Olympus Please bring back the XA pocket camera. Either as analogue or even digital.

[lukx]

They are really cool cameras, though the rangefinder of my XA is painfully low in contrast and cannot be used in anything but bright daylight. And the meter inside the viewfinder is completely useless. But it still meters auto exposure fine. It's impressive how much control you have in such a small form factor.

 

[pvdhaar]

The camera division of Olympus has been spun out to become OM-Systems. OM-Systems R&D budget is constrained and they can probably not gamble on developing an XA successor, especially since the GR has already established itself as the de-facto fixed lens pocketable street camera..

 

[ChrisPlatt]

On a related note, I sent my recently purchased working Olympus XA for CLA and new light seals.
The repairman I sent it to said he could service it provided it would require no replacement parts.
When it has been returned I will report on my experience.

Chris

 

[Muggins]

They are really cool cameras, though the rangefinder of my XA is painfully low in contrast and cannot be used in anything but bright daylight. And the meter inside the viewfinder is completely useless. But it still meters auto exposure fine. It's impressive how much control you have in such a small form factor.

Agreed, that RF and inability to zone focus are the minuses in the XA package. ETA see Godfrey's comment below, the bit above about focusing is ballcocks!

 

[santino]

The XA is fantastic. It is the ONLY camera I took to Rome. I had no problems seeing the RF patch and had even used the dedicated flash. It is super compact and the picture quality is really good for such a small camera.

 

[xayraa33]

Still own two XA cameras, back in the 1980s l bought several XA1 cameras and gave them away as gifts.

 

[Godfrey]

Agreed, that RF and inability to zone focus are the minuses in the XA package.

Hmm. Someone's RF must be dirty; I never had any problems with the RF in my XAs.

And "inability to zone focus"? Why? It has settable apertures and a distance scale. Just remember: set f/8 ... 16 feet for 9 feet to infinity, 6 feet for 4 to 13 feet. Easy.

G

 

[Muggins]

Hmm. Someone's RF must be dirty; I never had any problems with the RF in my XAs.

And "inability to zone focus"? Why? It has settable apertures and a distance scale. Just remember: set f/8 ... 16 feet for 9 feet to infinity, 6 feet for 4 to 13 feet. Easy.

G

Well, that'll teach me to take a camera out on a whim without checking it. You are quite correct, there's a scale above the lens carefully positioned for easy visibility which I somehow failed to spot. Instant idiot, just add camera!

I'll give you dirty RF, my XA saw a lot of use before I got it, so it may well be sporting much crud.

 

[Archiver]

I'd certainly buy a new digital XA/2/4. The XA2 is the camera I wish I could send to my teenage self along with several bricks of Tri-X, Kodak Gold 200, Fuji XTRA400 and explicit instructions to shoot every time I go anywhere.

It sounds like you're after a simple but high quality compact camera - my previous solution was the Ricoh GR/D cameras, then the Panasonic LX7, and now I've settled on the Sony RX0. It is the size of a DSLR battery, weatherproof and drop proof, and operates one handed. The sensor is a 20mp one inch type, but the lens is such that it outputs 18mp images, probably to keep the lens length short. The same principle could be used with a digital XA variant, a non-extending prime that covers slightly less than the full width of the sensor to keep it physically short and compact.

 

[Dralowid]

Off topic but I don't hear about the film GR1 etc often. Is that because most of them have died? It was my favourite for quite a while.

 

[Ray Kilby]

If you’re open to digital, a GR could come close to an XA2. Three custom functions set to snap focus at the three distances. P or A mode. Pocketable. Even 35 crop. Pretty similar ergonomics and shooting experience, I think. I use both.

I agree. lol
🙂

I love it nearly as much as my luggage! (misquoted from 'Steel Magnolias') It's an amazing camera, as is the actual film version too, which I gave away like a fool years ago to a niece. I shoot with, this camera, a Fuji XE5, M11 and M6, and have a a Sony A7, which sits in a box. I should sell it. I've recently taken my Olympus out for a spin.
Ray

 

[Ray Kilby]

I have been hunting around, and the nearest camera I found that is new and is sort of similar is the Lomo MC-A 35 mm Film Camera. It looks very interesting. Anyone has an opinion?

