Yoshihisa Maitani.

Yoshihisa Maitani, the man who created the popular Pen series of cameras for Olympus, passed away July 2009, at a hospital in Tokyo. The cause of death was respiratory failure, as reported on a Japanese news Web site. The Olympus E-P1 was launched not too long ago, and since it was based loosely on the Pen camera design, the news of Maitani's demise has shocked the imaging industry. He joined the Japanese company in 1956 and held positions of chief designer, followed by managing director until he retired as an adviser to the firm in 1996. His most notable designs were the Pen line, the mini XA rangefinder snappers and the miniaturization of 35mm SLRs with the OM cameras. Some may say that Olympus has lost a great man, but insiders will know that the imaging industry has lost a great innovator.