The Maitani modular system

Yesterday (read here) we told you that the Olympus E-3 } if ($loc == 'ES') { $sel = "1"; ?>Olympus E-3 } if ($loc == 'IT') { $sel = "1"; ?>Olympus E-3 } if ($loc == 'AT') { $sel = "1"; ?>Olympus E-3 } if ($loc == 'DE') { $sel = "1"; ?>Olympus E-3 } if ($loc == 'BE') { $sel = "1"; ?>Olympus E-3 } if ($loc == 'AU') { $sel = "1"; ?>Olympus E-3 } if ($loc == 'FR' OR $loc == 'FX') { $sel = "1"; ?>Olympus E-3 } if ($loc == 'JA' OR $loc == 'JP') { $sel = "1"; ?>Olympus E-3 } if ($loc == 'NL') { $sel = "1"; ?>Olympus E-3 } if ($loc == 'CA') { $sel = "1"; ?>Olympus E-3 } if ($sel != '1') {?>Olympus E-3 } ?> successor could become Olympus first “modular” camera.

With the help of our readers we discovered that our Olympus guru Maitani had already developed such a prototype long time ago (for film cameras).

You can find more about it here: maitani-fan.co.cc
“The MDN prototype was the first Olympus SLR designed to be a full-featured, multi-functional system that could be used for a wide range of purposes by assembling different units, each with a single function. It was developed before the OM-1.
For example, the film is in a single film pack, and the shutter provides just the focal plane shutter function. The mirror is a mirror and has just one function. The user can combine the desired functions to create a single camera.
In designing a system that can be put together in any configuration, it is extremely difficult to design the mounts used to connect the items.
There is also a cheap, mass-market camera as one of the units in the system. Three units are combined together to create a camera. This is the MDS. This camera is made first and later becomes the M-1 or OM-1.
M=Maitani, D=dark box, N= normal, S=simple”

43rumors wants to thanks the Maitani Fans for mantaining such an important website about our legendary inventor!