Olympus XA or 35RC: Which should I get?

I've got both. My 2 RCs have never been in the shop for repairs, but my 2 XAs have both been in twice for shutter release repair. The shutter release is the Achille's heel of the XA. The VF on the RC is also bigger/ better.
 
I have both and love them equally. My XA see's more action because of its size and its so easy to use, HOWEVER, the RC can become a fully manual camera giving you alot more creative control.
XA for a pocketable point and shoot with a fair amount of creative control
RC nearly pocketable with full creative control...and I believe a sharper lens.

You might want to check out the XA4 with Macro and 28mm lens. I love that one too
 
I used to forget to take my cameras with me.....

I used to forget to take my cameras with me.....

Now.. different problem. I often forget I have my XA in my pocket. So, I got two XA2's for $20. The scale focus actually works better for me than the little lever on the XA..... in case I forget to focus the XA.

I also find I don't waste my time trying to see what shutter speed the camera is going to use.
 
Well... It depens on your own criterias:
- Shutter priority vs. aperture priority
- Need of AE lock or manual mode?
- 42 mm vs. 35 mm lens?
- Put in your jeans back pocket or hanged on your neck?
- Use of filters?

I own a 35 RC and have own a XA. As far as lens quality is concerned, the 35 RC is better. The XA finder is painfull to use with glasses and the rangefinder is not very contrasty. For me the two major interests of the XA were its pocketability and how quick you can take it out of your pocket, open the dust barrier, focus and shot. I never met another camero so quick to use. But I definitively prefer the 35 RC.
 
I own both including some other compact Oly like Trip 35 and Pen Series.
Really love them :)

IMHO, XA is stellar in sexiness, uniqueness, swiftness (in action).
But it is scratch-prone and hard to repair if any problems.

35RC is great too, I love its solidity and capability of manual exposure.
But I found I have a lot less fun while using it compare to XA.
Maybe, because it's hard to change aperture ring, maybe it's less sexy/cute and surely I love black body better haha

I'd recommend XA over RC mainly by the joy of using.
And it's still very cute and charming with Black OM-4T and M6 sit by its side!!

BTW, you may soon get both anyway :p
 
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I know it's only been mentioned here in passing and it's not on your list, but I really can't recommend a Trip 35 highly enough for what you seem to want a camera for. Put a fast film in it and set the film-speed dial, leave the aperture on A, set the focus to the red "group" icon, and shoot away. Have a browse round the Trip 35 Group Pool on Flickr: you may be surprised by just what it can do.
 
if you are low on funds, look into the ECR... I had that and the RC and ended up giving the RC away. They both have the same lens, but the ECR is a nicer design IMO and with such a limited range of shutter speeds, being p-mode only is almost never a limitation. ECR's go for about $10.

Think about it, with 400 speed film (all I shoot), when you are outdoors you will be shooting at 1/500th anyway with the RC and in a available light work you are going to be shooting at or near wide open... and the little program in the ECR gives you the same thing. I don't miss my RC at all.

The XA is a great little camera... not as sharp as I'd really like, but the design and feature set make it a very unique camera... I've owned one since 1980 and am still shooting it today. If you want litte, it and the Minox are the two choices IMO (I think IQ is better from the Minox though).
 
Get the RC, the lens filters are eassier to get, if assuming the XA accepts them. Then get an adapter for your SR44 siver oxide battery and the RC would be cheaper to run, without your over priced Wein Zinc Batteries
 
I have owned both. First criteria: do your wear glasses? If so go directly to the 35 RC because the XA viewfinder is painful to read with glasses. You talked about streel photography so I would vote for the XA as it is for me the quickest camera for shoting: almost 20 seconds between the time you take it in your jeans rear pocket and the time you put it here back.

Other criterias:
- Focal length: XA: 35 mm, 35RC: 42 mm
- Rangefinder: more contrast for the 35RC
- Weight: XA is the half of the 35RC
- Optical quality: 35RC is much better.
 
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