Thanks for reviving the PEN, OM System – what about bringing again an inexpensive compact digital camera just like the Olympus Mju, too?

While practically everybody responded to its pre-announcement teaser by guessing we’d see an OM System branded PEN F Mark II – solely to have the producer dial it proper again to the ‘OG’ PEN – its want to rifle by the outdated Olympus archives to search out the OM System cameras of tomorrow has me hoping we’ll sometime additionally see a digital model of the Olympus Trip 35; one thing I not too long ago wrote about.

Until the previous Olympus works out the right way to make {that a} actuality, there’s already an easier possibility to fill that fastened lens compact digital camera sized void: convey again the digital Mju (aka the Olympus Stylus within the US).

With its Porsche-like curves and, on some fashions, a sliding face plate, the Mju was not solely the belle of the ball in its movie period iteration, shifting a number of tens of millions of models, however likewise proved a no brainer bestseller for Olympus when digital images went mass market within the early 2000s.

I recall UK TV adverts of the time promising the Mju may ship ‘professional photographs without the professional’, that includes hapless sorts trying to wrap photographer David Bailey – introduced again by Olympus – in Christmas paper, or pack him in a vacation suitcase, as a way more laborious and comical path to reaching higher photographs.

Surely, except unique mouldings have been carelessly misplaced, there shouldn’t be an excessive amount of effort required to blow the mud off the unique plans and let the Mju / Stylus dwell once more, this time round, in fact, with OM System branding?

Rise (once more) of the compacts

Fujifilm has already proven us the way it’s accomplished and responded to market wishes for fastened lens level and shoots with its toy-like Instax Pal 2, as a substitute for the nonetheless restricted but pricier snapshots from Panasonic within the Lumix TZ99 / ZS99 and Canon with its PowerShot G7 X III. 

By distinction Nikon and Sony have but to revive their Coolpix A collection and Cyber-shot W collection respectively in any respect, so I believe OM System ought to seize the second and sweep in with a reconstituted Mju / Stylus.

Yes, the OM System Tough TG-7 compact digital camera with comparable core DNA would possibly nonetheless be promoting. But absolutely that rugged, industrial wanting beast deserves its personal sleeker styled magnificence to take a seat alongside it within the vary. And I reckon an OM System digital Mju / Stylus would match the invoice very properly.

Some prior fashions from the mid to late 2000s, together with the 3x optical zoom Mju / Stylus 600 and 790SW, had one of the best of each worlds, in providing weatherproofed metallic our bodies. Just swap out use of now-outdated xD-Picture Cards for microSD or SD playing cards, and job accomplished. 

Or why not provide a bit extra poke within the optical zoom division by resurrecting the 10x optical zoom Mju / Stylus 9010 mannequin from 2010, launched throughout that transient window earlier than Olympus began totally specializing in mirrorless, thereby letting its common, bread-and-butter, non-toughened compact digital camera vary slide into oblivion?

With OM System not too long ago below new unbiased possession and the re-issued PEN indicating renewed vigour, I’m hoping it’s profitable sufficient for its maker to revisit the treasure trove of previous Olympus merchandise that might, I really feel, be completely re-positioned to profit from recent demand for cool wanting, inexpensive pocket snapshots immediately.

Then we’d simply want the now octogenarian Bailey to shoot one other delightfully eccentric advert.

The views expressed on this column should not essentially these of Amateur Photographer journal or Kelsey Media Limited. If you could have an opinion you’d wish to share on this subject, or every other images associated topic, e-mail: [email protected]

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