How to select the right Olympus camera

By Leonard Goh
May 08, 2009

This article has been updated as of May 8 2009.

Olympus first optical product--the SZ stereo zoom microscope.

Olympus has its roots as a microscope manufacturer in 1920, and at the time the Japanese company was then known as Takachiho Seisakusho. The next development wasn't cameras, but the shutter mechanism used in then. It wasn't until 1935 when the company started to design its own shooters and the firm grew to what it is today.

Olympus was an early adopter when digital made its way into cameras. In 1996, it launched its first consumer digital point-and-shoots, the Camedia C-800L and Camedia C-400L. Subsequently, this lineup expanded and was vastly popular with shutterbugs who wanted to make the transition from film to digital.

The Camedia C-800L

The Camedia series was replaced by the Mju lineup in 2004. µ (mju) is a greek symbol and its origins come from the word "mikros", which Olympus told us means "small and miniature". The first µ was a film-based compact developed in 1991, which has since undergone several revamps along the route to digital. However, it retained the trademark sliding lens cover even for shooters today.

Currently, the µ(mju)-series houses two classes of point-and-shoots, one of which has carved a niche in branding itself as among the toughest snappers on the market.

If you've set your eyes on an Olympus point-and-shoot but aren't quite sure which one is suitable for you, we've put together a comprehensive guide for its lineup.