What to do? (long post)

S

st3ph3nm

Guest
Hi guys,

Being the kind of guy I am, this is going to take a good few sentences. (Never use 4 words when 30 or so will do).

First of all, the XA saga: Bought an Oly XA on ebay, only to have an XA2 turn up. From Germany. A bunch of emails and carefully worded minor threats later, and an XA (complete with box!) turns up (from Germany), along with communications that told me to keep the XA2 as it wasn't worth the hassle sending money and cameras back and forth across wide expanses of ocean, pirates, and seamonsters. So for my money, I got an XA at a good price (which turns out to have a leak, no real problem) and an XA2 for free (or an XA2 for a bit more than I should have paid, considering postage, and free XA. Depends which way you look at it, I guess). So, I suggested to my wife that we sell the XA2, as it'll be worth a little, and then, interestingly, she said "I was thinking I maybe I could use it, if it's easy to use. That is, if you don't mind me getting involved." (She's a sensitive soul, my girl, and knows that I can get a little competitive at times).

So, here I get to the crux: I'd always figured that if I'm walking around with two cameras (as I often am, now) it makes just as much sense for her to use the XA while I'm shooting my SLR, and swap cameras if needed as needed. But then, she doesn't get a camera for *her*. Or I can keep the XA2, but it doesn't offer anything that the XA doesn't offer. (This is me getting to the crux, you see. Thought I'd let you all know just in case you were nodding off or something. Bear with me a moment more, guys, you can look at the cool photos in the gallery anytime - they ain't going anywhere! Besides, it takes forever picking 5 favourites!)
So I thought, why not get her a camera that's DIFFERENT to the other cameras I've got, and get one of them there REAL rangefinders - you know, the solid looking serious little jobbies like a QL17 or Olympus RC or something? After all, she'll want to take good photos, so she ought to have a good camera that gives control.

So, at the risk of starting a "this rangefinder is better than that one" war, the Oly RC looked the trick, but it seems a little close in focal length to the XA. I'm thinking maybe 45mm (QL19?) might be better, but then, this is HER camera after all. So then I start wondering about size. She's only little, you know, and maybe a little camera is the way to go. So, the real question, though, never having handled these things, is this: (Hey here's the REAL question, guys! You with me still?)
Is a QL17 or QL19 a lot different to a GIII version? Is an RD much different in feel to an RC?

It's all you guys fault, anyway, because really this is just a good excuse to get another camera! :bang:

Cheers,
Steve
(did you guys get all that?):angel:
 
She she wanted to use the XA2 so seems the thing to do is to let her until and unless she picks some thing different. I personally love my GIII QL17 but havn't used the others.
Rob
 
I was actually looking for an XA2 when the XA dropped into my lap instead. As much as I love the XA and would recommend it in a heartbeat, I'd agree with Rob on this one: give her the XA2. It's got a great lens, really easy to use, and she said that's the one she wanted, which when you get right down to it is the salient point. Keep her happy and you'll be happy :)
 
Yep.... she expressed interest in a specific camera so give THAT one to her! And while you're at it, compliment her on her wise choice of cameras. You'll make her feel good and that never hurts.

Walker
 
Something that's really small and easy to use - Ricoh 500G ! Even my "tech-challenged" wife uses it. It's my Pocket Camera for all occasions.
There another excuse for RFAS .............. ~ ; - )
 
Another vote for load the XA2 and let her use it.f she likes taking pictures, and expresses an interest, pick up something else for her later. Let her look at the camera and coffee thread to pick something out. If she does not like it, nothing lost.
 
Yup Steve, it's also my opinion. In fact...

<top_secret>
... some people even mentions that the slightly slower lens on the XA2 may be a bit sharper than the one on the XA ! :eek:
</top_secret>

... uh ? what was that ? who turned lights off ?

...

You're lucky having somebody with you to share your hobby/passion/addition :) I tried to convince THE BUG but the poor beast always did a mess itself when trying to operate a camera with its 8 legs and struggling tail...

There are so many cute cameras out there that she may like, the camera & coffee thread is a good advice, sure the Canonator is not between her choices though... ;) But a Ricoh 500G, a Viv 35ES, Oly RC...

Oscar
 
Another vote for her choice. When or if that makes her unhappy or she says she doesn't like to use it, go to the camera and coffee thread as mentioned.

