Milestones

Olympus has been in business for over 80 years. Over the course of those years Olympus has achieved numerous milestones, many of which are listed below.

2009

  • Olympus celebrates its 90th anniversary.
  • New E-P1 introduced as the world's smallest 12.3-mexapixel interchangeable lens system camera.
  • Olympus advances less invasive surgical procedures with innovative technology for Laparo-Endoscopic Single-Site surgery (LESS).

2008

  • Olympus acquires Gyrus ACMI.
  • FluoView FV10i introduced as the world’s first self-contained laser scanning confocal microscope.

2007

  • Olympus Medical Systems Group introduces Endo Capsule in the United States.
  • New E-3 digital SLR camera released in conjunction with three, new Supersonic Wave Drive Zuiko Digital lenses.

2006

  • Olympus America Inc. relocated its headquarters to Pennsylvania.
  • Olympus America Inc. Acquires Bacus Labs.
  • New Stylus 720 SW digital camera released as the world's first shock-resistant and waterproof camera.
  • Olympus and Movaz Networks launched Olympus Microsystems America, Inc. for the purpose of full-scale entry into the optical networking components market.
  • Olympus America Inc. announces an asset purchase agreement with Optical Elements Corporation (Opelco).

2005

  • Olympus Medical Equipment Services America Inc. established in North America to strengthen endoscope product repair and other services.
  • Medical Systems Group introduces EVIS EXERA II 180 series high definition system. The world's first to deliver both high definition (HDTV) and narrow band imaging (NBI) technology.
  • Joint development agreement for interchangeable lens type digital SLR cameras signed between Olympus and Panasonic.
  • The industry's first 1GB Voice-Trek V-50 and 512MB Voice-Trek V-40, the industry's first 1GB and voice 512MB voice recorders released.

2004

  • Olympus Imaging Corp. and Olympus Medical Systems Corp. established in a separation of the Imaging Systems and Medical Systems businesses.
  • m:robe MR-500i HDD motion music player and m:robe MR-100 HDD music player released.

2003

  • Acquires the majority of Stream Line GmbH, a leading clinical laboratory automation manufacturer and the Olympus OLA2500 Lab Automation System is launched in the U.S. market.
  • E-1 digital SLR camera and interchangeable lens system released.
  • Life Science Group established.
  • Company name changed to Olympus Corporation.

2002

  • Establishes Olympus Latin America Inc.
  • Introduces CAMEDIA TruePrint™ Digital Imaging and Printing Kiosks.
  • Develops the world’s first DNA computer for gene analysis.
  • Develops VISERA™ video system for endoscopic surgery/examination.
  • Introduces the MIC-D Digital Microscope; an educational tool that utilizes USB technology to produce a live image viewable on a computer monitor.
  • Announces the New OLA2500™ Lab Automation System and the Next Generation AU400™ and AU640™ e-Class Analyzers.

2001

  • KeyMed Inc. renamed Olympus Industrial America Inc.
  • Introduces Voice Trek DM-1 recorder equipped with MP3 recording.
  • Reaches 22 million Stylus film cameras sold.
  • Reaches 10 million CAMEDIA digital cameras sold.
  • Announces the Market Release of the AU2700™ and AU5400™ Chemistry Immuno Analyzers for high-volume needs.

2000

  • Together with Polaroid Corp.®, announces the C-211 Zoom, the first digital printing camera in the United States.
  • Introduces the BX45 - the first microscope designed with a stage that is three-inches lower than standard microscopes.

1999

  • Introduces the stylish, high-resolution C-2000 Zoom filmless digital camera and the Eye-Trek portable TV display is introduced in the U.S.

1998

  • Introduces the D-1000 Digital Voice Recorder with ViaVoice, the iZoom 75 Advanced Photo System camera and, from Olympus Tokyo, the "Eye-Trek" Face Mounted Display.

1997

  • Sets an industry record, with 10 million Stylus cameras sold worldwide.
  • Production facility receives ISO 14000 certification.

1996

  • Enters the digital camera field with two award-winning models.

