New to rangefinders with an Olympus XA - these things are hard!

[bretcurry]

Hello,
I just received an Olympus XA. I have to say that it is smaller than expected. Wow! I guess without all those complex parts they can really make the camera small. It has a big bright viewfinder that displays the shutter speed, has aperture control, and of course manual focus. It also has an attachable flash unit. All in all the contruction seems solid. I took a chance on eBay and it paid off with a very clean and workable camera. It almost seems new, except for a little dust on the lens on the film side that I need to blow off with canned air.

Taking pictures today of some tennis players I found it best to pre focus the lens and set the aperture to F11 for sharp photos even if my focus is a little off. The rangefinder window is very small, but provides a good way to focus with a double image if you focus on the edge of the person and then move the camera, but that is impossible with action.

My biggest complaint is using the rangefinder in low light (why do they even make a flash?) It is very difficult to see the double image, especially if there is not a defined edge. I am worried that shots of my baby nephew will be to difficult. I guess these cameras take getting used to with practice. Any tips will be greatly appreciated.
-Bret

 

[underbyte]

I love the XA, I have 2 of them and an XA4. They have their place in my photography. Great for candids when you don't feel like carrying a camera. I took one of my best portraits this year with an XA. That said, I wouldn't try to shoot sports with an XA and if I was shooting a portait of a baby or other kids, I would probably choose a different camera. They deliver sharp images though and when I shoot color (Reala 100) and send them to a lab, I am always surprised at how good a job the XA does.

 

[mjflory]

Bret, it sounds like you're getting the hang of the XA and its good and bad points very quickly! I find prefocusing helpful too, and of course that's the way you have to use its successor, the XA2, which has no rangefinder. The size of the rangefinder on the XA limits its accuracy anyway, but the wide angle lens and a small aperture setting largely compensate for it. I've got the A11 flash but I rarely use it. It's got a limited range (the A16 has double the range) and -- you're quite right -- the rangefinder is very hard to use in dim light. But the XA is a wonderful daytime camera and you did well to get a good one on the 'bay. (I too had good luck with the two I bought there, one in great shape, the other a very honestly described repair project, a good camera with a sticky shutter release.) Enjoy!
-- Michael

 

[Trius]

I have an A11 flash around here somewhere, so that shows you how often I use it.

It sounds like you have a good sample. The rangefinder can get dirty and lack contrast in the patch over time, so a clean, bright viewfinder is a bonus.

Yes, it is not a superb low light camera from the standpoint of focusing, but there are a couple of things that will increase your percentage of good shots.

First, prefocusing as has been mentioned, and using the distance scale on the lens. Second, slower shutter speed shots are relatively easy with the XA due to the electronic shutter release. This is despite its small size and lack of mass. I personally think the camera is very well damped. I've seen handheld shots at 1/4 sec that are quite amazing, such as this one.

 

[zuikologist]

Trius - excellent photo.

Prefocusing definitely helps with the XA/XA2. They ae not ideal low-light cameras, partly due to the rangefinder issue pointed out above but also because the lens is only f2.8 (or f3.5 for the XA2).

 

[sbug]

I just got an XA literally yesterday and I'll agree that the rangefinder patch isn't so great. Otherwise, the ergonomics are quite good for such a small camera and the microswitch shutter release should lead to plenty of steady long exposures. I'm excited to get my first roll through it. It's a truly pocketable rangefinder.

 

[jmilkins]

I love 'em too. Got an XA and XA4. both special cams.

enjoy and post a shot or two.

 

[wyk_penguin]

Maybe it's time you tried a Leica if you are looking for lowlight cameras. :angel:

 

[nightfly]

XA's are great cameras. I shot with one exclusively for a few months before I got my Leica. I tend to use them by hyperfocusing and not relying on the viewfinder too much. I just picked mine up after not having shot with it for a few months and after using a Leica, the XA viewfinder just drives you insane.

However if you pretty much disregard the viewfinder except in good light with slow or non moving objects, you can get some good stuff.

I just picked up a really nice XA4 off ebay and that will be my carry around when I don't want to bring the Leica camera since I really like 28mm. I figure I'll just keep it loaded with Neopan 1600 and be ready for anything.

 

[SteveM(PA)]

I use a li'l dab of orange highlighter on the window to increase the contrast of the patch. Some people use a tiny square of black electrical tape. Enjoy your camera! 🙂

 

[Meleica]

I have a clean XA for sale....$ 50 email dcolucci AT aol.com