Olympus (OM System)

Type: Camera manufacturer
Founded: 1919 (as Olympus); 2021 rebranded imaging division as OM Digital Solutions
Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Key products: OM-D mirrorless cameras, TG Tough series compacts, Micro Four Thirds lenses

Overview

Olympus carved out a distinctive and important niche in underwater photography through the Micro Four Thirds system, offering a compelling alternative to the larger full-frame systems from Canon and Nikon. The smaller Micro Four Thirds sensor enabled significantly more compact cameras and housings while delivering image quality that, as Alex Mustard noted, “betters most DX/APS-C SLRs” (^[1]). This size advantage was particularly valued by traveling underwater photographers who struggled with airline baggage restrictions.

Olympus also distinguished itself through direct manufacturer engagement with the underwater market — producing its own affordable polycarbonate housings (the PT-EP series), developing dedicated underwater lens ports, and partnering with retailers like Backscatter for distribution. Few camera manufacturers invested as directly in the underwater photography ecosystem.

In 2020, Olympus sold its imaging division to Japan Industrial Partners, which rebranded the camera business as OM Digital Solutions (marketed as OM System) in 2021. The first camera under the new brand was the OM-1, released in 2022.

Product Timeline

Compact Camera Era (2002-2007)

• 2002-09: Light & Motion released the Tetra housing for the Olympus C-4000, among the earliest Olympus compact underwater setups (^[2]).
• 2002-09: Light & Motion released the Titan housing for the Olympus E-20 (^[3]).
• 2003-03: Olympus announced new housings for its compact camera lineup (^[4]).
• 2003-10: Olympus PT-020 housing for the C-5060 announced, marking Olympus’s ongoing commitment to self-manufactured underwater housings (^[5]).
• 2004-01: Ikelite began beta testing TTL support for Olympus cameras (^[6]).
• 2005-03: Ikelite released a housing for the Olympus C-7070 (^[7]).
• 2005-04: Olympus announced the PT-E01 housing for the E-300 DSLR, showing commitment to underwater support for interchangeable-lens cameras (^[8]).
• 2006: Olympus compact cameras (C-7070, C-5060) were popular underwater with housings from Olympus (PT series), Ikelite, and Epoque/Patima (^[9]).

Four Thirds Era (2005-2008)

• 2005-06: Olympus announced a dome port system for E-system cameras, signaling early commitment to interchangeable-lens underwater photography support (^[10]).
• 2005-09: Olympus announced the E-500 DSLR and a new macro lens (^[11]).
• 2006-01: Olympus announced the Evolt E-330 DSLR with live view capability (^[12]).
• 2006-09: Olympus E-330 housing comparisons published on Wetpixel (^[13]).
• 2006-10: Olympus Evolt E-330 DSLR and 10bar housing reviewed on Wetpixel (^[14]).
• 2007-05: Olympus expanded its underwater housing range (^[15]).
• 2007-07: Olympus E-410 DSLR and PT-E03 underwater housing announced (^[16]).
• 2007-11: DEMA 2007 featured Olympus America’s underwater photography products (^[17]).
• 2008-08: Olympus and Panasonic jointly announced the Micro Four Thirds standard, removing the mirror from Four Thirds while keeping the same sensor size (18 x 13.5 mm). Eric Cheng wrote that this was “particularly exciting for underwater shooters” because “a large sensor in a small package will allow us to maintain low noise in images while minimizing the size of a housed camera.” Lenses for the new mount would be smaller, though optical viewfinders would no longer be possible (^[18]).
• 2008-10: DEMA 2008 featured Olympus’s underwater photography products (^[19]).

