Found Olympus XA What Modern Batteries?

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rpilottx

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I have been staying with friends in Anchorage after riding my motorcycle up from El Paso. They have known of my interest in photography and have several of my photos on their walls. Well, one thing lead to another and they produced an Olympus XA which I believed I sold them back in the 1980's.

Now, the camera has not been used for years and the battery compartment shows some corrision. My question is are the 675 batteries still available and if not what are people using.

If I clean up the battery compartment and can get the meter to work, I will probably buy it back from them. Thanks
 
Thanks, So Where for a CLA

Thanks, So Where for a CLA

I do remember selling my friends this camera back in the early 80's. I will get the batteries and run a test roll. So, where do you send them for a CLA?

I swear I am getting more retro as I get older but I recently purchased a Canon S90 and am stunned by the technology. Not that I am giving up film but it is tempting as it makes things so easy.
 
I recommend Silver Oxide batteries (SR44). If you use Alkaline based one (LR44), the camera will start to behave erratically later in the batteries life.

Roland.
 
I agree. Spend a bit extra and get the silver oxide cells. It's more important in battery-dependent cameras than in those cameras in which the batteries power only the meter.
 
I've used my XA for six months only... Every shot in every roll has been perfectly exposed, even slide film... I'm curious... I want to check if it really misbehaves one day... If not, I'll change my LR44 batteries on their birthday... I'll report it back in six months...

Cheers,

Juan
 
ZeissFan said:
Spend a bit extra and get the silver oxide cells.
Click to expand...

In my surrounding blister packed (only available) Varta LR44's don't provide any economy over bulk SR44's from same manufacturer, so I even don't bother with alkaline version.
 
In the manual it says SR 44's but it doesn't matter really as I use LR 44's when that's all that's available. You just have to remember to use the battery check switch now and then...

Regards, David
 
According to Olympus Service Dept. and Olympus Tokyo, the official battery of the XA is the silver oxide 1.55v cell. 357, 303, SR-44W, G-13, MS76, KS76, S76. John
 
I use SILVER bats only
Energizer Brand #357
Manual states NOT to use Alkaline or Lithium on Page 4, lower Left corner of page.
 
BATTERY CHECK LIGHT...only good for misinformation

BATTERY CHECK LIGHT...only good for misinformation

The battery check light will tell you if there is enough juice in the batteries to power the camera.

The check light does not tell you if the Volts delivered are running the meter for proper exposure.

Alkalines have a rapidly descending power curve which drops below 1.35 rapidly and continues to descend, continuing to throw off exposure.

The reason Mercury was used for so long was the flat power curve, which is only matched somewhat today by Silver Oxide and Wein Cells. Wein Cells don't live as long, but they live flat while they do. Silver Oxides are not often produced in the 1.35 Volt range the old cameras used.

It's somewhat a shame that Alkalines and Silver Oxides are produced in the same shape and voltages, causing a waste of money on Alkaline and images exposed (metered) all over the place.

I use Silver Oxides in my Olympus' OM2 -3 -4 and XA and Wein Cells in my OM-1.
 
Hi,

Today I took the six-month old LR44's out of my XA (yet working well) and replaced them with new SR44's "just in case"... I didn't want to take the risk of ruining an important image, or a whole roll... I have a few questions:

1. Is the number of rolls used, the best way to know when to change SR44 batteries?
2. How many rolls can a couple of SR44's expose?
3. I've read a few posts here and there from people saying their XA's are working well with batteries installed 5, 10 or 20 years ago(!)... If the camera is not used very much, do SR44's last that long?
4. With SR44's can I trust the sound check?

Thanks a lot!

Juan
 
You can trust the battery check, Juan. They hold forever.

Check also for battery experiences with the OM2, it has the same meter/shutter mechanism, I believe.
 
ferider said:
You can trust the battery check, Juan. They hold forever.

Check also for battery experiences with the OM2, it has the same meter/shutter mechanism, I believe.
Click to expand...

Is it me? Are we comparing the Olympus XA with the OM2? Chalk and cheese in my opinion.

Regards, David
 
I'm only comparing the two wrt meter and auto-exposure.

Think about it: Same batteries, and dependency on silver oxide. Similar battery check meter. Same max. long exposure. In both systems, two CDS systems for (a) meter needle and (b) actual exposure. Both systems have backlight compensation (OM2 of course more sophisticated) ... And finally the same designer, with, of course, the OM2 coming first. Pretty obvious that they share circuits.
 
Last edited:
Maybe I misunderstood. XA and OM-2 shutters / meters have nothing in common. They ARE supposed to both be loaded with silver oxide batteries. OM camera's with electronic shutter never used mercury batteries. John
 
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