Olympus XA a couple of questions.

The comments on focus and rangefinder patch

The comments on focus and rangefinder patch

lead me to be happy that I have two XA2's in addition to my XA... Zone focus, no dim rangefinder patch, and sharp pics. Full automation. I always looked down on the XA2/XA3 models because of the lack of manual controls. Then I bought two for $20. Put batteries (readily available for All the XA's). I often find tha the pocket camera of choice is one of the XA2's, but they do vignette a bit more than the XA. I also had the Selenium Cell XA1 for a while and found it quite usable.

If you get an XA, spend another $10 and get an XA2. You may be surprised at the ease of use.

Now, I only take the XA out when I want a far more complicated photography experience.🙄
 
You'll be happy with an XA. It's a suprisingly good little camera. It has a very nice lens, a fine meter, and good flat film plane. It's not a bullet proof body, but it's a very durable little thing, and very light weight. I carry one whenever I don't want a larger camera- and sometimes alongside a larger one. My travel kit these days is very often an XA for 35mm, and an M with a 50 and the tiny CV 21mm. The XA is so good, I use it more than my 35mm Summicron- it's my go-to 35mm lens. The meter does a good job with slide and negative film, color and black and white.

Don't worry about the RF patch- they aren't great, but it works fine in good light, and it works great as a scale focus camera, regardless of the light. I use mine easily with one hand to control the focus, advance, and shutter, making it very discrete.

As another poster noted, few are the folks who don't get along with these cameras. If you happen to be one, you shouldn't have any trouble getting your money back. They go fast when they appear in the classifieds here, for good reason.
 
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It is possible to wear out an XA beyond repair ... I've done it. There is a gear (or other some such part, I can't recall what John H. said exactly) in the film wind mechanism that can wear out and a replacement part is not available except as cannibalized form another XA.

So yes, buy two!

XA, APX 100/Rodinal 1:100

1805943207_1709308cfc_o.jpg
 
sepiareverb said:
Don't rule out a Contax T2 if you can deal with some automation- stunning little Sonnar on a T2. A little bigger than the XA, but I carry one often.
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Excuse an old man's ignorance! - but does the T2 take regular 35mm cassettes? - as I saw one on Ebay....and it said APS! ....whatever that is? 😕

they certaintly look quallity!, and are very tempting!!

Dave 🙂
 
I grew up in a family with an XA2 and have, in the past decade, acquired an XA and a pair of my own XA2s. They're among my favourite cameras -- both types are capable of sharp and bold images; and the aperture control of the XA is a cool thing to have. The only issues I have with mine are dying seals on one of the XA2s (the XA came with new seals), an erratic trigger on ... huh, I can't remember on which one now; and a frustratingly dim rangefinder patch in the XA2... Having recently found a DOF scale for the XA, that last bit doesn't bother me so much anymore.
 
Dave Wilkinson said:
Excuse an old man's ignorance! - but does the T2 take regular 35mm cassettes? - as I saw one on Ebay....and it said APS! ....whatever that is? 😕

they certaintly look quallity!, and are very tempting!!

Dave 🙂
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The T2 takes regular ol' 35mm film. That was either the Contax T ix or a mis-informed eBay seller.
 
Minolta TC-1 or Nikon 35Ti

... two others to give you more headache 🙂

The problem I have with T2 or these two above is that they are rare. Therefore they are 1) expensive. 2) who's going to fix them when they break?

With XA family, once busted, get another one on the 'bay and go your merry way.
 
shadowfox said:
Minolta TC-1 or Nikon 35Ti

... two others to give you more headache 🙂

The problem I have with T2 or these two above is that they are rare. Therefore they are 1) expensive. 2) who's going to fix them when they break?

