Olympus XA2-Now I have a full-frame camera in my pocket!

[dave lackey]

Thanks to Steve...

I am now the happy owner of a very nice Olympus XA2!😀😀😀 Talk about point and shoot!

Should finish up the first roll today, drop it off at the lab and get the prints in the morning to see how I did....

Now, for the important stuff. Anybody tried cameraleather on the XA2? They have restoration leather in uncut sheets and it would solve my problem of holding the camera without it slipping, plus it looks really nice.🙂

 

[dave lackey]

What, 93 reviews and no response? This is really a great little camera to carry around. I can't wait to get the first images back and then throw in some black and white film....probably TriX.🙂

Come on, any trickouts on your little XA? Straps? Cases? Grips? What?😎

 

[jan normandale]

Dave I think most people "93 reviews" probably didn't reply because the issue you've raised hasn't been dealt with like you're wanting to explore. I've an XA and XA2 well over 20 yrs in use and there's never been a handling issue for me.

I'm guessing there are a lot like me and we've no 'real response' to your posted enquiry.
Good luck and post pix when you got 'em!

 

[dave lackey]

Yeah, well, having just found out how neat these cameras are (sorry, but I wasn't paying attention the last 30 years), I was expecting at least a little excitement, heck it is better for me than a Fuji X100 because it does things that my other cameras do not. And it is definitely a full -frame cool!:angel:

So, yeah, I will explore tricking this camera out!

 

[raid]

Dave,
I have the XA and I used to own the XA2 and XA4. I never used any coverings for the little cameras. They slide into pockets smoothly, as they are.

 

[dave lackey]

This is the first trickout coming up: (uh, minus the big boxy camera thingy...)🙂

 

[bgb]

I have never considered grip stuff for my XA but it's a good idea as the little cameras are so small and they can be a little hard to hold on too. I would be interested in trying their griptac covering.


My std strap is unusable because i have large hands .... it looks like it's not supposed to come off. The std one would have to be cut off and maybe a cord would fit through the attachment hole?

I use an old pocket calculator case just to protect it from keys and coins in my 'man-bag' and i remember someone on the forum putting little squares of black film on the viewfinder it improve the contrast of the rangefinder patch

😀

 

[ChrisPlatt]

Congratulations on your new Olympus XA2.
It is one of my favorite "everyday carry" cameras.
If you keep yours in a pocket as I do dust and pocket lint
will eventually get into the switches and foul things up.
Use of a thin pouch type case will help prevent this.
You'll find various size neoprene cases wherever digital P&S cameras are sold.

Chris

 

[dave lackey]

I love Gordy's straps but Op-Tech has some cool things, too. My 6 year old grandson is sitting here with me and picked this out:



Neat finger strap..of course, he likes skulls!!!😀

 

[Keith]

The closest I've come to owning a pocket camera was my GR1-V which really never caught on for me. I just don't like having things in my pockets and found myself using it the same way I would a Leica M by carting it around in my little Domke. I eventually thought 'what's the point here?' ... and sold it!

Could be a good glovebox camera maybe ... but then again an old electro or something equally valueless can fill that bill.

You must have better pockets than me Dave! 😀

 

[bgb]

http://optechusa.com/straps/finger-cuff-qd.html

Interesting idea ... actually they have some neat straps on their site.

I'm very interested is seeing the result of the cameraleather experiment ....

 

[dave lackey]

The closest I've come to owning a pocket camera was my GR1-V which really never caught on for me. I just don't like having things in my pockets and found myself using it the same way I would a Leica M by carting it around in my little Domke. I eventually thought 'what's the point here?' ... and sold it!

Could be a good glovebox camera maybe ... but then again an old electro or something equally valueless can fill that bill.

You must have better pockets than me Dave! 😀

Ha, ha...no, it's just these tropical days upwards of of 100F that have me wishing for a small pocket camera (film of course) that fits in my cargo shorts pockets (and jeans when not too hot). Tried it out today with the boys and chasing them is easy with this thing...truly point and shoot. Just pull it to eye level, frame and shoot! Fastest thing ever.😎 BTW, this thing is super small! Small enough to fit inside a T-shirt pocket. About the same size as a pack of playing cards, only a bit thicker.

Now, what does it do? It will be there when I would not normally screw around with carrying an M3 or SLR. I also hope that the images have the character I have seen posted before.

It is time for me to work with it and see what I can do with it!🙂

 

[dave lackey]

Dave,
I have the XA and I used to own the XA2 and XA4. I never used any coverings for the little cameras. They slide into pockets smoothly, as they are.

Yes, they do...a little too smoothly for me as I constantly find myself dropping things that are the least bit slick/slippery. Old age?🙄 Anyway, a little insurance will prevent a Maalox Moment for me...😀

 

[lynnb]

I owned one for a few years and loved it - I bought it to take pictures when I went skiing, it was great apart from cold fingers every time I used it. Most pocketable camera ever. But that smooth small shape was its downfall when I dropped it on to concrete one day - kaput. Enjoy yours, and handle with care!

 

[ChrisPlatt]

I probably wouldn't try to keep any camera in a pants pocket, no matter how small.

All of my jackets *must* have an inside chest pocket; that's where I keep my camera.
The XA2 is one of a handful of good pocket 35's light enough to live there comfortably.

Chris

 

[dave lackey]

Handy carry solution... heading out to the grandkids' baseball game in a minute. The XA2 slips neatly into the Samsonit waist band money belt... don't even know it is there under my t-shirt.😎

 

[dave lackey]

Just finished shooting at the Little League game. The XA2 is so simple to use!😎

Put a wrist strap from a portable TV on it and attached a square adhesive pad (1/4" wide) and the transformation was amazing as grip was natural and comfortable.

After finishing the first roll, I put the XA2 back in the waist band and forgot I had it on me for the next 4 hours!😀

Success on the first trickout! Will order the thumb cuff from Op-Tech and see how it goes next.🙂

 

[gb hill]

I was temped to get that camera. I brought down a Canon 135/3.5 with finder & leather case but it was in the room & Barry & myself couldn't get back to get our stuff. (Barry brought down a TLR) I was gonna offer a trade of some sorts but it was meant for you to have the camera. Glad you are enjoying it Dave.🙂
Beside, now you have me wanting a Gordy strap.😀

 

[paulfish4570]

it is a dandy little shooter. this thumb cuff idea looks way cool. i have a couple of op-tech straps that i like very much.

 

[pvdhaar]

Not exactly tricking out, but I stuck a small sticker with 1.2-2.4-inf on the back of my XA2 just under the viewfinder. It reminds me to set the focus distance after opening the clamshell..