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so the xa4 has a 28mm lens?
is it also a rangefinder?
if so i may have to search one out.
joe
is it also a rangefinder?
if so i may have to search one out.
joe
Oly RF Survey
- Thread starter Trius
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MelanieC
Well-known
I have a black Olympus 35 SP. Since this camera has already been thoroughly described (as well as pictured) I'll just post a photo taken with the camera.
BILLC
Established
I carry my XA everywhere, just a great camera. Quiet and sharp.
Bill
Bill
landsknechte
Well-known
The only Olympus I've ever used is an XA2, so I don't have a great deal of material to compare it with. Nevertheless, I never cease to be amazed by the sharpness of that lens.
Trius
Waiting on Maitani
Joe: The XA-4 is a scale focus camera. Its closest focus is 12", which makes it very useful.
Solinar
Analog Preferred
Oly 35 SP - Two XA's in one camera
Oly 35 SP - Two XA's in one camera
As mentioned above, the Oly 35 SP has a great lens and I love the old-school metering. On the minus side, the uncoupled metering slows things down a bit and the meter is always on when the camera is uncased.
Oly 35 SP - Two XA's in one camera
As mentioned above, the Oly 35 SP has a great lens and I love the old-school metering. On the minus side, the uncoupled metering slows things down a bit and the meter is always on when the camera is uncased.
Carlos Cruz
Established
I recently bought oly 35 rd with broken shutter, got it repaired for few bucks, and now rd helps me recover after the loss of petri 35
Trius
Waiting on Maitani
cruz: That's very cool. Where did you get it fixed?
jan normandale
Film is the other way
Two Olympus RC's and an XA and XA2
RC's what everyone else has probably said pro/con... however carrying 2 at a time is a little like hauling two bricks
XA ... everything a pocketable RF / 35 mm should be.. no complaints.. perfect for me.
XA2... as good as the XA however the Zone focus is not quite as good as the XA, but it's all a matter of taste.
RC's what everyone else has probably said pro/con... however carrying 2 at a time is a little like hauling two bricks
XA ... everything a pocketable RF / 35 mm should be.. no complaints.. perfect for me.
XA2... as good as the XA however the Zone focus is not quite as good as the XA, but it's all a matter of taste.
Carlos Cruz
Established
I recently moved from Warsaw to Katowice, and found there a very good repair shop, the guy is way cheaper than those in warsaw, I never heard from him that something is unfixable and I'd better got myself a new camera (only once with my Petri 35 which had broken shutter leaves, he refused) I gave him oly rd which is rather hard to repair he did it over weekend , now I gave him my canon P with 50/1.2 , and have to substitute it with oly.Trius said:
In short : EU, Poland, katowice
Trius
Waiting on Maitani
Very nice; I'm sure other RFF members in Europe are always glad to know of a good repair shop.
S
Stanton
Guest
I have 2 XAs, an XA1 simply to complete the collection, several XA2s in black and a red with red A11 flash and a blue with blue A11 flash, an XA3, and an XA4. I have several matching A11 flashes, and two A16 flashes. Obviously I like these cameras. The XA1 never goes out. The XA2s and XAs are the most frequently used.
Pros: Small size. Clamshell allows them to be pocketed without concern for scratching a lens. Sharp lens with reasonable speed. Moderate wide angle (35mm for all but the XA4, which has a 28mm) is great for me. Very quiet. Can be easily palmed. Batteries are readily available LR44s or equivalent. Self timer allow me to mount them on a bean bag and take night shots.
Cons: I feel guilty about not using a more expensive, interchangeable lens rig.
Dave
Pros: Small size. Clamshell allows them to be pocketed without concern for scratching a lens. Sharp lens with reasonable speed. Moderate wide angle (35mm for all but the XA4, which has a 28mm) is great for me. Very quiet. Can be easily palmed. Batteries are readily available LR44s or equivalent. Self timer allow me to mount them on a bean bag and take night shots.
Cons: I feel guilty about not using a more expensive, interchangeable lens rig.
Dave
kshapero
South Florida Man
Ok, this is painful. I started out with an XA, very nice, but I whored out for a Rollei 35S, then I got a minty OM-1 w/55mm Macro, HEAVEN. So in 1991 I sprang for a brand new OM4-Ti with 28mm,50mm, 90, 180, and F280 flash. MAJOR SLR HEAVEN. In 1993 I was mugged and they got the whole thing. Now I have an OLY Stylus Epic 35mm f3.5 and dang it takes nice pictures.
Trius
Waiting on Maitani
Oh, Akiva, that is sad indeed. At least you had the experience of the OM "glow". ;-) I've never had a Stylus Epic, but have seen great shots with it.
