Olympus History

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• History of Cameras
  • 1936-1970
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  • 1971-1992
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Initially, digital cameras were treated as peripheral devices for computers. However, the priority for Olympus was to develop digital cameras with sufficiently high resolution to be used in place of conventional film cameras. This work in 1996, led to the introduction of the first affordably priced high-resolution digital camera. Users were impressed by the high quality of the images, and the camera became a major hit. Olympus continued to improve the image quality and resolution of digital cameras, and within a few years the digital camera market had overtaken the conventional camera market.

CAMEDIA C-800L

CAMEDIA C-900 ZOOM

CAMEDIA C-2000 ZOOM

CAMEDIA C-700 Ultra Zoom

CAMEDIA C-1

CAMEDIA C-2 Zoom

CAMEDIA X-2

μ-10 DIGITAL

μ-mini DIGITAL

CAMEDIA C-800L   (1996) Launched in 1996, the CAMEDIA C-800L was the first of the CAMEDIA line. At a time when digital cameras tended to be priced at around ¥10,000 yen per 10,000 pixels, Olympus set a new standard by offering a camera with 810,000 pixel resolution for just ¥128,000 yen. The C-800L provided superb image quality and yet was as easy to use as a compact camera. It earned excellent reviews in camera magazines and became a major hit product. Olympus launched other in the series, up to the C-860L, with enhancements that included the use of Smart Media cards instead of built-in flash memory, and the improvement of resolution from 810,000 pixels to 1.31 megapixels.

CAMEDIA C-900 ZOOM   (1998) In 1998 Olympus launched the CAMEDIA C-900 ZOOM, its first digital camera in the compact series to feature an optical 3x zoom lens. At the time of its lanch in 1998 the C-900 ZOOM was the world's lightest digital camera with a 3x zoom lens. It was the first of the 900 ZOOM series of stylish compact cameras.

3D View

CAMEDIA C-2000 ZOOM   (1999) Introduced in 1999, the CAMEDIA C-2000 ZOOM was a high-end compact digital camera. It was equipped with an F2.0 large-aperture high-performance 3x zoom lens and a 2.11-megapixel high-resolution CCD. Olympus used knowledge gained through the development of numerous conventional film cameras to create a high-quality compact digital camera with the performance and functions needed to create images that would faithfully reflect the photographers intentions. The series evolved through the 3030 and 4040 models, which had higher CCD resolutions, and the 5060 and 8080 models, which were equipped with wide-angle zoom lenses.

3D View

CAMEDIA C-700 Ultra Zoom   (2001) Launched in 2001, the CAMEDIA C-700 Ultra Zoom (2001) belonged to the compact Ultra Zoom series. Its compact body was fitted with a bright, high-performance 10x optical zoom lens. This 2.1-megapixel compact digital camera made high-power zoom photography simple. Olympus has continued to develop this series. Enhancements include higher resolutions, more compact designs, and improved movie functions.

3D View

CAMEDIA C-1   (2001) Ease of operation is a key feature of the CAMEDIA C-1 digital camera, which first went on sale in 2001. It has a slim, compact body design, and the number of control buttons has been kept to a minimum for optimal simplicity. The 1/3.2 CCD provides 1.3-megapixel resolution. About three months after the launch of the CAMEDIA C-1, Olympus introduced the C-1 Zoom, which has a similar body size but is equipped with a 3x zoom lens.

3D View

CAMEDIA C-2 Zoom   (2002) The CAMEDIA C-2 Zoom was launched in 2002. Like the C-1 Zoom, it is based on the concept of a compact, slim-line, lightweight digital camera with a compact 3x zoom lens. The CCD resolution was increased to 2 megapixels. C-2 Zoom was hugely popular because of its superb cost performance. In fact, sales so far exceeded expectations that purchasing departments found it difficult to keep pace with demand for materials and parts.

CAMEDIA X-2   (2002) Olympus took great pride in the CAMEDIA X-2, which was launched in 2002 as the first of a new class of compact digital cameras. Its metallic exterior and elegant design gave the X-2 an air of quality, and its attractiveness was further enhanced by its versatile features. The X-2 had a 5-megapixel CCD and stored images on xD picture cards. A sister model, the CAMEDIA X-1, was on sale at the same time. The X-1 had a 4.3-megapixel CCD.

μ-10 DIGITAL   (2003) The μ-10 Digital went on sale in 2003. It featured a metallic body and was the world's first weatherproof compact digital camera. The stylish flowing lines of the body were inherited from the conventional film cameras in the μ-Series. The μ-10 Digital had a 3.2-megapixel CCD and became extremely popular as a digital camera that allowed even novice photographers to take high-quality pictures. The μ-10 was followed by the μ-20 and μ-30.

μ-mini DIGITAL   (2004) Launched in 2004, the μ-mini Digital was fitted with a compact 2x zoom lens system that included three aspherical lenses. This was built into an innovative metallic body design characterized by soft, flowing lines. The body was configured to fit securely into the hand and was available in a range of six colors. The μ-10 Digital initially had a 4.0-megapixel CCD but subsequently evolved into the 5.0-megapixel μ-mini Digital S. The μ-mini Digital S won the TIPA "Best Innovative Design" award for 2005.

* Other products can be viewed on the product line-up page.

* The information shown is based on information in initial product announcements.

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