With XA family, once busted, get another one on the 'bay and go your merry way.
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There are 5 Contax T2's on eBay right now. Would not exactly call that rare. One with a BIN for $249. Not bad for a titinium body with a Sonnar lens. Not to knock the XA (I've got two!) but in terms of build quality there is no comparison XA vs. T2. Sure I can easily and cheaply replace an XA (though seems decent ones go for $50 or more, not exactly pocket change) I'd rather it not break in the first place in the middle of shooting or on a vacation or something. I've dropped my T2 in such a way that would likely have the XA is smitherens! But the T2 kept going....
 
shadowfox said:
Minolta TC-1 or Nikon 35Ti

... two others to give you more headache 🙂

The problem I have with T2 or these two above is that they are rare. Therefore they are 1) expensive. 2) who's going to fix them when they break?

With XA family, once busted, get another one on the 'bay and go your merry way.
Click to expand...


mmmm, ...good point, Will - been drooling over T2's all weekend!, but just had my first glimpse of the Nikon...WOW!!! Ebay (UK) #180209601180 I think if I go back for a second look, - I'll loose control and start pressing the paypal buttons!! gas again!! 🙁

Dave
 
rich815 said:
There are 5 Contax T2's on eBay right now. Would not exactly call that rare. One with a BIN for $249. Not bad for a titinium body with a Sonnar lens. Not to knock the XA (I've got two!) but in terms of build quality there is no comparison XA vs. T2. Sure I can easily and cheaply replace an XA (though seems decent ones go for $50 or more, not exactly pocket change) I'd rather it not break in the first place in the middle of shooting or on a vacation or something. I've dropped my T2 in such a way that would likely have the XA is smitherens! But the T2 kept going....
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Ok, Rich, T2 wins 😀
 
Trius said:
It is possible to wear out an XA beyond repair ... I've done it. There is a gear (or other some such part, I can't recall what John H. said exactly) in the film wind mechanism that can wear out and a replacement part is not available except as cannibalized form another XA.
Click to expand...

I believe that's what happened to mine. I started with an XA2 (because I didn't know the difference between the XA, XA2, XA3 & XA4) but recently got an XA. After one roll of film the whole camera locked up and I sent it back to the seller. It's currently in the shop, awaiting a diagnosis.

Alex Kinnan said:
... and a frustratingly dim rangefinder patch in the XA2 ...
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😕 The XA2 doesn't have a rangefinder.

I only shot one roll of Tri-X with my XA, but I was really happy with it: http://life-electronic.net/blog/?p=610

The XA2 is a really great camera, too. Some people say it has a "darker" 3.5 lens, but it's certainly no slouch.
 
XA and XA2

XA and XA2

Over the years, I have usually managed to have an XA around. I really like the camera for it's pocketability. However, some time ago I picked up two working XA2 models for $20. Fully automatic and Zone Focus. Nothing to do but load film, set the film speed, make a reasonable guess at the distance and shoot. Now the XA2 is my pocket camera and the XA has not been out for a long time.

The lens on the XA2 is slightly different, but I have not seen a difference of note in any of my images. As I recall, the XA3 added DX coding, so you can't manipulate the film speed to compensate or rate film at other speeds.
 
I've now obtained a nice XA (Ebay) and tested with a roll of Portra-160 neg., this was mostly underexposed, so it looks like I'll need to set a slower ISO than indicated on the box?. Being used to much heavier cameras, I seem to be having trouble holding it steady, as a few suffered from shake!, but the others are nice and sharp and contrasty. Rangefinder patch is barely visible,-I believe this is normal, but depth of field is o.k for scale focus most of the time! Next in line is a roll of XP2, and I'll hopefully post some results!

Cheers, Dave. 🙂
 
I'm really warming to my 'new' XA!.....in a weeks time I go to southern Turkey for three weeks, and the XA will be in my bag, as back-up, I'm taking a r/f and three lenses (35,50,&105) but the way things are going, I reckon the XA may get the most use! - especially for those sneaky street candids! 🙂 I plan to load it with XP2, and wondered if anyone uses this in an XA? and can advise on the best ISO setting (I think mine underexposes a little). I know XP2 has good latitude, but don't want too dense a neg.! BTW a previous reply, re curing the fading r/f patch.....I cut a small square from an old multigrade filter and stuck it in the middle of the viewfinder,-it works great!!, and I'm gratefull! 😀

Cheers, Dave
 
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