Favorite XA (all types) hacks & is the XA2 lens better?
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btgc
Veteran
Isn't hard to compare sharpness of XA2 with XA because it depends a lot of aperture, chosen by AE? That said, brightly lit scene isn't problem at all, while in dim light wide open it will depend on how well one guesses hyperfocal distance for possible aperture, I think.
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
Ok, I'll take a stab, XA1, XA, and XA2. Am I close?
David Hughes
David Hughes
Hi,
You can get XA2's for a couple of pounds in England (well, I have). There is much that's good about them, especially if you've dropped a RF XA and found out what the repair will cost (well, I have - II).
Funny thing: I dropped an XA2 once and it improved the pictures a lot. I've often wondered about it... Probably just a lucky accident; like falling out of bed and finding it cured your back problems...
Regards, David
You can get XA2's for a couple of pounds in England (well, I have). There is much that's good about them, especially if you've dropped a RF XA and found out what the repair will cost (well, I have - II).
Funny thing: I dropped an XA2 once and it improved the pictures a lot. I've often wondered about it... Probably just a lucky accident; like falling out of bed and finding it cured your back problems...
Regards, David
petronius
Veteran
Sorry, not close!
Spyderman
Well-known
I've got XA and XA2.
They are almost identical in size, but IMO quite different in use.
In sunny day I prefer XA2, because the scale focus is quicker. The positions are 1.5m (5ft), 3m (10ft), 6m (20ft) to infinity. In sunny day there is enough light so the camera closes its aperture and there is enough DOF.
The XA isn't as fast in bright daylight. At least for me. I tend to change aperture and focus, but if pre-set or if you can set the focus by feel it can be used the same way as XA2.
A big plus for XA is the backlight compensation lever (exposure +1.5) for occasions when you are photographing someone backlighted and the camera exposure system could get fooled.
The exposure metering is very good on both cameras by the way.
Regarding the lenses - I think the XA2 4-element ("Tessar") lens is sharper, but it may as well be that it's more contrasty, but the images appear sharper.
There is another big difference: the XA feels much more fragile. And I'm speaking from experience. I once dropped XA about 1m on capeted floor and the front sliding cover went flying and something got stuck inside. No matter how I moved the focus lever - the RF patch wouldn't move, so I ended up with scale focus for the day. XA2 on the other hand feels more robust - probably because there is no RF or exposure readout mechanism.
BTW: the RF patch on XA is poor indeed. But I managed to put a ND filter (actually a clear piece of unexposed developed BW film) over the main VF window. The view is a bit darker, but the RF patch is much much more visible. I put it there when I had the top cover off to repair stuck rangefinder :/
They are almost identical in size, but IMO quite different in use.
In sunny day I prefer XA2, because the scale focus is quicker. The positions are 1.5m (5ft), 3m (10ft), 6m (20ft) to infinity. In sunny day there is enough light so the camera closes its aperture and there is enough DOF.
The XA isn't as fast in bright daylight. At least for me. I tend to change aperture and focus, but if pre-set or if you can set the focus by feel it can be used the same way as XA2.
A big plus for XA is the backlight compensation lever (exposure +1.5) for occasions when you are photographing someone backlighted and the camera exposure system could get fooled.
The exposure metering is very good on both cameras by the way.
Regarding the lenses - I think the XA2 4-element ("Tessar") lens is sharper, but it may as well be that it's more contrasty, but the images appear sharper.
There is another big difference: the XA feels much more fragile. And I'm speaking from experience. I once dropped XA about 1m on capeted floor and the front sliding cover went flying and something got stuck inside. No matter how I moved the focus lever - the RF patch wouldn't move, so I ended up with scale focus for the day. XA2 on the other hand feels more robust - probably because there is no RF or exposure readout mechanism.
BTW: the RF patch on XA is poor indeed. But I managed to put a ND filter (actually a clear piece of unexposed developed BW film) over the main VF window. The view is a bit darker, but the RF patch is much much more visible. I put it there when I had the top cover off to repair stuck rangefinder :/
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nrb
Nuno Borges
I have had both cameras and I concur with your opinion.
68degrees
Well-known
I dont know where you live but I found one at a thrift store (XA2) for just a couple dollars. I found an XA in mint shape at a garage sale for 2 bucks or so. Friday Saturday mornings, get up and drive around residential neighborhoods looking for garage sales. You will find film cameras I promise you. Where do you think all the Ebay sellers get their stuff to sell? So by pass them and go to the garage sales yourself, its actually kiind of fun.
As far as the filters go, I thought about making a bracket that attaches to the tripod socket and holds a round series VI kodak filter or something. THen I realized its easier just to hold up the filter in front of the lens. Screwing on, I have no idea. It would be cool if something could be machined and threaded on.
mdarnton
Well-known
Hack: I put one of these on the back of my XA. Once it's on, it stays on: http://www.theclip.com/store/product.php?productid=16218
Greyscale
Veteran
I prefer the XA3, because someone has to. Metered exposure to 1600 ASA, exposure compensation, what is not to love. Too many people see those "DX" letters and run away, but it is the easiest hack ever to override DX coding. The lens is different than the XA2, at least in the way that it focuses (interior helicoid on the XA3, lens barrel rotates on the XA2), I don't know if it is optically any different or not, but the camera is foolproof, and I should know about that.
David Hughes
David Hughes
Hi,
Why not just buy a case for the XA etc? They come in 3 or 4 versions and often appear on ebay. The one I see most often comes in two length for the A11 or A16 attached and has a belt loop.