The secret good sales people know is to find out what the customer really wants, and sell them that. It is easier and makes the person happier. But finding out is often hard. Your wife has made it easy and told you. Give it to her and help her when she asks.

Lucky man!
 
Re: What to do? (long post)

st3ph3nm said:
So, the real question, though, never having handled these things, is this: Is a QL17 or QL19 a lot different to a GIII version?
Click to expand...

I can't answer that question - I've had three QL17 GIII's, but none of the other flavors of Canonet.

Is an RD much different in feel to an RC?
Click to expand...

Yes, it is. I have two RC's and an RD and had an SP, which I sold.

The RD has a better lens - I think I can say that without fear of contradiction. You can see the difference. The RC is quite a bit smaller, and does not have as many shutter speeds to choose from. Both are excellent in my humble opion - but the RC is smaller and the RD is sharper. Not that you mentioned it, but the SP is larger than either the RC or RD and one may argue about whether or not it has a better/sharper lens. It does have a spot-meter, which neither the RC nor the RD have.

Now, to the rambling reply to your rambling post on the XA / XA2 debacle...(grin):

I have two XA's and an XA2 - I bought the XA2 first by accident - didn't understand the difference at the time - didn't know that the XA2 is zone focus and not a rangefinder. Yes, I have learned one or two things in the last few years!

I think that neither XA or XA2 can really be compared to a Canonet or even to the Oly RC/RD/SP family - it is a whole 'nuther animal, due mostly to it's diminutive size and clamshell lens cover. It is (in my opinion) the pocket camera non pareil and certainly the one to be chosen when you just want to have an excellent camera readily to hand when out and about. It is the size that give it excellence, combined with a more-than-competent lens. If comparing strictly on lens quality - with no other considerations, then I believe the Canonet (QL17 GIII, at least) would win in a walk over the otherwise excellent XA.

For speed, I might choose the XA2 over the XA - zone focus is fast, obviously, and no f-stops to worry about. You can even learn to hold it at waist-level when walking through crowds, snapping away without detection if you're after true candids. I took my XA to San Francisco in September, and now I kind of wish I had taken the XA2. Yep, I think I would have. I ended up doing the equivalent of 'zone focus' with the XA anyway - so why not use a camera designed for that to begin with?

I'm sure you've seen this, but for others:

http://homepage.mac.com/mattdenton/photo/cameras/olympus_xa2.html

I'd say oui for my wife on an XA2 and non for the various incarnations of Canonet - unless my wife wanted to take the time to learn rangefinder focus and exposure basics - which, bless her heart, she does not. She has offered to teach me a box stitch, and I have declined for similar reasons, I'm sure.

I think your logic is sound, and I agree with your conclusions.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks
 
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digitalox said:
If you really love her, you'll buy her the M7.
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LOL! She'd moider me!

Guys, thanks for the advice. You'll be amused by this. Taking all the sage advice (and surprising advice at that, I might add, considering you RFaholics - some of you guys must have scary wives ;) ) I spoke to Kirstyn last night:

"Hey, seeing as this XA is going to be easy to fix, we won't need to sell the XA2, so you ought to have it. It'll be fun!"

"Oh," says she, "I don't know... I'm not really interested in photography the same way you are..." :bang:

So, (a small novella later) I'm sitting here wandering what to do again...

I never picked her as the fickle type, either (and you'd think that 13 years together would have worked it out by now!) :)

Cheers all,
Thanks for the replies, quite amusing!
Steve
 
I think at this point you may have scored yourself both the XA2 and an XA :)

Seriously, it sounds like what she really wants is a basic, simple point and shoot for snapshots which the XA2 certainly is. Table the whole thing for now and when she says "Can I borrow a camera for <x event>", or something along those lines, hand her the XA2, show her how to use it, and walk away with a secret but knowing smile on your face...

And no, my ex-wife wasn't scary at all. Let's just say I learned wisdom the hard way :)
 
dkirchge said:

Seriously, it sounds like what she really wants is a basic, simple point and shoot for snapshots which the XA2 certainly is. Table the whole thing for now and when she says "Can I borrow a camera for <x event>", or something along those lines, hand her the XA2, show her how to use it, and walk away with a secret but knowing smile on your face...

And no, my ex-wife wasn't scary at all. Let's just say I learned wisdom the hard way :)
Click to expand...

It's painfully obvious that what she really wants, is an 8x10 view camera. Along with a focusing cloth and an array of large format lenses. And don't forget the spot meter....

Russ
 
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