What are known issues with the XA?

[Matthew Allen]

I ran a roll of expired T-Max 400 (the old version) through the XA and souped it in ID-11. This is only the second film I've ever developed. It looks like the XA is working well. I'm rather pleased with my £9 purchase.

At f8:

At f5.6:

At f4 (probably):

Not sure, but somewhere between f4 and f8 probably:

At f5.6:

Matthew

 

[Matthew Allen]

By the way, I'd still be interested to know if anyone's fixed an XA shutter speed indicator. It's not a big deal but I like the comfort of knowing what the camera is doing.

Matthew

 

[Alex Kinnan]

...be mindful of your fingers near the lens...my shots are mostly of my right middle one.

Weird... many of my shots with the camera, with most of my cameras, include other peoples' middle fingers...😀

Judging from the pix, that was a steal for £9! I paid around $80 for mine around seven years ago, on eBay, though it did have brand new light seals.

The main issues I have with it nowadays are that the RF patch is pretty dim and sometimes the shutter release gets finicky.

Alex

 

[Matthew Allen]

The main issues I have with it nowadays are that the RF patch is pretty dim and sometimes the shutter release gets finicky.

Yes, the RF patch isn't great. Luckily you have plenty of DOF at your disposal with the 35/2.8 and the incredibly short focus throw means you're usually close.

I like the XA shutter release. It's nice and sensitive on my example so I feel I'm getting less camera shake because I don't have to mash it down like with some cameras. In fact it's so sensitive that I accidentally took a close up of my face whilst fiddling. I was using the ISO setting as a more accurate exposure compensation and my thumb slipped.

Matthew

 

[aad]

I never knew anyone to bother with the display meter when it fails. For a cheap camera that works as well as yours, I'd shoot it and have fun.

Never had a soft picture with mine, BTW.

 

[mackigator]

known issue: deep user satisfaction

known issue: loves 400x, and that stuff is pricey

 

[Matthew Allen]

I never knew anyone to bother with the display meter when it fails. For a cheap camera that works as well as yours, I'd shoot it and have fun.

That's just what I'm going to do, the XA is to be my carry-everywhere camera. I certainly wouldn't risk dismantling it unless I knew exactly what the problem is, just thought it was worth asking as it seems to be a common failure.

known issue: deep user satisfaction

known issue: loves 400x, and that stuff is pricey

Hmmm, you know, I've never shot a slide in my life. I'd like to, but the cost is rather prohibitive, especially given the comparison with my digital stuff which is pretty darned good for colour. I can justify shooting b/w film because I can process it myself but not really slides. One of these days...

Matthew