 

[Ray Kilby]

I'd certainly buy a new digital XA/2/4. The XA2 is the camera I wish I could send to my teenage self along with several bricks of Tri-X, Kodak Gold 200, Fuji XTRA400 and explicit instructions to shoot every time I go anywhere.

It sounds like you're after a simple but high quality compact camera - my previous solution was the Ricoh GR/D cameras, then the Panasonic LX7, and now I've settled on the Sony RX0. It is the size of a DSLR battery, weatherproof and drop proof, and operates one handed. The sensor is a 20mp one inch type, but the lens is such that it outputs 18mp images, probably to keep the lens length short. The same principle could be used with a digital XA variant, a non-extending prime that covers slightly less than the full width of the sensor to keep it physically short and compact.

Hi Archiver, I have the Ricoh GR. I do not want a zoom, just a fixed focal length, so the Panasonic is not for me. The Sony RX0 looks fun, though it has no aperture control because the lens does not allow it. But it is a fantastic camera. I agree, it is very tempting. Yes, I would send the Olympus to my teenage self too, along with the Canon AE1, the M6, and many others. Oh well, at my age I am glad I am still able to take an image even with a phone.

 

[ellisson]

I've had film transport problems with two XAs, my favorites of the series. On one, the camera locks up after a few exposures; I can't advance the film. Is there a DIY fix, like a way to take it apart and clean the film advance mechanism, then reassemble?

 

[JohnWolf]

I have been hunting around, and the nearest camera I found that is new and is sort of similar is the Lomo MC-A 35 mm Film Camera. It looks very interesting. Anyone has an opinion?

I'm interested in the MC-A, and the hands-on opinions so far are very positive. It does not have what I consider among the most appealing features of the XAs and GRs - the rounded edges that make pocket carrying so nice, and no lens cap, which makes them so shooting-ready. The MC-A is also larger. Still, isn't it great that someone is offering a new compact film camera?

 

[Ray Kilby]

I'm interested in the MC-A, and the hands-on opinions so far are very positive. It does not have what I consider among the most appealing features of the XAs and GRs - the rounded edges that make pocket carrying so nice, and no lens cap, which makes them so shooting-ready. The MC-A is also larger. Still, isn't it great that someone is offering a new compact film camera?

Is the lens any good, or is just interesting? From the sample images it looks interesting. Re the size, shape, ease of use, we can't expect everything!

 

[lxmike]

I love my AX and my XA4 but and have used an XA since 1979, but view finder flare is a pain, but they are very nice cameras and the glass is superb as you would expect from Olympus. Iff brought back the price my frighten a lot of us

 

[JeffS7444]

Off topic but I don't hear about the film GR1 etc often. Is that because most of them have died? It was my favourite for quite a while.

I haven't touched one for the same reason I haven't fussed with Minolta TC-1, Leica Minilux, Nikon 28Ti/35Ti and other premium compact cameras: Asking prices are high, and I don't know if I'd be capable of refurbishing them. OTOH, Olympus XA is relatively simple to service, and it used to be pretty easy to find them offered for around 75 USD.

 

[Ray Kilby]

I haven't touched one for the same reason I haven't fussed with Minolta TC-1, Leica Minilux, Nikon 28Ti/35Ti and other premium compact cameras: Asking prices are high, and I don't know if I'd be capable of refurbishing them. OTOH, Olympus XA is relatively simple to service, and it used to be pretty easy to find them offered for around 75 USD.

And the better camera! Well the one I like.

 

[Ray Kilby]

Off topic but I don't hear about the film GR1 etc often. Is that because most of them have died? It was my favourite for quite a while.

I don't think it is off topic in actuality. I guess it's widely about those pocket gems and the GR1 was one of them.