1995

  • Opens offices in Italy and in Melville, N.Y.-Olympus America's new corporate headquarters.
  • Introduces the world's first fixed stage electrophysiology microscope with fluorescence illuminator - the BX50WI.

1994

  • Olympus Diagnostica and Olympus Software Europe begin operations to serve the evolving needs of our customers.

1993

  • Opens a production site in Ireland and a new plant in Japan, as well as offices in Norway and Denmark.
  • Introduces the BMAX microscope series and the infinity-corrected optical system.

1992

  • Introduces the Pearlcorder L400, the world's smallest pocket dictation machine with an integrated loudspeaker.

1991

  • Introduces the Infinity Stylus along with the world's smallest endoscopic camera, the OTF-F2.

1990

  • Premieres the all-in-one camera concept with the IS-1.
  • Introduces ultra-thin endoscope systems for angioscopy.
  • Opens camera factories in Hong Kong and Guang Dong, China.

1989

  • In its 70th Anniversary year, the company opens offices in Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan.

1987

  • Olympus comes out with SLR autofocus and the Endoscopic Video Information System.
  • Opens Latin America (LAD) office in Miami, FL to serve its customers in Latin America and the Caribbean.
  • Develops the magneto-optical disk drive, and the next year introduces transcribers with Microcassette™ systems for the European market.

1986

  • Along with United Biomedical, Olympus develops a reagent to detect AIDS antibodies.

1983

  • Combines Olympus Corporation of America and Olympus Camera Corporation to form Olympus Corporation (now Olympus America Inc.).
  • During the next three years, introduces its industry-benchmark PK7000 automatic, pretransfusion, blood-testing system, as well as the PK300 immunoassay analyzer.
  • Comes out with the AFL QuickFlash fully automatic, compact camera, the AES600 automatic electrophoresis system, an ion deposition printer, and a static induction transistor prototype.

1982

  • Becomes listed on the Paris Stock Exchange.
  • Opens its new European headquarters, as well as offices in Austria and a major new plant in Japan.

1980

  • Brings acoustic microscopes and ultrasonic endoscopes to market, and introduces the laser optical pickup system.

1979

  • Introduces Microcassette™ transcribers.

1978

  • Introduces compact cameras.

1977

  • Establishes Olympus Camera Corporation in the United States to market Olympus consumer products.

1974

  • Introduces the BH system microscope.
  • Develops direct, through-the-lens metering for its SLR cameras.
  • Opens offices in both England and the Netherlands.

1972

  • Releases the OM System and establishes itself as the pioneer in the development of compact SLRs.

1971

  • Introduces its first automatic clinical analyzer.
  • Introduces the Vanox universal research microscope.

1969

  • Introduces the Zuiko Pearlcorder, the world's first Microcassette™ tape recorder.

1968

  • Begins doing business in the United States, marketing Olympus scientific products as The Olympus Corporation of America.

1959

  • Introduces the Olympus Pen half-frame camera, and four years later, the Olympus Pen F becomes the world's first half-frame single lens reflex camera.
  • Introduces the GTF gastrocamera with fiberscope so doctors can begin performing new medical procedures.
  • Opens its first European offices in Hamburg, West Germany.

1955

  • Releases the Olympus Wide which inspired a wide-angle camera boom among photographers in Japan.
  • Introduces measuring equipment to the industrial market.

1952

  • Photographers in the general public embrace the new Olympus Flex twin lens reflex camera.

1950

  • Introduces the first medical camera, the Gastrocamera, which is enthusiastically received by The Japan Surgery Conference.

1949

  • Officially changes its name to the Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.

1948

  • Unveils the Olympus 35, Japan's first 35mm camera with a lens shutter system.

1940

  • Introduces the Olympus Six, and inside of four years builds two new plants in Nagano, Japan to handle growing demand.

1936

  • Develops the first Zuiko photographic lens for the first Olympus camera, the bellows-type Semi-Olympus I.

1935

  • Opens an Optical Research Center.

1930

  • Develops its first metallurgical microscope.

1921

  • Olympus is first used as a brand name by the company.

1919

  • Opens for business under the name Takachiho Seisakusho, and within one year produces our first microscope.