The Olympus Air A01 is a camera that works with your smartphone. It doesn’t have an LCD screen or EVF but connects to your mobile device via WiFi connectivity and a dedicated app. The A01 made its debut in Asia and then the US market. It is not a new concept because Sony introduced the similar QX series one year earlier. The A01 has a Micro Four Thirds mount and basically the same specs as the OM-D E-M10, sensor included.
Our experience with this new type of camera has been limited to the Sony QX1 only because the A01 hasn’t been released in Europe yet. While we have still our doubts about this attempt to merge cameras and smartphones, there are other photographers who are investing quite a lot of time and resources into discovering the potential of this new type of camera.
If you are interested in knowing everything about the Olympus Air, you might want to check out Bill Booz’s YouTube channel. Bill recently started a series of videos that cover every aspect of the camera, from setting it up for the first time to the most appropriate accessories. Bill also talks about the Air in several posts on his Photography Learning Center Blog. He switched to the Micro Four Thirds system a few years ago and uses several OM-D cameras. He holds tutoring and photography classes as well.
Below you can watch the first two episodes about the Olympus Air.