one of the most significant designs of the seventies for the 35mm slr camera industry was the introduction of the olympus om-1 in 1973. after experiencing success with their small olympus pen half-frame cameras, particularly with their half-frame slr-based olympus pen-f, pen-ft and pen-fv cameras, olympus set out with its chief designer yoshihisa maitani to later create a compact slr—the m-1—with new compact lenses and a large bayonet mount that could accept almost any slr design optic. shortly after being launched the camera was renamed the om-1 to avoid a trademark conflict with leica. the mechanical, manual om-1 was significantly smaller and lighter than contemporary slrs, but no less functional. the camera was supported by one of the most comprehensive 35 mm slr lens and accessory systems available. maitani decreased the size and weight by totally redesigning the slr from the ground up with unprecedented use of metallurgy, which included repositioning the shutter speed selector to the front of the lens mount, instead of a more conventional position on top of the body.