XA-4 and hyper speed film?

[Bill58]

I'm sort of thinking out loud (as usual) about an all-around, day/ nite "stealth" streetshooter utilizing the XA-4 and 800 or 1600 B&W and/ or color print film taking advantage of: it's size/ unobtrusiveness, quiet shutter, W/A, and deep DOF (no focus). I wish it was 24/ 25mm, but.......it ain't.

Anybody have any such experience? Am I all-wet?

 

[vicmortelmans]

Sounds like a nice concept. You should practice composing without using the viewfinder, and it's perfect.

Just keep an eye on the available light, so your exposure time doesn't become too long, because then you'll have all fuzzy images.

Groeten,
Vic

 

[sleepyhead]

While I like the XA4 (used to own two), I sold them in favour of a Ricoh GR1v for low-light stealth because:

has f/2.8 lens
can set ASA up to 4000
has Program mode as well as Aperture priority, and +/- 2-stop compensation
in "SNAP" focus mode has no AF shutter lag and as easy to set as the XA4
focuses down to 0.5m, which quite close enough for my purposes
in quiet enough for the street
is just as pocketable (thinner and longer, but comfortable)
AND HERE'S A BIGGIE: the lens vignettes less than the XA4 which i found nearly intolerable


It's more expensive, but worth it in my opinion.

 

[Bill58]

While I like the XA4 (used to own two), I sold them in favour of a Ricoh GR1v for low-light stealth because:

has f/2.8 lens
can set ASA up to 4000
has Program mode as well as Aperture priority, and +/- 2-stop compensation
in "SNAP" focus mode has no AF shutter lag and as easy to set as the XA4
focuses down to 0.5m, which quite close enough for my purposes
in quiet enough for the street
is just as pocketable (thinner and longer, but comfortable)
AND HERE'S A BIGGIE: the lens vignettes less than the XA4 which i found nearly intolerable


It's more expensive, but worth it in my opinion.

Sleepyhead:

Thanks for your comment and warning--esp. the vignetting. Maybe I should re-think my idea.

Bill

 

[chikne]

I am in the market for an XA4 and have one question to ask. Do you find the lack of control on the aperture not to be a problem?

Thanks

 

[sniki]

When street shooting with XA4, I counter bias the lack of control in the aperture in this way, without concern: I load my first XA4 with Kodak PX125 and set exp index at 400; the second one with Kodak TX400 and exp index 1600. Then I soup both film in Diafine and get pleasure of results.

sniki

 

[Bill58]

When street shooting with XA4, I counter bias the lack of control in the aperture in this way, without concern: I load my first XA4 with Kodak PX125 and set exp index at 400; the second one with Kodak TX400 and exp index 1600. Then I soup both film in Diafine and get pleasure of results.

sniki

What are gonna be the results if I just use 800 or 1600 indexed and commercially processed same?

 

[sniki]

The counter bias concept would work in the same way, so same lack of concern about aperture control.

sniki

 

[Bill58]

The counter bias concept would work in the same way, so same lack of concern about aperture control.

sniki

Sniki:

I hate to admit it, but you are way over my head. What is "The counter bias concept?" Are you just saying shoot away? Indexed/ processed at the spec. speed?

I apologize for lack of tech. knowledge.

Bill

 

[sniki]

"The counter bias concept" serve the purpose doing the trick in the feedback loop: high speed film moves XA4 aperture program towards closer - or even the closest - diaphragm values; that means high DOF and handy at iperfocal distance.
Furthermore, the recipe keeps away vignetting for the most light condition.

sniki

 

[Bill58]

I got it--thanks very much.

Bill

 

[sleepyhead]

Yes, I mean vignetting wide-open - it's not a problem once the program starts closing down the aperture somewhat.

Still, I find the GR1v a much more flexible camera.