'Olympus Seeking Sony as Capital Partner' at Nikkei.asia

Amin Sabet · #1 June 23rd, 2012, 09:43 AM

Quote:

TOKYO (Nikkei)--Olympus Corp. (7733) will enter final-stage talks on a roughly 50 billion yen investment from Sony Corp. (6758), a deal that would make the electronics giant its partner for rebuilding from last year's accounting scandal, The Nikkei has learned...

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JJJPhoto · #2 June 24th, 2012, 09:08 AM

Hmm ... interesting. I wonder if this will ultimately lead to Sony parts (namely image sensors) in Olympus cameras? I can also imagine Olympus building lenses for the E-mount since last year Sony was actively trying to get every third party lens maker to develop E-mount lenses.

In all honesty anything we say is just speculation until Oly or Sony make official announcements about how this partnership will work.

landshark · #3 June 24th, 2012, 09:20 AM

If the Sony deal falls through and they do a deal with Terumo, I wonder if they would sell off the camera division.

Biro · #4 June 24th, 2012, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJJPhoto

Hmm ... interesting. I wonder if this will ultimately lead to Sony parts (namely image sensors) in Olympus cameras? I can also imagine Olympus building lenses for the E-mount since last year Sony was actively trying to get every third party lens maker to develop E-mount lenses.

In all honesty anything we say is just speculation until Oly or Sony make official announcements about how this partnership will work.

Sony could use more quality lenses (especially affordable ones) for its Alpha mount as well as its E mount. And Oly would greatly benefit from not having to rely on Panasonic for sensors. This tie-up could be a very good thing, indeed.

dhazeghi · #5 June 24th, 2012, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJJPhoto

Hmm ... interesting. I wonder if this will ultimately lead to Sony parts (namely image sensors) in Olympus cameras? I can also imagine Olympus building lenses for the E-mount since last year Sony was actively trying to get every third party lens maker to develop E-mount lenses.

Sony semiconductors would be happy to sell sensors to anybody (Nikon, Pentax, and for compacts practically everyone). However, they're unlikely to design a specially-sized sensor for a single niche customer, so unless Olympus is willing to put an APS-C or FF sensor in their cameras, I'm not sure what good it would do them.

In terms of lenses, Olympus would have to redesign them for the larger sensor to make them in E mount. Given their situation, that seems like a poor use of limited resources.

DH

Amin Sabet · #6 June 24th, 2012, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by landshark

If the Sony deal falls through and they do a deal with Terumo, I wonder if they would sell off the camera division.

I had that thought as well...

Biro · #7 June 24th, 2012, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dhazeghi

Sony semiconductors would be happy to sell sensors to anybody (Nikon, Pentax, and for compacts practically everyone). However, they're unlikely to design a specially-sized sensor for a single niche customer, so unless Olympus is willing to put an APS-C or FF sensor in their cameras, I'm not sure what good it would do them.

In terms of lenses, Olympus would have to redesign them for the larger sensor to make them in E mount. Given their situation, that seems like a poor use of limited resources.

DH

You have a valid point. But if Sony has skin in the game - meaning they have an interest in a thriving Olympus - it might be worth it to produce

sensors. And it might not take that much engineering to re-size an APS-C sensor for

Conversely, doesn't Olympus have plenty of full-frame film lens designs on its shelf? How expensive would it be to give them state-of-the-art coatings and autofocus motors? Especially if they have a customer who will give them a healthy minimum order?

BlairMacKay · #8 June 24th, 2012, 01:56 PM

This deal would move Sony's share in Olympus up to 10%. Hopefully if it goes through they will share some of their sensor tech and not just medical equipment technology.

Interesting stuff...

~tc~ · #9 June 24th, 2012, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by landshark

If the Sony deal falls through and they do a deal with Terumo, I wonder if they would sell off the camera division.

IMHO that would be the best case scenario for Olympus camera aficionados.

Sony is making money on their cameras. Why in the world would they absorb the dilutive Olympus camera program instead of eliminating a competitor to their very profitable NEX line? The only realistic business decision would MAYBE to keep Zuiko making lenses, albeit for a mount and e mount, but there is no legitimate business case that ends with both Sony and Olympus products competing in the marketplace.

WT21 · #10 June 24th, 2012, 03:50 PM

Is it just me, or would anyone else laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh if Sony ditched NEX for m43 for their "pocket" mirrorless push?

(I know, it wouldn't happen, but I'd just ROFL if it did).