OM system says the new pen is not yet on the drawing board

“We are assuming the new pen concept as the OM system brand,” calls the Kazuhiro Togashi of the Om system, VP for the brand strategy and product plan.

We spoke at the CP+ Trade Show in Yokohama, Japan, and they assured us that the arrival of OM-3 with a pen-F style ‘Creative Dial’ does not close the door on the rangefinder-style series.

“There is a separate concept between the Om-3 and Pen-F series,” they explain: “originally the Pen-F series is about the final beauty and final craftsmanship. While the main concept of OM-3 is to take authentic and great creative photos.”

But, they say, it is very soon to know what the future pen can look like. “We think the design of the camera should realize the concept of the product, so we do not start deciding the camera design before deciding the concept of the camera: the product concept must come first.”

“Therefore, we have not yet decided whether the product design for a new pen will look similar to the Pen-F or E-P7 because we have not decided on the product concept.”

But it is clear that the OM system plans to continue the pen line.

Continuous appeal of dedicated cameras

We asked Togashi what he thought that a dedicated camera shoots with special, at a time when the quality of the smartphone image has become so good.

“Experience is very important,” he says: “is a different kind of experience between a smartphone and a camera. For example, I personally prefer to use a smartphone, but just to record; without any emotional feeling.”

“When a user decides the moment with his camera, perhaps their feelings are being transferred from such an effort: they are not only recording, there is more more in it.”

“It’s as with professional players. They have to prepare their best performance during the game. They are always training before the game.”

“When you get an ideal photo, you feel a win”

“In the case of photos, photos enthusiasts always think or calculate before taking a photo. Before you take anything, you consider the place, or you think what situation is better, or what kind of environment or angle: you calculate before taking the photo.”

“It’s like a serious game, as it’s for football or baseball player. And when you get an ideal photo, you feel a win.” I win, by themselves, I don’t know ‘I don’t know if many people can get similar experience by taking photos with smartphones. “

And he thinks that this difference must remain, even the image quality gap narrow. “The speed of the development of the smartphone is very high, and in the future, the difference between the smartphone and the camera can be very small,” they say: “although the difference in experience is slightly larger.”

We are not a company to make an enthusiastic compact

Despite this, and despite the increasing sales of compact, Togashi says we should not expect an enthusiastic compact.

“For the current popularity of compact digital cameras, low -priced models are selling very well worldwide, but we think it is a temporary trend.” He says: “We are continue to study the development of the successor of the TG series, but we currently have no plans to introduce other compact camera concepts.”

“We have no plans to introduce other compact camera concepts”

“For high-end compact digital cameras, we believe that there is a dedicated user base that is a valuable section of the market, however, in the OM system, in the OM system, we are focusing on products developing products that align with the developed needs of photographers, ensuring that we provide possible innovation and performance in our lineups.

“When we were Olympus, our brand was known for high -end compact cameras such as XZ series and Stylus 1. However, since the OM system is formed, we no longer carry high-end compact cameras. Instead, we focus on cameras that align with broad market needs, including younger generation photographers. Given the required investment, only in research and development, but also in establishing a high-end compact brand image-will be challenging to make such a product profitable. ,

TG series ends …

Rugged, a viewer continues in the TG series of rugged, waterproof cameras, the company says. Picture: Om System

Togashi says, but the future of the TG series is definitely a future, as it has a dedicated user base.

“TG still survives and is well received by the market,” he says: “external enthusiasts want to catch their activities and adventures. Also the families seek ways to preserve special memories — whether they are playing in the pool or on such holidays and conditions.”

“On the other hand, professional scuba divers or climbers continue to rely on the TG series. For them, security is very important during these extreme activities, and the TG chain remains a reliable tool in these challenging environments.”

“Both types of users continue to use the TG chain, set it apart from other high-end compact cameras. Their main priorities are ease of dynamics and operations rather than smartphone connectivity. They love operations and dynamics.”

… but a high end TG will be challenging

These specific requirements can control a high-end TG, she suggests

“We are always talking about the successor of the TG series and whether to add a new, high TG line, perhaps using a large sensor, or perhaps a TG-DSLR.”

“We are always thinking of possibilities. However, as today we have no best answer to feel this concept as the need for TG series is very difficult. For example, it is very difficult to make a large or removable lens drop resistant.”

In addition, they say, it is important to keep the size down: “If we have adopted a large sensor and we maintain the same optical zoom range, the body will need to be too large. This means that this type of TG will lose dynamics concept.”

Togashi was not excited by our suggestion of a major lens: “Photographic requirements of many TG users are different from enthusiasts”, so they prefer to use a zoom lens. They prefer to grow subjects in their photos, so they always use tele-zoom. ,

Director of Product Plan, Hiroki Koyama expressed another concern: “We also give priority for close-up capacity. TG can be used very close to the subject. If we choose a large sensor size, the close-up capacity will be reduced. Current sensor is the best balance, but we will try to study the concept.”

Om System Lens Range

On the topic of the lens, we asked if they believe that the current micro for third lens lineup includes all the options that an OM-3 users want.

Togashi says, “Not yet,” we are trying to develop small and light and bright lenses or something like that. We have space to create new lenses in the future. I can’t disclose (details), but yes. ,

Choosing the right lens to add is not always easy, he suggests: “People always ask” will you create a pancake lens? “,” He says: “But then the sale of pancake lens is not so good. But still, we will continue to consider this. ,

Interviews conducted by Dale Basque and Richard Butler, edited to Flow.

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