Micro Four Thirds Revolution (2009-2014)

• 2010-02: Olympus introduced new waterproof cameras in its rugged compact lineup (^[20]).
• 2010-05: Olympus launched the PEN E-PL1, one of the first Micro Four Thirds cameras to gain underwater housing support. Phil Rudin published a comprehensive hands-on review of the E-PL1 and PT-EP01 housing, noting that Olympus had “a great track record for introducing appropriate cameras with underwater housing and then getting the housings to dealers soon after the launch of the new cameras.” The E-PL1 was priced at $599 with kit lens, with the housing also at $599 (^[21]).
• 2010-06: First Panasonic 8mm fisheye footage underwater was published, demonstrating the cross-compatible Micro Four Thirds fisheye lens that worked on Olympus bodies (^[22]).
• 2010-07: Zen Underwater released a dome port for the Olympus PEN E-PL1 (^[23]).
• 2010-09: Olympus released the E-5 DSLR, the last Four Thirds DSLR (^[24]).
• 2010-12: Backscatter published a review of the Olympus E-PL1 and housing (^[25]).
• 2011-01: Olympus E-PL2 and its housing details were leaked (^[26]).
• 2011-06: Nauticam released a housing for the Olympus E-PL2, marking Nauticam’s entry into the Olympus housing market (^[27]).
• 2011-06: Olympus announced the E-P3 (^[28]).
• 2012-02: Olympus launched the OM-D E-M5, the camera that truly established Micro Four Thirds as a serious underwater photography system. It featured weather sealing, 5-axis in-body image stabilization, and a 16-megapixel sensor (^[29]).
• 2012-02: Olympus simultaneously announced their own PT-EP08 housing for the E-M5 and plans for a dedicated 60mm macro lens, showing comprehensive commitment to the underwater market (^[30]).
• 2012-06: Alex Mustard published an extensive review of the Olympus OM-D E-M5 for Wetpixel, writing that he was “hugely impressed by this little marvel” and subsequently purchased one himself. He noted the review was aimed not just at existing M43 users but at “all of us, whether we currently shoot Micro Four Thirds, a compact or an SLR.” Evidence of the camera’s popularity “can be seen in the number of discussion threads on the forums about this camera, the main here one has already had 20000+ views.” The review drew 20 comments, with community members including Phil Rudin, Coroander, and Nige Wade sharing their own experiences (^[31]).
• 2012-08: Olympus PT-EP08 housing and OM-D E-M5 reviewed (^[32]).
• 2012-08: Inon released new products for Olympus E-mount cameras (^[33]).
• 2012-09: Olympus and Sony announced a partnership (^[34]).
• 2012-10: Backscatter was appointed as the distributor for Olympus Underwater products for North America and the Caribbean. Backscatter CEO Jim Decker noted Olympus’s “renewed commitment to the dive market with their PEN and tough series lines” (^[35]).
• 2012-10: Zen Underwater announced support for the Olympus PT-EP08 housing (^[36]).
• 2012-11: Alex Mustard and community member Coroander published extensive underwater settings for the OM-D E-M5. They acknowledged “the Olympus way of thinking is certainly different to Nikon or Canon” and the camera is “highly customisable through custom settings” but “can be a challenging camera to get to know.” Phil Rudin, Jim Lyle, and other community members had been sharing knowledge to help users master the camera’s complex menu system. The settings guide focused on decoupling focus from the shutter release and extensive custom function programming (^[37]).
• 2013-08: 10bar announced housing for the Olympus OM-D E-M5 (^[38]).
• 2013-09: Olympus launched the flagship OM-D E-M1, stepping up to a more professional body (^[39]).
• 2013-12: Nauticam announced housing for the OM-D E-M1 (^[40]).
• 2014-01: Olympus announced the OM-D E-M10, bringing OM-D technology to a more affordable body (^[41]).
• 2014-04: Inon listed compatibility with the Olympus OM-D E-M1 (^[42]).
• 2014-05: Nauticam announced housing for the Olympus E-M10 (^[43]).
• 2014-05: Analysis of Olympus’s financial reports revealed disturbing numbers for the imaging division. Sales targets were missed by 41%, with double-digit declines outside Japan. The imaging division was costing more to operate than it generated in revenue, reflecting the broader industry malaise of smartphones replacing compact cameras. Wetpixel’s coverage noted this “should not affect an individual’s decision to purchase an Olympus camera” as the current mirrorless range were “market leaders” (^[44]).
• 2014-05: Subal announced housing for the Olympus OM-D E-M1 (^[45]).
• 2014-10: Nauticam released housing for the Olympus Tough TG-3, marking the start of serious housing support for the TG compact series (^[46]).
• 2014-12: Ikelite released MIL housings for Olympus mirrorless cameras (^[47]).

