WHAT DOES OM SYSTEM STAND FOR & WHAT WAS THE COMPANY CALLED IN THE PAST?
For some people, the name OM System may not immediately ring a bell. However, it's actually a rebranded company, which used to have a more iconic name in the photography industry — Olympus. Founded in 1919, the company itself has had a storied history, most notably with its early innovations in the medical technology industry through producing microscopes, thermometers, and gastrocameras. Although he was initially a lawyer by profession, the company's founder, Takeshi Yamashita, was first tasked to pioneer the domestic microscope production in Japan. However, in the years that followed, the company maunlikely industry: photography. The company had many names, from Takachiho Seisakusho, Takachiho Optical Co., Ltd., to eventually Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. Named after Mt. Olympus, where the Greek gods dwelled, the company had trademarked the name long before it became the actual company name in 1949. Fifty years later, it dropped the world "Optical" from its name and became known as simply the Olympus Corporation.
Who owns the OM company now?
In September 2020, Olympus Corporation finalized its plan to sell its imaging business to Japan Industrial Partners Inc. Although Olympus Corporation retained 5% of its share, the majority of the business (95%) was set to be absorbed under OJ Holdings, Ltd. A year later, Japan Industrial Partners Inc. officially gained majority ownership of the Olympus Corporation's Imaging business, which it transferred to a new wholly-owned subsidiary, OM Digital Solutions Corporation. At the time, Yasuo Takeuchi, President and CEO of Olympus Corporation, shared the parent company's plans to put more weight behind its medical technology arm (via press release). In many ways, it's a return to the company's roots in manufacturing Japanese medical tools. On its website, Olympus shares that it continues to produce medical devices that range from 4K camera heads for urological endoscopy to diagnostic ultrasound systems. It has also been working to integrate artificial intelligence with its medical devices, sharing plans in October 2024 for Olympus to use AI in early detection procedures and conduct pilot tests in preparation for mass commercialization in 2025. Based in Tokyo, OM Digital Solutions Corporation now owns the Olympus cameras, audio recorders and binoculars divisions and styles itself as a multi-billion Japanese corporation with a mission to "enrich people's lives." With around two thousand employees, it has offices in Japan, Asia, Europe, and the United States.
Where did the name OM System come from?
Add Your Heading Text HereDespite its early start in medical technology, it took a few decades for Olympus' photography business to take flight. In 1936, the Japanese manufacturer released the Semi-Olympus I, a medium-format film camera with the Zuiko lens. Less than a decade later, it pioneered the first 35mm camera in Japan with the launch of the Olympus 35 I. After changing hands in 2020, its new owners decided on the name "OM System" as an ode to one of its most important designers, Yoshisha Maitani. Under his leadership, the brand developed some of Olympus' most iconic products. On its website, Olympus credits the mechanical engineer with developing several products, including the Olympus Pen. At the time, the Olympus Pen was a landmark design that could take twice as many photos in a relatively smaller body. Less than a decade later, the Olympus Pen F model made history as the first half-size system SLR. Combining both the word "Olympus" and his last name, "Maitani," the new company name was born: OM Digital Solutions. In recent times, OM Digital Solutions shared its plans to transition its products into the OM system branding. Since then, several imaging products in its portfolio have been manufactured with the OM system logo, including lenses and several compact cameras. According to the company, the first camera that held the logo was the single-lens camera, the OM System OM-5, which was released in 2022.
6 OF THE BEST GOPRO HELMET MOUNTS YOU CAN BUY
If you're a cyclist or ride a motorcycle, there are a bunch of legal ways to customize your helmet with various stickers, magnets, and other accessories — and some of these can be functional, rather than decorative. For example, if you like to document your rides with an action camera, you can mount it to your helmet rather than your handlebars or another part of your bike. Many vloggers and action cam users actually prefer to mount their devices to their helmets, as it better simulates your own point-of-view, doesn't affect the balance of your bike, leaves room for phone mounts and other handlebar accessories, and allows you to easily take the camera with you after you park. Along with bikers, skiers and other helmet-wearing extreme-sports enthusiasts can also take advantage of both action cameras and the helmet mounts that attach to them. GoPro cameras sit at the very top of SlashGear's ranked list of the best action cameras you can buy, with many people using a GoPro to capture their footage. Just as you'd want to equip yourself with one of the best motorcycle helmets and other top-quality gear, you'll want a GoPro mount that's worth your money. If you're in the market for a new GoPro helmet mount, there are several factors to take into consideration — including cost, compatibility, flexibility, the way it attaches to your helmet, and ease of use. Here are six of the best GoPro helmet mounts you can buy, based on reviews from people who've actually tried them out. More information on how these GoPro helmet mounts were evaluated can be found at the end of this list.
