continued
OM production, they will need some mass market appeal to bankroll it. It's not
clear whether they are doing that with their P&S, IS, and digital offerings.
I think they have the right idea with the OM-2000 - a good beginners camera,
low cost, with some budget lenses (irregardless of who actually manufactures
it). It needs to be marketed better, though.
A good compliment to the OM-2000 (OM-3000?) would be a more electronic camera,
with more of the bells and whistles that attract the mass market, like what
Pentax has done with the ZX-M. Something like an OM-40/PC with built in winder
and popup flash, maybe? With a street price of around $300US I think they
could sell quite a few, with some good marketing, and move a few lenses along
with them.
As much as we'd all like to see an OM-5, something with more mass market
appeal will probably be more benficial to all of us in the long run.
IMHO (had to fit that in there somewhere).
Paul Schings
Coventry, RI
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