In praise of the Olympus XA2 !

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MiniMoke

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OK, understood, it's NOT a rangefinder by any means, but man is this a nice camera!

I just bought one for relativaly small money on the 'bay and was surprised to get a pristine camera, barely a mark on it, complete with the working flash and the smart presentation box. Only thing missing is the wrist strap with the 'special' attachment...... (if anyone has one lying around.....)

This camera feels right, is incredibly easy to use and the design is quite foolproof (i.e. the distance setting is reset to the basic range 1.2m to infinity, each time you close the shell - It's impossible to switch on flash mode if the flash is not attached). Those details speak of the great mind behind this camera.

This thing fits in a (tight) pants pocket with room to spare, has a great lens and is of course a full format camera!

Admitted, the XA is greater, better (although the XA2's lens is said to be even sharper), and it's a real rangefinder. But as quality point and shoot cameras go, nothing beats the XA2 in my opinion.

I'm afraid my Olympus Trip 35 will get jealous because it will stay home more often now.

Who else has something to chime in about this wonderful camera?
 
I have an XA, and an XA3. The XA3 sees a lot of use, while the XA mostly gathers dust. So I think that "better" is highly objective, especially when you factor in convenience and simplicity. The XA has a slightly faster lens, but the XA2/XA3 is faster to focus and shoot, and that makes it "better" for me.
 
Right, the perfect camera for the quick, casual shot. Like the Trip.

I definitely love those point and shoot machines

Snapped some shots in the streets and I'm curious to see the results....
 
Greyscale said:
The XA has a slightly faster lens, but the XA2/XA3 is faster to focus and shoot, and that makes it "better" for me.
Click to expand...
How can this be? My XA is black, while my XA2 is red. Surely red ones go faster! That's how it works, isn't it 😕

More seriously, I really do love my XA2:


qvb_cafe-2bw-web by mfunnell, on Flickr

...Mike
 
I've owned 3 and all have died on me within a couple months. Apparently I must just have bad luck with this camera because it sure does seem to get a lot of love around here.
 
I have an XA-2 in like-new condition complete in its box and registration papers.

I haven't used it in over a year but I remember I did have to replace the foam seals when I got it and mine tends to under-expose. I usually set the ASA to half box speed. It works great with Kodak Gold 400 or Fuji Xtra 400.

I love its silent operation. Shoot from the hip and people don't even know you took a picture.

Although the winder gives you away. 🙂
 
Only complaint is meter works all the time when cover open - can't have everything, and this isn't deal breaker. Little capable camera!
 
One week later....

I love this XA2 more and more, I have it constantly in my hand, open and cocked. If I need both hands, I snap it closed and stash it in a pocket.

I snap shots stealthily, my hand dangling by my hip, when I pass 'interresting' people and even when I put it to my eye to take a nicely framed pic, it goes unremarked. Looks too much like some toy to be a real camera 😎

I hope the first film turns out OK, and I'll hopefully post some pictures when I get it developed....
 
Sorry for threadjacking, but I'm on my second XA2 now (my first one died) and the shutter is really bad - as in: I have to press it 5-10 times for it to fire. My first XA2 wasn't really good as well, but this is even worse; weird considering this one is in IMMACULATE condition apart from the shutter.
I know XA's are known for having very sensetive shutters (like my XA). Anyone got a cure? The red shutters on both my XA2's are more recessed than on my XA too. Thanks.
 
I have an XA1. Considering it's the runt of the litter, and fixed focus, it has a pretty good lens and takes decent photos. Has all the pocketability of the other XAs, though, and that revolutionary clamshell design.

I'm about to sell, but I'm still watching the 'bay for an XA at less than extortionate price.
 
Tijmendal said:
Sorry for threadjacking, but I'm on my second XA2 now (my first one died) and the shutter is really bad - as in: I have to press it 5-10 times for it to fire. My first XA2 wasn't really good as well, but this is even worse; weird considering this one is in IMMACULATE condition apart from the shutter.
I know XA's are known for having very sensetive shutters (like my XA). Anyone got a cure? The red shutters on both my XA2's are more recessed than on my XA too. Thanks.
Click to expand...


Check if the clamshell is COMPLETELY open when the shutter blocks. Mine did this too until I noticed that the clamshell had a bit of play and tended to block the shutter when pushed to the right.
 
The XA family fires by electrical contact, and it's not all that uncommon for the contact under the red button to need repair. It can get pretty fussy when that happens.

I also tend to prefer the XA2 (or3) to the XA rangefinder. The lens is very good, and it's really a silent point and shoot camera.

For those not familiar with the family, the XA3 is the same as the XA2 except that it has improved film loading, and DX code reading. To compensate for not being able to fudge the ASA setting, it adds an exposure compensation position to the bottom lever as well.

I have a few XA's, because I the integrated circuits do occasionally conk out and they cannot be repaired, so spares are always welcome. One XA2 I have, and use, I got free from someone who ran over it with his car. Flustered, he backed over it again. The back was bent, and a small part in the wind mechanism came apart. I could have unbent the back and fixed the part, but had a spare dead XA, so I replaced the parts. Either way, though that's one tough little camera.
 
Yes, it gives really good pictures for a camera with such basic features. The shutter release is the only thing I'm not wild about -- I find I have to deliberately lay my fingertip down on the red patch and press slightly, which is very different from virtually every other camera's shutter release (aside from the other XAs). And sometimes I have to peek to make sure my finger actually is on the shutter release -- a more tactile surface with a more defined "button" would work better for me.
 
Hi,

Brilliant cameras and not as fragile as the XA. Great for travel and easily carried and used everywhere without upsetting people or attracting attention.

People seem frightened that the XA2 and 3 have zone focussing but it is easy and simple to use. Especially as it resets as soon as the cover is shut and so will be ready to use most of the time when the cover is opened.

BTW, the shutter button responds - imo - best when the film is fully wound on. The last fraction of the thumb wheel's movement seems to be critical. Well, it is on mine and I've had it from new many year ago.

Regards, David
 
I have discovered recently the joy of using a camera such as the XA2. I have one and I had it sitting in a drawer with others of my collection. A Sunday morning I looked at it and said "What the hell...". Dropped in a Superia 200 film, popped it LR44s and off in the sunshine.
At some point my father said "May I take a shot with it?". "Sure, dad!".
He flipped it open, already set at midrange, clicked the shutter, and I may have the only photo of myself since long ago! 🙂
 
David Hughes said:
Hi,

...BTW, the shutter button responds - imo - best when the film is fully wound on. The last fraction of the thumb wheel's movement seems to be critical. Well, it is on mine and I've had it from new many year ago.

Regards, David
Click to expand...

Indeed, same here. Another bonus is Her Loveliness doesn't mind if I take it with me whenever we go out.
 
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