OM-D Maturity and TG Series (2015-2020)

• 2015-02: Olympus announced the OM-D E-M5 Mark II and revealed development of an 8mm f/1.8 fisheye lens — the world’s first fisheye with an f/1.8 aperture — with a dedicated underwater lens port for the E-M5 Mark II housing (^[48]).
• 2015-04: Olympus published a video demonstrating their 5-axis image stabilization in action (^[49]).
• 2015-04: Nauticam released housing for the OM-D E-M5 Mark II (^[50]).
• 2015-05: Olympus formally announced the M.Zuiko Digital ED 8mm f/1.8 Fisheye PRO (minimum working distance of just 2.5cm/1”) and 7-14mm f/2.8 PRO (minimum focus distance of 7.5cm/3”). Both were dustproof and splashproof. The 8mm fisheye came with a dedicated dome port (PPO-EP02) for use with OM-D underwater housings, 15% smaller and 30% lighter than Olympus’s previous dome port. The hood section was removable for over-under shots (^[51]).
• 2015-06: Olympus launched an underwater photo gallery, further demonstrating commitment to the underwater market (^[52]).
• 2016-11: Olympus announced the OM-D E-M1 Mark II, their most advanced Micro Four Thirds camera with 20 megapixels and 60fps burst shooting (^[53]).
• 2017-01: Nauticam shipped housing for the OM-D E-M1 Mark II (^[54]).
• 2017-05: Olympus announced the TG-5 Tough compact camera, continuing the highly successful waterproof compact line (^[55]).
• 2017-07: Multiple housing manufacturers including Ikelite and Inon announced compatibility with the TG-5 (^[56]).
• 2017-11: TRT Electronics shipped the O-Turtle TTL flash trigger for Olympus cameras (^[57]).
• 2019-05: Olympus announced the TG-6, the latest in the Tough compact series (^[58]).
• 2019-10: Olympus announced the OM-D E-M5 Mark III (^[59]).
• 2020-02: Olympus announced the OM-D E-M1 Mark III (^[60]).
• 2020-06: Alexey Zaytsev published a practical guide for the Olympus TG-6 for underwater photography (^[61]).

OM System Era (2021-present)

• 2021: Olympus sold its imaging division to Japan Industrial Partners. The camera brand was rebranded as OM Digital Solutions, marketing under the OM System name.
• 2022-02: OM Digital announced the OM-1, the first camera under the OM System brand. It featured a 20-megapixel stacked BSI (backside-illuminated) sensor — a first for Micro Four Thirds — with a new TruePic X processor (3x faster than previous models), “Cross Quad Pixel” AF with 1,053 all-cross-type selectable points, AI-based subject detection using deep learning (recognizing birds, animals, cars, motorcycles, airplanes, trains), 5-axis in-body stabilization with up to 8 stops of correction, and 50 fps blackout-free AF/AE tracking sequential shooting (up to 120 fps AF/AE locked). The EVF offered 5.76 million dot resolution. Video recording supported 10-bit 4K 60p and Full HD 240p, with OM-Log for color grading. It also featured IP53 dustproof and splashproof rating and freezeproofing to -10C. Priced at $2,199.99. Computational photography features included Handheld High-Res Shot (50MP), Tripod High-Res Shot (80MP), Live ND, Live Composite, and Focus Stacking (^[62]).
• 2022-08: AOI announced housing for the OM-1 (^[63]).
• 2023-02: OM System announced a 90mm f/3.5 Macro IS PRO lens offering 2:1 magnification, continuing lens development for the Micro Four Thirds system (^[64]).