GoPro Helmet Front Side Mount
First-party offerings are often a safe bet when looking for accessories for your favorite device or gadget. If you like the way GoPro makes their camera — and, if you're like us, then you really like the GoPro Hero 13 — there's a good chance you'll also like its GoPro Helmet Front + Side Mount. Of course you never want to go just by the name, but GoPro's mount lives up to the brand, according to customers who've purchased and used it. Based on over 2,000 Amazon user reviews, the GoPro Helmet Front + Side Mount has a very positive overall customer score of 4.7 out of 5. What makes this mount particularly stand out is its versatility. It's compatible with all GoPro cameras, so you can still use it even if you own an older GoPro model. It also gives you multiple angles to shoot from, as it can mount to either the front or side of your motorcycle helmet (or any other type of helmet). This not only allows you to shoot footage more comfortably, but also mix up the look of your videos. The GoPro Helmet Front + Side Mount comes with a swivel mount assembly, two curved adhesive mounts, and a thumb screw vertical mounting buckle that's simple to use. Some customers have reported that the adhesive mounts aren't as strong as they should be, though these represent a small number of reviews. Although it's a first-party accessory, the GoPro Helmet Front + Side Mount is nowhere close to being the most expensive mount on this list.
Snap Mount Pro
The price tag on the Snap Mount Pro might scare you away, but if you're looking for a helmet mount that's also compatible with other accessories in the Snap ecosystem, such as bike mounts and ski mounts, you may find the higher cost is worth the price. That's because it comes with an adapter that will allow the Snap Mount to work with other mounts, as well as a back plate, thumbscrew, and lanyard. In addition to being compatible with the GoPro Max and all models of the GoPro Hero, it can also be used with the Insta360 One RS and cameras with 3-prong quick release capabilities. By using mounts in the Snap ecosystem, you can quickly move your camera from your helmet to a tripod, selfie-stick, or other accessory to best capture your footage. The mount itself uses rare-earth magnets to firmly secure the GoPro to your helmet, along with a twist-lock action that makes it simple to attach and remove. These N52 magnets are ten times stronger than ceramic magnets. Whether you're riding at top speeds or doing aerials on your dirt bike, you won't need to worry about losing the mount — or the GoPro. Plus, both the mount and the magnets are waterproof up to 32 feet, so you can even take it scuba diving with you. Lining up the magnets to secure the mount is a simple process, as they have easy-to-grip finger holds. On Amazon, the Snap Mount Pro has a solid 4.5 out of 5 overall user rating, based on nearly 1,000 customers. People generally agree that its versatility and reliability are strong points, though a few don't think the magnets are strong enough.
Dango Design Gripper Mount
If you're looking for a flashy mount to add some pizzazz to your helmet, the Dango Design Gripper Mount is a good option, as it comes in four different colors: ripper red, bomber blue, action orange, and stealth black. It makes for a great chin mount and is very simple to use, as it clips onto your helmet as opposed to using adhesives or screws. The clip has a slim yet durable design and uses a dual torsion spring-loaded mechanism to provide robust clamping force, and a flexible web so the jaw of the gripper can be used on irregular surfaces — such as a helmet. Since it's a relatively simple — but effective — way to mount your GoPro to your helmet, you can attach it and remove it in seconds. The Dango Design Gripper Mount works with most full-face helmets and, unlike some other options, allows you to fully close your visor. The mount features a two-axis rotation that allows you to easily adjust the camera to get the angle you're looking for. It can also be used as a tripod or handheld stabilizer when you're off your vehicle. In addition to the GoPro, the mount is also compatible with the DJI Osmo camera. After testing several different mounts on her motorcycle, Staci Wilt of Ride to Food reported that Dango Design's mount has an "insanely strong grip" and praised how easy it is to install. However, she did note that some riders could find it too heavy, especially as a chin mount.
GoPro Vented Helmet Strap Mount
There's not much to this particular mount — it's basically just a well-made strap that goes in and out of the vented holes of your helmet. It's easy to adjust, so you can make sure it's tight and secure, and it's just as easy to loosen and remove your camera when you need to. Since it's just a strap, GoPro didn't prioritize style over function — it only comes in black. Based on over 2,300 Amazon customer reviews, GoPro's Vented Helmet Strap has a positive 4.3 out of 5 overall user score, however it's currently unavailable to buy individually on Amazon, though a three-pack is available for $42. This could be useful if you ride in a pack or if you use your GoPro in rough conditions where you want to have backups on hand.
Surewo Motorcycle Helmet Chin Strap Mount
Surewo is a popular manufacturer of camera accessories, and its Surewo Magnetic Action Camera Mount is one of the best GoPro mounts for your car that you can find. It shouldn't be much of a surprise then that it also makes a great helmet mount for the GoPro. The Surewo Motorcycle Helmet Chin Strap Mount allows you to securely fasten your action camera under your chin, which is particularly useful if you don't like the top-heavy feel of attaching it above your helmet. The mount uses an elastic strap and plastic buckles that make it easy to attach and remove, with no excess straps hanging from your chin. You can also tilt your camera angle without needing to adjust the mount. Another advantage to going with Surewo's product is that it's one of the most affordable ways to mount your GoPro to your helmet. An X-Mount variant that provides additional stability will cost you a little bit more. On Amazon, the Surewo Motorcycle Helmet Chin Strap Mount has a solid 4.3 out of 5 overall customer score, based on over 1,800 user reviews. One downside to the Surewo Motorcycle Helmet Chin Strap Mount is that it can't be used with certain GoPro accessories, such as the GoPro selfie-stick or the Media Mod, but if you're only interested in capturing action directly from your POV, this shouldn't be an issue.
MiPremium Waterproof 3M Adhesive Sticky Mounts
