Olympus XA4 - how to use date back?

[stong]

I've just been given an XA4 to play with and it has a date back (in Japanese) I thought the camera batteries would energize it, but it didn't seem to do anything. Not that I would really use it, but just want to know if it works or not and how...

Does anyone know if there is a separate battery compartment (appears to be something on the inside of the back cover, but I didn't try too hard to unscrew it), or explain how to set it?

Thx.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

I didn't know they had data backs. Could we have 2 or 3 pictures of it, front and rear, please, with the back open as well?

Usually they (data backs) have a flat battery in a recess in the rear with a cover over them held by a small screw. It's best to take out the battery - if it dies - as they can corrode the terminals and worse in the long term.

Regards, David

 

[oftheherd]

From looking at ebay, it would appear it might be an XA3. I have no idea how to set it unless there is something on the top of the camera or inside the back. Most cameras of that era didn't seem to think they would be around long enough to go past 1999, but maybe Olympus was smarter than that.

 

[stong]

Thanks for the reply and your power of suggestion helped- nothing like the threat of corrosion or a hurricane for motivation. There is a plastic screw in the back cover that lifts off a larger piece with a big button battery. Photos attached. As I read more about this camera, I realize that the XA4 is on the rare side and the date back is even rarer. My friend picked it up in Japan. I searched the web for any instructions on setting the date back, but couldn't find any. I'll put in a fresh battery and push the buttons like infinite monkeys until it looks like a date. New SR44's in the body and everything works, running a roll through soon. I plan on using it as someone else does on this forum - Tri-x at 1600 in Diafine.

 

[stong]

oftheherd - I'll post later and let you know if Olympus thought we would survive Y2K.

 

[Lumix]

Great camera find, and interesting pictures - thanks for posting.
Learn something every day.

Lumix

 

[David Hughes]

Wonderful isn't the word.

So even with the XA, XA1 etc series we get surprises every now and again. Try asking for one of our Japanese members to translate for you. We're all watching and wondering.

Would you mind if I took a copy of your photo's as this is something special?

Regards, David

 

[stong]

No problem David. Use what you like.
I'll soon post if I can get the date back to work (just picked up battery).

 

[stong]

So it was pretty obvious one I pushed a button:
The Left button toggles three modes: date, time, nothing (I assume)
The next three black buttons adjust year/month/day or military hour/nothing/minutes

Here are some shots of the three modes:

So Y2K problems are skirted! David - feel free to use these too.

I'll post photos with the imprint to complete the thread, but it takes me a while to get around to developing the negs.

Thanks all.

stanley

 

[ColinW]

Very interesting thread Stanley and, as Lumix says, you learn something new everyday. If you need a manual there's a PDF version at this site which covers most things XA - but not databacks!

http://www.diaxa.com/xastart.htm

I also found this information which shows that the databack came with the XA3 as well, maybe all models had a databack version in Japan.

http://pub25.bravenet.com/faq/show.php?usernum=2107370279&keywords=databack

Once again thanks for the interesting thread and pictures.

 

[oftheherd]

Congratulations! Who knew? No Y2K so Olympus was smarter than some. It will be interesting to see if it also imprints time, I doubt it, but who knows. Certainly it will imprint a date if you have it set to date. Looking forward to seeing your photos from it and how you find it to use.

I certainly enjoy my XA. It is very small to carry, yet has an RF and is aperture preferred exposure. There are three different size flashes you can get if you didn't get one with the camera.

 

[David Hughes]

No problem David. Use what you like.
I'll soon post if I can get the date back to work (just picked up battery).

Thanks.

I was thinking; you need an instruction book (for any camera) in English and other languages like Japanese. Then look at the pictures and try and sort it out. I've looked at the data back instructions for several but not one in Japanese...

Regards, David

 

[agi]

Wow an XA4 with a data back.

I always shoot my XA4 at 1600 and it's my favorite camera. Enjoy it.

 

[stong]

Agi, I think you were the one I referred to in my one of the earlier posts - right now I shoot all my film cameras at 1600, soup in Diafine and mostly shoot raw with sunny 16.

David - I was given the XA4 original instructions too (Engish, German, French Spanish), but the data back instructions were not in it.

I just don't have any compact film cameras, so compared to carrying a Leica, Contax(es), F, Blad (!) etc...- I think the XA4 will always be at hand and become a favorite - and I prefer wides too.

 

[David Hughes]

David - I was given the XA4 original instructions too (Engish, German, French Spanish), but the data back instructions were not in it...

Hi,

I was thinking that any instruction book with English (or even American English) instructions and Japanese would give a clue about the characters use for set, mode, up, down etc. Still, you seem to have cracked it.

These "export only" and "not for export" cameras are always interesting, I've one or two in the heap/collection.

Regards, David

 

[stong]

I shot a quick roll to see how the date imprints. You can choose any of the three modes: date, time, nothing.


Here is a date:

Another date (truncated since I straightened the shot):

Time:

Date (tried one of the macro modes):

There is some faint ghosting on the digits not meant to be imprinted. But then again as I said originally, I will probably use this feature rarely.

Thanks for your help/advice on learning about the XA4 - it is a wonderful quiet, stealthy camera.

 

[David Hughes]

Thanks for the pictures.

I'll warn you (it seems only fair), beware of these cameras. The entire range can be picked up for pennies and you'll need to list them with serial numbers after a while. When I realised I'd 8 XA2's it was too late...

Regards, David