Pimp Your XA

[dave lackey]

Well, we discussed adding a few options to the XA2 a few months ago. One issue was gripping the little bugger. Problem solved with the Op/Tech finger cuff:

Also discussed was a thumb rest for a more natural feel. Problem temporarily solved with a clear (not black as Home Depot was out of black), but very handy cabinet door bumper.

In reality, the clear is inconspicuous. I had the light just right on it in the photo to show what it looks like. Works like a charm!

Now, if one wants to go to LeicaGoodies, you can order one of their round thumb rests (the SNOB) for $10.

Total cost for me for a 100x better grip is about $8.00USD. Not bad!😛

Looked seriously at the cameraleather cover but decided it was not worth the trouble or cost. So far, I am happy with the mods.🙂

Might look into a pouch from Op/Tech next...

 

[ferider]

Nice Dave. You should patent the knob and productize it as mini-Thumbie for Leica Ms for 120 bucks a pop. 🙂

Cheers,

Roland.

 

[Bingley]

Nice Dave. You should patent the knob and productize it as mini-Thumbie for Leica Ms for 120 bucks a pop. 🙂

Cheers,

Roland.

Or add a red dot and triple the price!🙂

 

[Jamie Pillers]

Added a black dot to my X100 and now I'm getting into all the right places and meeting all the right people! 🙂

 

[Bill58]

You can also add non-slip, black skateboard tape to areas where you grip it.

 

[dave lackey]

You can also add non-slip, black skateboard tape to areas where you grip it.

Ah, now that is the sort of thing I am looking into. Thanks, Bill. There is also some adhesive designs that stick onto laptops, etc. that my daughter has used and a small curved piece of that material holds promise as well.

All we need to grip is a small patch of something and that way the little square or round wart does not need to interfere with the size of the XA.

The Op-Tech finger cuff is really very good, highly recommended!🙂

 

[oftheherd]

Nicely done. I have just learned to live with mine. Now I may try some of your ideas.

 

[Bill58]

Ah, now that is the sort of thing I am looking into. Thanks, Bill. There is also some adhesive designs that stick onto laptops, etc. that my daughter has used and a small curved piece of that material holds promise as well.

All we need to grip is a small patch of something and that way the little square or round wart does not need to interfere with the size of the XA.

The Op-Tech finger cuff is really very good, highly recommended!🙂

You're welcome. I put the tape on the front/ back of my XA (that is FS in the market) lens cover to make it much easier to open. See: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wrs111445/ (scroll down).

 

[dave lackey]

You're welcome. I put the tape on the front/ back of my XA (that is FS in the market) lens cover to make it much easier to open. See: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wrs111445/ (scroll down).

One thing that is driving me crazy is that I don't have a flash shoe to place the film box lid in to remind what film I have in the XA2... hard to remember which film, color, black and white, 24 exp, 36 exp? Time to solicit ideas....:angel:

 

[sreed2006]

One thing that is driving me crazy is that I don't have a flash shoe to place the film box lid in to remind what film I have in the XA2... hard to remember which film, color, black and white, 24 exp, 36 exp? Time to solicit ideas....:angel:

I have a notepad application on my cell phone. I have one note in there about what film is in what camera. As I finish a roll, I delete the entry. As I load a roll, I add another entry. Yesterday morning I had four entries, and had only two entries last night after getting out and finishing two rolls. The neat thing is, I know exactly which cameras have film in them, and what the film is. I started using this technique about a week ago, and it seems to work well.

A pocketable paper notebook could serve the same purpose. Just scratch out an entry when you're done. That might even be better, since you would have a history of what you've used.

Or, another idea I had was to get a white board with erasable markers, and keep a list on it. That not nearly as portable, though, and if you change rolls in the field you still have to remember long enough to get it on the white board once you get home.

 

[sreed2006]

More ideas on keeping track of the film in the camera:

- Put the film box end in your wallet, with the name of the camera written on the back.

- Have a slip of paper that you keep in your wallet with the information (that would take much less space than the film box end).

- Buy some round (or rectangular) sticky labels at the office supply store that you can write the film information on and stick one to the bottom or back of the camera.

Am I getting warm?

 

[TXForester]

I like the sticky label idea. Those small, round labels that are often used for price labels at garage sales would be great.

 

[dave lackey]

Yep, good ideas so far...

A few minutes ago, I just cut a small piece of the film box lid and taped it on the bottom with clear packaging tape. I like this because I don't even have to read the ISO, etc. Just by looking at the color of the label, I can know what I have loaded. Maybe be a more elegant solution, so keep the ideas coming!

Presuming of course, that I change the label each time.🙄

BTW, what else would be a nice mod for the XA cameras? Like maybe a nice little travel tripod? Thinking about a Gorillapod. And a hipster pouch to wear on your belt:

 

[David Hughes]

Would this do as an outfit with tripod, slave flash etc? The Cobra FlashMate cost very little years ago, takes an AA battery and has a guide no. of 32 (in ft) with 100 ASA film. It has a folding back and can be stood anywhere that the flash on the XA can reach. The "tripod" clamp-on thing with the B&S head was made by Rowi years ago.

You used to be able to buy a little plastic sticker that held the film carton ends. I don't know if they are still available these days; they were OK if stuck on the back of the camera.

Regards, David