31st Mar 2023: A Farewell to Olympus: Closing My Chapter After 45 Years of Memories
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 ...