How to determine the date of my XA?

[68degrees]

Is there a date code somewhere on an XA that shows at least the year it was made?

 

[NeeZee]

there's a serial number on the side of the camera next to the film door hinge.

 

[68degrees]

there's a serial number on the side of the camera next to the film door hinge.

Ok 5530549 how do I decode it to find out the year?

 

[kbg32]

You could get in touch with Olympus as a start. Email them your serial number. Apparently there is nothing I could find on the net. Others have contacted Olympus with their serial numbers as well.

 

[68degrees]

called olympus , all they can say is that it was made between 1979 and 1987. She said she cant do anything with the serial number has no way to look that up insert excuse here etc etc.. so I guess there is no way to know. Im sure someone in the world knows but I didnt even see it on the olympus XA fan site which is quite exhaustive for the xa cult.

 

[ronnies]

Is there not a code printed either on the back of the pressure plate or on the camera back behind the pressure plate. I seem to remember being able to decode the age of some of my Olympus kit but can't quite lay my hands on the codes. Google isn't helping either.

Ronnie

 

[ZeissFan]

The Germans were better at documenting production of cameras, lenses and accessories.

I've always gotten the sense that the Japanese industry wasn't really concerned about this type of data. Or if it was, it was early on.

 

[pschauss]

I bought mine new in 1983 and its serial number is 3297188. That would make yours later than 1983.

Now that I have had a reason to get my XA out of the cabinet, I realize that I need to run a roll of film through it.

 

[beegee675]

I got my XA dated by John Hermanson as an early model. He might be able to help you. He's at zuiko.com

Bob G.

 

[68degrees]

thanks everyone, Ill try to find a decoding formula.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

Search for the Trip 35 and you'll find the decoding on a flickr or similar site. It may work on the XA.

Sorry I can't help more.

Regards, David

 

[jajong]

Hi,

What David suggests, will work. I checked my XA: H07 is the code behind the pressure plate. It means 1980 (0) July (7). Could not find what the H stands for, most likely a factory code. By the way, the serialnumber on my XA is 2219053.

Cheers,
Jan

 

[68degrees]

Hi,

What David suggests, will work. I checked my XA: H07 is the code behind the pressure plate. It means 1980 (0) July (7). Could not find what the H stands for, most likely a factory code. By the way, the serialnumber on my XA is 2219053.

Cheers,
Jan

I looked on my pressure plate and didnt see a code. Then tried sliding it off of the pins and it seems that something is still holding it on like a rivet or something but I cant access it so I just gave up. Is it behind the pressure plate on the door or is it actually on the backside of the pressure plate? I didnt see it.

 

[jajong]

It's on the backside of the plate. It is fairy faint lettering. There is no need to detach the plate fully: just swing it out a bit and you'll be able to read the code.

Cheers,
Jan

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

Go here:

http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/seal/Olympus_XA.pdf

and read about taking the backs and pressure plates off of XA's etc to fit new seals. The info is at the bottom of the second page.

But don't blame me if you wreck the thing. OTOH, I had no problems with my ones...

Regards, David

PS That letter "H" may be a Japanese character.