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Olympus has a history in camera and lens design. The first truly innovative camera series from Olympus was the PEN models, launched in 1959. They were half-frame format, and it allowed them to be very compact and portable for their time. Half-frame format means that it takes 72 pictures of 18 ? 24 mm format on a standard 36 exposure roll of film.
The PEN system design team was led by Yoshihisa Maitani. With the same design spirit, it later created the OM system, a full frame professional 35 mm SLR system designed to compete with Nikon and Canon's best sellers. The OM system introduced a new trend towards more compact cameras, being much smaller than its competitors and presenting innovative design features such as the through the lens flash automation. Eventually the system included 14 different bodies and approximately 60 lenses. The range of Zuiko lenses was itself noted for its compactness, and beat some records of aperture for their focal length.

However, Olympus did not move into the autofocus market in the way their competitors did, and this ultimately led to their decline as a maker of professional camera systems[citation needed]. The company is a leading manufacturer of digital cameras. Olympus is the designer of the Four Thirds System standard for digital SLR camera design and development, and the Olympus E-1 is their current professional DSLR.

In 1983, Olympus, along with Canon, branded a range of video recording equipment manufactured by JVC[citation needed], and called it "Olympus Video Photography", even employing renowned photographer Terance Donovan to promote the range[citation needed]. A second version of the system was available the year after, but this was Olympus' last foray into the world of consumer video equipment until digital cameras became popular[citation needed].

Since the beginning, the company has also been a manufacturer of microscopes and optics for specialised needs, such as medical use. The company also invented the Microcassette.

Eastman Kodak's origins rest with Eastman Dry Plate Company, founded by inventor George Eastman and businessman Henry Strong in 1881. The Eastman Dry Plate Company was responsible for the first cameras suitable for nonexpert use, such as the Brownie and Instamatic. The Kodak company attained its name from the first simple roll film cameras produced by Eastman Dry Plate Company, known as the "Kodak" in its product line. Which intern got its name from George Eastman who registered the trademark Kodak on September 4, 1888. The letter "K" had been a favorite of Eastman's, he is quoted in saying, "it seems a strong, incisive sort of letter".[1] He and his mother devised the name Kodak with an anagram set. He said that there were three principal concepts he used in creating the name : it must be short, you can not mispronounce it, and it could not resemble anything or be associated with anything but Kodak.[2] The Kodak company remains the largest supplier of films in the world, both for the amateur and professional markets. It has also diversified into various other imaging-related industries (such as medical imaging), and continues to work at gaining a stronger foothold in the fields of digital photography and imagery.

Asked about the name "Kodak", George Eastman replied,

"Philologically, the word Kodak is as meaningless as a child's first 'goo'—terse, abrupt to the point of rudeness, literally bitten off by firm and unyielding consonants at both ends, it snaps like a camera shutter in your face. What more would one ask!"
David Houston, inventor of many patents bought by George Eastman, lived in North Dakota and may have suggested the word "Nodak" to Eastman.

The camera proved such an enormous success that the word Kodak was incorporated into the company name.

After losing a patent battle with Polaroid, Kodak left the instant camera business on January 9, 1986.[3]

Many of Kodak's earlier digital cameras were designed and built by Chinon, a Japanese camera manufacturer. In 2004, Kodak Japan acquired Chinon and many of their engineers and designers joined Kodak Japan. In July, 2006, Kodak announced that Flextronics would manufacture and help design their digital cameras.

As part of its move toward higher end products, Kodak announced in September 15, 2006 that the new M8 camera from German manufacter Leica will incorporate Kodak's KAF-10500 image sensor.[4] This is the second recent partnership between the two companies.

On January 13, 2004, Kodak announced it would stop producing traditional film cameras in the United States, Canada and Western Europe. By the end of 2004, Kodak ceased manufacturing cameras that used the Advanced Photo System and 35mm films. Production of film continued. These changes reflect Kodak's new focus on growth in digital markets.

In an effort to reduce costs, Kodak accompanied its shift toward digital products with a series of layoffs and facility closures, cutting 12,000-15,000 jobs around the world, a 20-25 percent reduction in its workforce.[5]

Kodak owns the Visual Effects Film Post Production Facilities "Cinesite" in L.A. and London as well as LaserPacific, a postproduction facility in Hollywood. Kodak also owns Pro-Tek Media Preservation Services in Burbank, CA. Pro-Tek is the world's premier film storage vault.

On January 6, 2006, Kodak introduced a new corporate logo.[6].

On February 6, 2007, Kodak introduced a new line of inkjet printers with low cost consumables.[7].

The company is headquartered in Rochester, New York, USA.