Key Lenses for Underwater Photography

The Micro Four Thirds system benefits from an open standard, with both Olympus and Panasonic producing compatible lenses:

• Olympus M.Zuiko 8mm f/1.8 Fisheye PRO: The world’s first f/1.8 fisheye lens. Minimum working distance of just 2.5cm (1”). Announced in development in February 2015, released June 2015 at $999.99. Olympus developed a dedicated dome port (PPO-EP02) for use with OM-D underwater housings (^[65]).
• Olympus M.Zuiko 60mm f/2.8 Macro: Announced in 2012 alongside the E-M5, became the standard macro lens for Olympus underwater shooters (^[66]).
• Olympus M.Zuiko 7-14mm f/2.8 PRO: Ultra-wide-angle zoom (14-28mm equivalent) with minimum focus distance of 7.5cm (3”) and weather sealing. Released June 2015 at $1,299.99 (^[67]).
• Olympus M.Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO: Versatile zoom useful for close-focus wide-angle underwater photography.
• Panasonic 8mm f/3.5 Fisheye: Cross-compatible Micro Four Thirds fisheye. First underwater footage published in 2010 (^[68]).
• Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 X: Praised by community member Phil Rudin as a quality new zoom for underwater use (^[69]).
• OM System 90mm f/3.5 Macro IS PRO: Latest macro lens offering 2:1 magnification (^[70]).

Housing Ecosystem

Olympus cameras received housing support from a wide range of manufacturers, with Olympus itself being a unique case among camera makers in producing its own underwater housings:

• Olympus own housings (PT-EP series): Affordable polycarbonate housings produced by Olympus for their own cameras, including the PT-EP01 (E-PL1), PT-EP08 (E-M5), PT-EP11 (E-M1), and PT-EP13 (E-M5 Mark II). Phil Rudin noted Olympus’s “great track record for introducing appropriate cameras with underwater housing and then getting the housings to dealers soon after the launch of the new cameras.” Olympus also produced dedicated dome ports and lens ports, including the PPO-EP02 for the 8mm fisheye. The PT-EP08 used the RDX port system (^[71]).
• Nauticam: Primary third-party housing manufacturer, providing aluminum housings for E-PL2, E-M5, E-M1, E-M10, and TG series cameras. Nauticam entered the Olympus housing market with the E-PL2 in 2011 (^[72]).
• Ikelite: Polycarbonate housings for OM-D and TG series, including MIL (Multi-purpose Interchangeable Lens) housings from 2014. Also produced housings for older Olympus compacts like the C-7070 (^[73]).
• Aquatica: Aluminum housings for E-M1 series.
• Sea & Sea: Housings for E-M5 series.
• Subal: Housing for the OM-D E-M1 (^[74]).
• AOI: Newer manufacturer supporting OM-1 and E-M1 Mark III (^[75]).
• Inon: Compatibility accessories and X-2 housing system for Olympus cameras (^[76]).
• 10bar: Housing for the OM-D E-M5 (^[77]). Also produced housings for the E-330 (^[78]).
• Zen Underwater: Dome port support for the Olympus PEN E-PL1 and PT-EP08 housing (^[79]).
• Epoque/Patima: Housings for older Olympus compacts (C-7070, C-5060) (^[80]).
• Light & Motion: Early housings for the Olympus C-4000 (Tetra) and E-20 (Titan) (^[81]).

Distribution and Industry Partnerships

• Backscatter partnership (2012): Backscatter was appointed as the distributor for Olympus Underwater products for North America and the Caribbean, assuming responsibility for selling to dive and watersports outlets. This was unusual — most camera manufacturers sold through general retail channels, not through underwater photography specialists (^[82]).
• Sony partnership (2012): Olympus and Sony formed a partnership, with Sony investing in Olympus. This didn’t directly affect underwater products but stabilized Olympus’s financial position (^[83]).