Archie
shooting mathematican
cruz: how much did you pay for the repair?
dreilly
Chillin' in Geneva
- Local time
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- Dec 25, 2004
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- 1,045
Trius,
Does your 35 LC have linked shutter speed/aperture dials, that is, by EV system? Mine does not, but you mentioned that in your 'dislikes'...led me to wonder if you were in error (SPs do have the link) or if there's variation within the LC series.
doug
Does your 35 LC have linked shutter speed/aperture dials, that is, by EV system? Mine does not, but you mentioned that in your 'dislikes'...led me to wonder if you were in error (SPs do have the link) or if there's variation within the LC series.
doug
Trius
Waiting on Maitani
Doug: Mine seems linked if you change the shutter speed. But if you change just the aperture, it's not linked. So I don't know if that's the way it is designed or if it is a fault of my sample. My problem with the LC is that if the two are supposed to be linked, then I'd like to know for sure and if there's a way to disengage them so that I can change shutter speed only.
I'll have a look at both of them tonight after work.
I'll have a look at both of them tonight after work.
Carlos Cruz
Established
dirty cheap
dirty cheap
broken camera-5
repair 15
I am going to katowitz this monday to collect my CLA'ed canon p, and visit my school after six weeks absentia, I hope they haven't expelled me yet🙂 If you want I can ask him if he's interested in new customers.(since he lives in Silesia there's a slight chance he's speaking german)
dirty cheap
The whole thing was 20 eurosArchie said:
broken camera-5
repair 15
I am going to katowitz this monday to collect my CLA'ed canon p, and visit my school after six weeks absentia, I hope they haven't expelled me yet🙂 If you want I can ask him if he's interested in new customers.(since he lives in Silesia there's a slight chance he's speaking german)
Last edited:
Bingley
Veteran
Olympus XA
Olympus XA
Thank you for the Olympus forum and this thread.
I am the original owner of my xa. I purchased it new at 47th Photo in NYC in the early 1980s after reading Colin Fletcher praise its small size and sharp lens in The Complete Walker. I wanted a pocketable camera to carry on hikes and other travel and was tired of lugging my Nikon F around. The xa has been a faithful companion ever since, and has been my go-to camera for recording life events: the birth of my daughter; birthdays, Christmasses, first days of school; family vacations; swim meets and tennis matches; and travels with my wife. Its small size seemed to ensure its availability -- because I could slip it into a pocket, it was always "there," which often made the difference between having a record of the event and not having one. When the Nikon was stolen in 1994, the xa became my only camera for a number of years.
I've acquired some new/old gear in recent years, and am renewing my interest in rf photography. I still find that I reach for the xa, however, when I head out the door, even though my bag now contains some companions. It's a terrific little camera, and capable (as many here have observed) of taking wonderful photos.
Best things about it: sharp lens, small size, rangerfinder focusing
Things about it that are not so great: weak flash, focusing patch is a little hard to see, I wish it came with manual override (ok, can't have everything).
Here are a couple of recent samples. I've previously posted these, but they seem in tune with theme of this thread.
Olympus XA
Thank you for the Olympus forum and this thread.
I am the original owner of my xa. I purchased it new at 47th Photo in NYC in the early 1980s after reading Colin Fletcher praise its small size and sharp lens in The Complete Walker. I wanted a pocketable camera to carry on hikes and other travel and was tired of lugging my Nikon F around. The xa has been a faithful companion ever since, and has been my go-to camera for recording life events: the birth of my daughter; birthdays, Christmasses, first days of school; family vacations; swim meets and tennis matches; and travels with my wife. Its small size seemed to ensure its availability -- because I could slip it into a pocket, it was always "there," which often made the difference between having a record of the event and not having one. When the Nikon was stolen in 1994, the xa became my only camera for a number of years.
I've acquired some new/old gear in recent years, and am renewing my interest in rf photography. I still find that I reach for the xa, however, when I head out the door, even though my bag now contains some companions. It's a terrific little camera, and capable (as many here have observed) of taking wonderful photos.
Best things about it: sharp lens, small size, rangerfinder focusing
Things about it that are not so great: weak flash, focusing patch is a little hard to see, I wish it came with manual override (ok, can't have everything).
Here are a couple of recent samples. I've previously posted these, but they seem in tune with theme of this thread.
Attachments
GeneW
Veteran
I have an XA (I'm on my third) and a Trip 35.
The Trip 35 was given to me recently and I wasn't expecting much from it, but I was wrong. The nice 35/2.8 lens is very sharp and the camera is fun to use. It's a zone-focus camera with everything else automated. Two shutter speeds: 1/40 and 1/200 that the camera selects. Sounds really limiting but it's usually enough.
Gene
The Trip 35 was given to me recently and I wasn't expecting much from it, but I was wrong. The nice 35/2.8 lens is very sharp and the camera is fun to use. It's a zone-focus camera with everything else automated. Two shutter speeds: 1/40 and 1/200 that the camera selects. Sounds really limiting but it's usually enough.
Gene
