Traveling with the XA

julio1fer

julio1fer

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Is anybody else convinced that the XA series are the best travel cameras ever made? I love their portability, fast operation, and lens quality! Long live Maitani-san!

XA, Lima, Peru

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XA, Salvador, Brazil

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XA2, Montreal, Canada

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Please, post about your experiences when travelling with XA cameras!
 
They are almost perfect... I have had 2 or 3 since they were new.

Regards, David

PS I liked your sample photo's, too.
 
My XA is right infront of me as I write this. I'm really gutted, because I forgot to pick up some color film today. Tomorrow early early morning, I was going to go out and shoot a roll.

All I have, is my last roll of HP5 plus. I'm debating if I should go out and shoot it around town during the morning, and then come back and develop it myself in Diafine, or hand it over to a lab on Monday morning.

Not much of a b/w shooter, which is why I only have Diafine.

But I do agree with OP. Very pocket-able, and perfect for travel/anytime use.
 
It's a great camera for sure, and there's just NOTHING like it in cameras history...

To me it would be perfect with an ISO selector going to 3200 instead of 800, to use it stopped down and prefocused on soft light as I use it on direct sun... And imagining a new version (yes, it won't happen...) I would build it a bit bigger, like a RF body, to get an even better and faster (f/2) lens... That totally silent FLAT camera, with AE at 3200 and f/2, and total focus and aperture control, would beat any camera...

Cheers,

Juan
 
Yes, these are the best travel cameras hands down. I always have my XA or XA2 in my pocket. I agree that the ISO selector should go higher - has anyone ever modified an XA for this?
 
Nice light and mood, Mablo...

I've tried to imagine everything for higher ISOs work on it, but nothing!

If there's a real bright overcast on open field, 800 is just fine, at around 1/60 or even 1/125 f/8, but as places are more "built", light goes down quickly, and focusing wide open with slow speeds is a lot less fun... If anyone has a trick for using 3200 film, I'll pay for it... :)

Cheers,

Juan
 
Juan Valdenebro said:
It's a great camera for sure, and there's just NOTHING like it in cameras history...

To me it would be perfect with an ISO selector going to 3200 instead of 800, to use it stopped down and prefocused on soft light as I use it on direct sun... And imagining a new version (yes, it won't happen...) I would build it a bit bigger, like a RF body, to get an even better and faster (f/2) lens... That totally silent FLAT camera, with AE at 3200 and f/2, and total focus and aperture control, would beat any camera...

Cheers,

Juan
Click to expand...

Fuji just made that very camera. Only it's digital ;) I myself plan on getting the x100 once it's available.
 
^ I don't agree with that comparison, but that's fine. The pocketable design of the XA is something the X100 lacks (with a protruding lens), even if it is small .
 
AND, for digital compacts' size or possibilities, the X100 won't be special in any way... For film, there's nothing like the XA...

Cheers,

Juan
 
I have had the XA as my 2nd, err 3rd camera during my trip to NZ (see my flickr NZ set if you like). Eventually I have sold as the vignetting was a bit too much at the lens performance close to wide not what I was after. But it is a little great camera that is hard to replace.

I have got Fuji Silvi f2.8 which I have used in Spain exclusively with slide film. Now I am eagerly waiting for the scans to come back from the lab. But it is fully AF P&S so not a real replacement.
 
There's usually an XA in my pocket- it's the camera I carry when I don't want to carry a camera (but still can't bear to be without one).

My usual travel kit is an M3 with a 50mm and an XA. The XA does double duty, giving me both a 35mm lens and a small pocket camera to go along with the Leica. Actually, the XA does triple duty since I take along an A11 flash too. The XA is a perfect travel camera- but make no mistake, it's a great all around shooter; it's tiny size is just a bonus.
 
Juan Valdenebro said:
It's a great camera for sure, and there's just NOTHING like it in cameras history...

To me it would be perfect with an ISO selector going to 3200 instead of 800, to use it stopped down and prefocused on soft light as I use it on direct sun... And imagining a new version (yes, it won't happen...) I would build it a bit bigger, like a RF body, to get an even better and faster (f/2) lens... That totally silent FLAT camera, with AE at 3200 and f/2, and total focus and aperture control, would beat any camera...

Cheers,

Juan
Click to expand...

Just to clarify, this is why (in bold) I made the reference to the x100. I'm well aware that it is not the same physical size as the XA, nor would I expect it to be.

- Abram
 
Hi Abram,

What I meant was: for digital there are lots of small and controlled options years ago, but for film the XA is unique...

But yes: in case the X100 has ways to focus manually (and easily) it'll be close to an XA, and indeed it would prove to be an outstanding digital camera for caring photographers... And even without great manual focus, with a nice AF its design & looks & price & controls will make it the most interesting street digital camera to date as soon as it hits the stores...

Cheers,

Juan
 
Just a point...

Just a point...

A word of warning, whatever you do; don't drop the XA as the range-finder can be damaged and then the thing will be useless, until repaired. I mentioned that I'd had 2 or 3 XA's since new but ought to add that the XA2 (and XA3) is less fragile and very nearly as good and gets far more use these days.

And, if you want one to give the kids (or else upset the purists) then the XA1 has a lot going for it, especially the lens which punches well above its weight and the price on ebay...

This is advice for nowadays, because XA repairers are no longer on every town's high street.

Regards, David
 
I wished the XA had ISO that goes up to 3200 too! Just found the inspiration to shoot it today and realised the shutter is jammed.
 
the nice thing about the XA is that people don't care if you shoot with it. If you try to take the same picture with a film SLR or dSLR people get upset that you took their photo.
 
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