Community and User Culture

The Olympus underwater community on Wetpixel was notably collaborative, driven by the camera’s complex customization options:

• Phil Rudin: An E-PL1 early adopter who published the first detailed hands-on review of the PEN system underwater. He later became a key E-M5 community expert, noting that he “no longer look[s] at the image quality as being from a small sensor” (^[84]).
• Coroander: Community member who co-authored the extensive E-M5 underwater settings guide with Alex Mustard, including detailed focus decoupling configuration and custom function assignments (^[85]).
• Jim Lyle: Community member recognized for helping others master the E-M5’s complex menu system (^[86]).
• Alexey Zaytsev: Published a practical guide for the TG-6 for underwater photography (^[87]).

The E-M5’s forum discussion thread accumulated over 20,000 views, indicating intense community interest in the system.

Financial Challenges and Transition

Olympus’s imaging division faced significant financial challenges throughout the 2010s. A 2014 Wetpixel analysis of Olympus’s financial reports noted the company missed sales targets by 41%, with 33% of mirrorless sales concentrated in Japan and double-digit declines elsewhere. The imaging division was operating at a loss. This reflected the broader industry trend of smartphones replacing compact cameras, though Olympus’s mirrorless cameras remained technically competitive (^[88]).

These financial pressures ultimately led to Olympus selling its imaging division to Japan Industrial Partners in 2020. The new company, OM Digital Solutions, continued development under the OM System brand, releasing the OM-1 in 2022 with impressive specifications including a stacked BSI sensor and AI-based autofocus — technologies that demonstrated continued engineering investment despite the ownership change.

Significance in Underwater Photography

Compact system pioneer: Olympus proved that Micro Four Thirds sensors could produce professional-quality underwater images in dramatically smaller packages than full-frame systems. As Eric Cheng wrote when Micro Four Thirds was announced, “a large sensor in a small package will allow us to maintain low noise in images while minimizing the size of a housed camera.” Alex Mustard’s endorsement — purchasing an E-M5 alongside his Nikon SLR kit — validated the system for serious underwater photographers (^[89]).

Macro excellence: The smaller sensor’s crop factor (2x) effectively doubled the reach of macro lenses, making Olympus cameras particularly well-suited for macro and supermacro underwater photography. The 8mm f/1.8 Fisheye PRO’s 2.5cm minimum working distance and the 60mm macro’s capabilities made the system especially strong for close-up work.

TG series as gateway: The Olympus TG series (TG-3 through TG-6) became the most recommended compact cameras for beginning underwater photographers, offering built-in waterproofing to shallow depths and impressive macro capabilities without requiring a housing. When paired with aftermarket housings from Nauticam, Ikelite, or AOI, they became capable systems in their own right.

Manufacturer-integrated approach: Olympus was unique among major camera manufacturers in producing its own underwater housings, dome ports, and lens ports. This vertical integration meant underwater photography considerations could influence camera design decisions. The company also launched its own underwater photo gallery and partnered with Backscatter for dedicated underwater product distribution — an unusual level of direct engagement with the diving market.

Computational photography pioneer: The OM-1’s computational photography features — including Handheld High-Res Shot (50MP composites from a 20MP sensor), Live ND simulation, Live Composite, and Focus Stacking — represented capabilities unavailable in most competing systems, particularly valuable for underwater macro photography where depth of field is critical (^[90]).

Alex Mustard’s mirrorless foundation: Alex Mustard’s 2012 E-M5 review was significant not just for Olympus but for the broader mirrorless underwater movement. In his 2023 review of the Sony a7R V, he referenced this review: “I remain an SLR shooter too, although I have always been open to Mirrorless, 11 years ago I wrote the original review of the Olympus OM-D E-M5 for Wetpixel and I was also the first photographer awarded in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest with an underwater mirrorless shot 10 years ago” (^[91]).