Talk me out of buying a XA

[jackbaty]

I didn't like my XA at all. Too fiddly for my taste. I still carry two Stylus Epics though. Love them.

 

[pkreyenhop]

To scare you off: I have bought 5 XA's within the last couple of years because one after the other died (or arrived already faulty) and it was cheaper to buy another one instead of repairing them. I have given up on them as they are so unreliable. (BTW: I still have my first Stylus Epic)

 

[st3ph3nm]

Don't spend $100 on an XA. But *do* get one. I love mine. It's a great little camera, and every shot in my gallery is taken with mine. Also have a look at Gabriel's and Gene's galleries (Gene's New York Winter series with his XA were shots that convinced me that it was worth getting one of these things). Yes, it's not perfect. Yes, focusing in low light is difficult. Yes it only goes to ISO800. So don't expect it to do good low light photography (though for long exposures, it does have a great meter and self timer) and have a good time with it.

Cheers,
Steve

 

[RayPA]

Agree about the fiddly nature of the XA. I stopped using mine completely and sold it off, because the shutter would sometimes not fire. Also, I hate the sound of the film advance. It sounds like one of those disposable cameras (eeesh! like nails on a chalkboard).

Edit: I have to add that the lens will surprise with how good it is.
/

 

[agi]

Once again I agree with Will...if you're going to spend that much get an XA4 🙂

 

[benlees]

Just as a typical internet counter example: I recently dropped my XA from shoulder level on to concrete in -10c weather and nothing broke. Works like a champ. Big chunk came out of the self timer lever, however.

I will agree about the hair trigger on the shutter: usually 2 shots per roll are wasted.

 

[rovnguy]

Quit screwing around and just buy the XA. Then learn how to use it. Life becomes nicer with one of each (XA and Epic). A lot of folks gripe about the XA, but they probably don't have the mindset to get the most from it. I recommend that you keep a roll of Fuji Reala in the XA and a roll of good ISO 400 film in the Epic (NPH 400 comes to mind). The Reala is great for color, and it desaturates very nicely for good B&W.

 

[lambyu]

hello:
i've been using XA for over 7 yrs, it never fails me, i bought several XAs because i'm afraid they'll break but i'm still using the first one i bought.
in my opinion sometimes it's focus is easier, faster then auto ones, esp. when you're shooting outdoor in daylight, just set the focus to 3 meters then you'll get a good shot.
and battery lasts for about 2 yrs...... even you shoot several rolls per month.
about picture quality, you may take a look at my site, www.lambiseverywhere.co.nr
almost all TRAVEL photos were shot by XA.
cheers,

 

[pschauss]

$110 U.S. is about what I paid for mine when I bought it new in 1983. It is a great travel camera for those times when you don't want to look like a tourist with a big ugly SLR hanging around your neck. When I first got mine I shot mostly Kodachrome 64 and the light meter rarely gave me a bad exposure. The only drawback for me is that, with age (not sure whether it is my age or the camera's age 🙂 ), the rangefinder patch has become harder to see and, at times, I have trouble seeing the shutter speed indicator in the view finder.

I have heard that the viewfinders collect dust and get dim over time. If they can assure you that the viewfinder/rangefinder has been cleaned and that the rangefinder patch has good contrast, I'd buy it.

 

[Bingley]

Still need convincing NOT to buy an XA? Well, it's not a Leica... 🙄

 

[Bingley]

Still need convincing NOT to buy an XA? Well, it's not a Leica... 🙄

Mine is still going strong since buying it new in the early 80s. Yeah, the rangefinder patch is hard to see, but I just set it to f.8 and let the dof do the rest. Lens is great, meter works fine, and shutter is really quiet. The perfect stealth cam. Haven't priced them recently, but concur in the advise above to check out KEH for comparison pricing.

 

[Matus]

Still need convincing NOT to buy an XA? Well, it's not a Leica... 🙄

An that that is good - I could not afford it otherwise. I just got mine 1 hour ago (my first rangefinder ever) and it is so sweet. Yes - the RF patch is not that easy to see (I do not know whether a CLA would fix this or not - would love to know), but the viewfinder is much better than I expected when compared to what I have read (I have never used ANY RF camera like R3A or Leica - I am not spoiled ... well, yet ... 😉 ).

You should be prepared to change the light seals if this was not done before - mine are nice sticky ...

Be prepared that it may be problematic to focus the camera while mounted on a tripod, as the focusing tab is very close (and very low too) to the mounting point. I have just tried that with the table top Manfrotto 709B tripod.

Just get one. If you do no like it - they are easy to sell and you will not loose much.

 

[John Hermanson]

XAs jammed in self timer mode OR giving constant 10 second exposures is a defect usually caused by impact damage. Broken ceramic was never available separately and there wer atleast 2 different types. IMO, I love the XA but Stylus Epic has always produced sharper results (and I've seen results from many samples). It produces what I think are the sharpest pictures from any p&s non-zoom camera. For the amount of overall control though, I'd have to go with the XA. Proud Olympus user since 1977 (I was technician at Olympus Woodbury when the XA came out and have an early sample of the A11 flash when it was actually called the "A12"). See http://www.zuiko.com/index_029.htm. John, www.zuiko.com

 

[John Hermanson]

Forgot to mention that even though the RF is inside the body, years of use will allow a fine film of dust to settle on the RF elements. This is a noticeable deterioration of rf performance. A CLA makes it a little better, but keep in mind that the XA rf was always a little dim. John, www.zuiko.com

 

[johannielscom]

... Yeah, the rangefinder patch is hard to see, but I just set it to f.8 and let the dof do the rest...

When used like this, why not buy an XA1?

I've got an XA1 with case that is seeing no action at all. No flash available. Tested and works fine.

If interested, PM me and I'll let go of it for a trial-and-error price plus shipping.

 

[hjagis]

OK, talk you out of it: It is too small to hold well, the shutter button is very sensitive and can fail before the rest of the camera, max iso of 800, focus is "fiddly"--very short throw from near to far, not built in flash and when the dedicated flash is attached the package is no longer the small pocket full it was, it's old.
The same arguments could be used in favor of the XA too, though...🙂
Rob

Use it with the flash. Much steadier. Hjalti

 

[whitecat]

The XA is a little work of art. Go for it!

 

[MarkoKovacevic]

I bought one!

 

[gdi]

You will enjoy it!

 

[landscapepics]

Is Spain fatal for the XA ? In Gran Canaria last week my wife asked to borrow the XA whilst I was in the pool. She asked how to use it and I said open the lens cover - so she pulled it off the camera completely ! I managed to get it back on but it doesn't seem as smooth now. I've had my XA for about twenty years and love it. The quality of the pictures are first class. I agree that the rangeffinder is difficult to use and my flash stopped working a long time ago, but I'm not likely to want to use flash with this camera anyway. I have taken the XA as an only camera on cyle touring and walking trips where it operates very well.

However more and more I want to use filters for landscape photography, and the XA doesn'r have a filter thread.