Olympus XA CDS Cell

[agour]

Hey,

Just wondered if anyone knows where I can get a replacement CDS cell for the oly xa? I bought one with a slow shutter (at any setting it will always stay open for around 3 seconds), so I stripped it down to find the problem.

Using the repair manual I found out that the CDS cell for the shutter is broken. Basically it is black and looks damaged, whereas the meters cell is white and clear.

I know I could get a replacement camera for about £50, but I would rather fix this one up!

Thanks!
-agour

 

[n5jrn]

As the XA is way, way out of production, your only option is probably to borrow a photocell from another camera. If the donor camera is otherwise mostly trashed but has a good photocell, it need not cost anywhere near £50, more like 1/10th that or less.

 

[zuikologist]

Perhaps an XA2 uses the same cell. Generally less than £10 to buy on the auction site.

 

[btgc]

Probably John Hermanson can help, if not with replacement cell then maybe with advice which cell could be used to repair XA. There are new cells available, you have to choose most appropriate.

 

[agour]

I was considering an xa2, but I wanted to be sure the cell would swap over.

Ill try contacting John, thanks!

 

[agour]

John actually had the cells available (original factory parts) for $15.

I ended up just buying a functioning xa for £30 on ebay. If the camera was more mechanical I would probably have been happier to fix it myself, but I dont want to drop £10 and then still have a broken camera,.

 

[John Hermanson]

BTW, the meter cell shouldn't be "white". John

 

[agour]

Well, iirc it was off white with the wire pattern clearly going through it. The 'bad' cell was about 1/3 'white' and 2/3 black. It certainly looked like it had leaked!

 

[MPerson]

Not sure where you are but here in the UK Luton Camera Repair Services are who Olympus directed me to for the XA model range for service and repair.

 

[agour]

Yeah I contacted them, they were pretty helpful but didnt have any in stock!