A Farewell to Olympus: Closing My Chapter After 45 Years of Memories - 31st Mar 2023
January 2021 marked the end of an era. Olympus—after more than 80 years of shaping photography—sold its camera business. For me, this wasn’t just news; it felt like losing a lifelong friend. My journey began with an Olympus Pen D when I was 8, a gift from my grandfather. From that day, I lived through the magic of the Pen F, OM-1, OM-2, OM-3, OM-4Ti, and later digital icons like the E-P2, E-5, and E-M1. When I heard about the sale, my heart sank. I understood the business logic, but deep inside, I couldn’t accept it. The name “OLYMPUS” engraved on the prism meant everything to me. For over a year, I wrestled with the thought—what would Mr Maitani say if he were here? Finally, in March 2023, I made the hardest decision: to say goodbye. Micro Four Thirds had its brilliance—compact size, incredible stabilization, telephoto strength—but I feared innovation would slow under new ownership. In a fast-moving digital world, that felt fatal. So, I returned to Nikon—a brand that had been part of ...