Traduction de Sylvain Halgand.

The launch of the IS corresponds to the emergence of a new concept of camera, the bridge. This bridge camera was besides the last crowned technological development of success in the film camera world.
Small flash-back…

In 1989, Ricoh launched " Mirai" which under its odd paces of spacial vessel straight left Goldorak hid a zoom autofocus SLR camera. In spite of a good quality 35-135 mm lens, the camera did not have a large success, criticism considering it too complicated.
In 1990, Canon launched Epoca, the “first zoom with integrated camera” (Chasseur d'Images n°123). With its aspect and its behavior in hand of video camera, this camera is not a reflex one, since on the contrary, it has two viewfinder.
At Olympus, the AZ-330, successor of the AZ 300 is his direct competitor. Its ease of use and its very good lens ensure success to him… but, it still is not about a reflex camera.
Chinon GS-9 takes (almost) the best of its competitors and predecessors. Us here thus in the presence of a compact zoom not-interchangeable reflex camera , simple to use. All was joined together to ensure success… except that optics is lamentable. Unacceptable for this category of cameras !
At the end of 1990, Olympus breaks with its tradition of manufacturer of reflex camera, symbolized by the series of the OM by replacing it by the series of the IS. Admittedly, it always acts of reflex camera, but with non interchangeable lens. The first launched model, the IS-1000, will be accompanied by some optical complements. Its zoom 35-135 mm, thus supplemented will become with the choice, a wide-angle lens (28 mm), a teleobjective (200 mm) or a macro lens . Compared to the preceding cameras, evoked above, it gathers all qualities, by avoiding the defects.
It is thus normal that this camera had the success which it had. In 1992, It had a brother the IS-2000, equipped with the same lens, but restylish, reconsidered to improve ergonomics. The autofocus was also improved.
In 1993, the  IS-3000 with a 35-180 mm lens appears, which equipped with special ED glass (as on his/her two brothers), preserves an extraordinary quality in spite of the length of the focal distance.
then ..

In 1994, Olympus improves the series of the IS by decreasing the size of the cameras. In fact the IS-10 (or IS-100, variable name following the commercial zone) it first of this reorganized generation. While preserving all qualities of its elder, the IS-10 is smaller, in particular thanks to a way of film in J inside the case. The zoom becomes 28-110 mm, thus offering the possibilities of a true wide-angle lens without recourse to optical complements. The orders are re-examined, simplified for better satisfying customers very general public.Bingo! Assured success.