Yoshihisa Maitani has died

[Darkhorse]

That's what I'm reading in the groups at Flickr anyway. Here's a Japanese link:

http://www.47news.jp/CN/200907/CN2009073001000938.html

The Pen, the OM and the Ax. Maitani's work was nothing short of incredible.

 

[kshapero]

A true genius. Sad loss.

 

[XicoS]

RIP. He was a truly great designer, and also a very intelligent marketing man. There will be hardly any Olympus cult without him.
I hope he was happy with the release of the E-P1.

 

[btgc]

Died? Nope, there's no such thing as death. Master went further.

 

[chris00nj]

A brilliant and innovative designer.

 

[Bill58]

Surely as important a contributor to photography as Oskar Barnack. RIP.

 

[ferider]

How sad. RIP.

 

[jonmanjiro]

http://bizex.goo.ne.jp/news/jiji-090730X009/

Very sad indeed. He passed away at 12.34pm on 30th July at a hospital in Hachioji, Tokyo. He was 76.

 

[steamer]

May he have a rapid rebirth in circumstances favorable for the creation of amazing cameras.

 

[Cale Arthur]

He was a wizard, and a true star. Can't think of a better excuse for an 'all Pen' weekend.

 

[leica M2 fan]

May he RIP. He will live on in his creations of the OM system, Pen half frame and XA cameras.

 

[Robint]

It is a sad loss! He was not afraid to think outside the box. His OM system started the trend to smaller, quieter SLR cameras. Just like a Leica.

 

[35mmdelux]

The Porsche designer of the photography world. We'll see ya on the other side. RIP.

 

[KoNickon]

The last of the great ones. He left us too early.

 

[Trius]

May he have a rapid rebirth in circumstances favorable for the creation of amazing cameras.

You have said what I was going to say.

I will still wait on Maitani.

 

[hans voralberg]

RIP. I'll shoot with the OMs tomorrow, just to celebrate his legacy.

 

[ColinW]

A true genius. RIP.

 

[pete63uk]

He's left behind one very impressive camera system. A true visionary.

This is an in extract from an interview he gave not too long ago. Interesting read for any OM fan.

http://www.geocities.com/maitani_fan/om_interview_2.html

 

[sevres_babylone]

My first real camera (sorry instamatics fans) was an OM-1. I am glad to read the tributes to Maitani. A little surprised to see the OM-1 described as a "cult camera" in one of the obits though. A religion maybe, but not a cult.

 

[marcr1230]

I love the shutter speed ring around the lens mount. It lets you keep one hand the shutter and use the other for focus, aperature and shutter, all without taking your eye away from the viewfinder. The relatively small size, the system scope and the quality glass make it a go-to film kit.

Thank you Maitani-san