Regards, David
Why not just buy a case for the XA etc? They come in 3 or 4 versions and often appear on ebay. The one I see most often comes in two length for the A11 or A16 attached and has a belt loop.
Regards, David
raid
Dad Photographer
I sold several XA2 cameras, and (by mistake) sold the XA4 for $40.
I still use the XA. It is a very good small light camera.
I still use the XA. It is a very good small light camera.
CliveC
Well-known
I own the XA, XA1 and XA2, but I haven't shot the 1 or 2 yet. It's interesting to hear that the XA2 is sharper. I guess that's next on my list.
Any differences in terms of how long the shutter can stay open between the XA and XA2?
Any differences in terms of how long the shutter can stay open between the XA and XA2?
David Hughes
David Hughes
Hi,
Just looked in the manuals and the XA goes from 10 sec's to 1/500th but the XA2 (and XA3) go from 2 sec's to 1/750th, which is interesting. More interestingly, the XA1 is either a 30th or a 250th, which suggests Trip 35 parentage.
Regards, David
David Hughes
David Hughes
Hi,
Just read the title again, and is the XA2 better? Well, this was taken with the XA2...
Will it do?
Regards, David
Just read the title again, and is the XA2 better? Well, this was taken with the XA2...
Will it do?
Regards, David
btgc
Veteran
Right, XA2 has 1/750 top speed at f/14 and 2sec@f/3.5
Interesting if XA's top 1/500 is at same f/14 or f/16? Just looked up and XA stops down to f/22
So in fact we have to compare effective EV's instead of absolute numbers.
Nica picture, David.
David Hughes
David Hughes
Hi,
Thanks, a bit cheesy (the picture) but I wondered if the camera would cope given the wide dynamic range of the scene. Also it says a lot for the cheap supermarket film I buy whenever it is going super cheap (under UKP2) and there's space in the fridge.
If f/22 is available then I wonder how the lens performs there...
Regards, David
PS It's York Minster and the city is not on the tourist routes although a few manage to get there. I got some nice shots inside it too with the same little camera.
pixelatedscraps
Well-known
Loooove my XA4. The 28mm is a forgiving focal length for the kind of candid street photography I prefer with a camera this size and is definitely sharper than the 35mm f/3.5 lens on the XA2 (still a great camera though).
Is the XA4 worth the premium? I've had mine for almost 3 years and never had an issue yet went through 2 XA2s that died shortly after I started using them before finally finding a good one. I bought my girlfriend (now fiancée) a Yashica 35 MC for a birthday present after a trip to Lemon Cameras in Tokyo one year and although it is one of my favourite small cameras (Yashica T4 Super and Olympus 35RC being the others), it doesn't have the pocket friendly or discreet styling of the XA line. People quite often think you are holding a strange bulbous sort of calculator with an XA, not a camera.
Apologies if this is off topic but I haven't come across a need to gaffer tape any of my XA cameras yet. They are firmly held in one hand at all times just...waiting.
Is the XA4 worth the premium? I've had mine for almost 3 years and never had an issue yet went through 2 XA2s that died shortly after I started using them before finally finding a good one. I bought my girlfriend (now fiancée) a Yashica 35 MC for a birthday present after a trip to Lemon Cameras in Tokyo one year and although it is one of my favourite small cameras (Yashica T4 Super and Olympus 35RC being the others), it doesn't have the pocket friendly or discreet styling of the XA line. People quite often think you are holding a strange bulbous sort of calculator with an XA, not a camera.
Apologies if this is off topic but I haven't come across a need to gaffer tape any of my XA cameras yet. They are firmly held in one hand at all times just...waiting.
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ChrisPlatt
Thread Killer
I had to have an XA when it debuted. There was simply nothing like it.
Later when the XA2 came out I bought one for a then-girlfriend to use.
Over the years I got some very nice photos from my little XA.
But I grew tired of the hard-to-see RF patch and fiddly controls.
A few years ago I sold the XA and tried the XA2, which I had callously kept.
After some growing pains I discovered the XA2 was every bit the equal of the XA,
yet faster and easier to use. I have since added a second XA2 and an XA3.
Chris
Later when the XA2 came out I bought one for a then-girlfriend to use.
Over the years I got some very nice photos from my little XA.
But I grew tired of the hard-to-see RF patch and fiddly controls.
A few years ago I sold the XA and tried the XA2, which I had callously kept.
After some growing pains I discovered the XA2 was every bit the equal of the XA,
yet faster and easier to use. I have since added a second XA2 and an XA3.
Chris
Rodchenko
Olympian
I love my XA. I thought I'd find it fiddly because of my big hands (and fat fingers), and that the lens might be a bit substandard, but it worked out fine. I didn't get on with the XA1 at all, though the lens was probably the best on a fixed focus camera short of the Minox 35AL.
The XA is the camera I'd always dreamed of having - a Minox with a rangefinder. OK, so my photograaphy has moved on a bit, but it is a good and easy carry.
Would I 'hack' it? Well, there's no way to fit a filter, which is ever so slightly annoying, but that's it, really.
The XA is the camera I'd always dreamed of having - a Minox with a rangefinder. OK, so my photograaphy has moved on a bit, but it is a good and easy carry.
Would I 'hack' it? Well, there's no way to fit a filter, which is ever so slightly annoying, but that's it, really.
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