Olympus
Olympus took its name from Mount Olympus, the home of the 12 supreme gods and goddesses in Greek mythology, to reflect its "strong aspiration to create high-quality, world famous products," the company proclaims. No pressure, then.
Established in 1919 as Takachiho Seisakusho, it took on the Olympus Optical Co title in 1949, seven years after it switched its focus to optical products. The business settled on Olympus Corporation as a name in 2003.
The company's first cameras were unleashed upon the world in 1936. In recent years, it has seen success with an emphasis on developing compact digital technology, such as the highly-rated Olympus SH-21 and SZ-14.
Of late, Olympus has been distracted by an accounting scandal although it was recently boosted by an investment in its business by Sony..
When it's not busily crafting top-class cameras -- or turning them into blingy disco balls -- the Tokyo-based firm does a mean line in gastro-intestinal endoscopes.
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