Trius
Waiting on Maitani
And I like the 5th one as well. Well done!
XA Lens Quality?
- Thread starter mh2000
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Bingley
Veteran
I know this thread is about sharpness, but the quiet shutter lets you take discreet street shots close up...
Bingley
Veteran
Zone focusing at f.8:
nightfly
Well-known
I was just preparing images for a show and one by the XA squeaked in. I had to do some photoshop work to get rid of the lens flare but it's definitely a keeper. Sold the camera long time ago and now use a GR1 to do the same type of shooting but the design of the XA is second to none and when I look back to when I had it, I seem to have shot a lot more. Lighter and more pocketable than anything else.
That said when reviewing a lot of images taken with different cameras, the XA's don't really stand up to the Leica, GR1 and T4 images but I could open it and set the aperture and focus with one hand in my pocket and always be ready to shoot.
That said when reviewing a lot of images taken with different cameras, the XA's don't really stand up to the Leica, GR1 and T4 images but I could open it and set the aperture and focus with one hand in my pocket and always be ready to shoot.
chris00nj
Young Luddite
It's a very sharp lens.
Look at the American flag on the third mast:
Here is a detailed scan of that flag:
Look at the American flag on the third mast:
Here is a detailed scan of that flag:
ZeissFan
Veteran
The XA is a very nice camera, but like a lot of cameras, it's been hyped to the point where expectations are raised to an unreasonable level.
I think the lens is very good. Not legendary but very good.
It has plenty of features: Backlight compensation, somewhat decent ISO range, self-timer, battery check and a rangefinder. However, do keep in mind that it's a very narrow base rangefinder coupled to a wide angle lens. For those of us who think the Cosina Voigtlander Bessa cameras have a narrow base rangefinder, try half of that or less (I should measure later when I get home). Still, it's nice to have one.
The body is a bit too smooth, and I can easily see a photographer dropping it. Same goes for the Minox 35 series. The Rollei 35 has enough dials, protrusions and body leather to make it more difficult (although not impossible) to drop.
On my camera, the meter needle is sluggish and inaccurate, although it seems to expose correctly.
I think the lens is very good. Not legendary but very good.
It has plenty of features: Backlight compensation, somewhat decent ISO range, self-timer, battery check and a rangefinder. However, do keep in mind that it's a very narrow base rangefinder coupled to a wide angle lens. For those of us who think the Cosina Voigtlander Bessa cameras have a narrow base rangefinder, try half of that or less (I should measure later when I get home). Still, it's nice to have one.
The body is a bit too smooth, and I can easily see a photographer dropping it. Same goes for the Minox 35 series. The Rollei 35 has enough dials, protrusions and body leather to make it more difficult (although not impossible) to drop.
On my camera, the meter needle is sluggish and inaccurate, although it seems to expose correctly.
btgc
Veteran
I think you already knew that XA's VF needle is independent from meter deciding about exposure. Some XA's don't show exposure in VF and still expose just fine.
ZeissFan
Veteran
Yes, I sort of figured as such. The meter is "ballpark" accurate, but I don't think is always representative of the actual exposure.
not_in_good_order
Well-known
f5.6 on Elite Chrome 100:
f11 on Kodak Portra 800:
f11 on Kodak Portra 800:
not_in_good_order
Well-known
It's not pin sharp, but it's not bad either: f2.8 on Superia 800:
Denis M.
Denis Muradov
I use the camera as a pocket camera at @800, and the meter is pretty good most of the time. I love the 1.5 backlight switch. My sharpness problems with this camera are always in the slow shutter speeds, most shots at 1/30 and below don't come out. I attribute this to the clunky shutter and the lightness of the camera (most of the time, I can see the needle jump when I tap the shutter).
The Yashica GSN doesn't have this problem, but than again it's a brick of camera.
The Yashica GSN doesn't have this problem, but than again it's a brick of camera.
SRam13
Member
I love my current XA. I usually get nice, sharp, nicely exposed photos with it. I one took it and an equally old Nikon N2020 with me to Chicago over a year ago. The shots with the XA rivaled the Nikon shots.
My first XA had a a problem with the, I think, shutter. The camera immediately goes to self-timer mode (without the bottom lever sticking out) after tripping the shutter button.
My first XA had a a problem with the, I think, shutter. The camera immediately goes to self-timer mode (without the bottom lever sticking out) after tripping the shutter button.
not_in_good_order
Well-known
f4 on portra 800 (click the image for a larger view):
mark-b
Well-known
I'm so glad this topic was brought up.. it's one of Mr. Maitani's masterpieces.
Mine needs a CLA. Can anyone recommend me a good technician? My local one doesn't want to work on analog cameras anymore 🙁
Mine needs a CLA. Can anyone recommend me a good technician? My local one doesn't want to work on analog cameras anymore 🙁
Bingley
Veteran
l.mar
Well-known
It's lens is always sharper than the other camera's that I forgot to bring with me . . .
Trius
Waiting on Maitani
julio1fer
Well-known
Best at f5.6 IMHO:
piumach
Member
I found this graphs made in the past for a complete test of the XA, showing the sharpness (risolvenza, in terms of number of line per millimiter), the contrast and the light fall off (in terms of stops).
In allt of them the red lines refer to the center and the light grey lines refer to the border.
Sweet point seems to be around f/8-f/11 but very very good also starting from f/5,6.
Also the light fall off of 2,5 stops at borders, f/2,8 confirm what we observ in the real world (vignetting at f2,8 quite noticeable).
In allt of them the red lines refer to the center and the light grey lines refer to the border.
Sweet point seems to be around f/8-f/11 but very very good also starting from f/5,6.
Also the light fall off of 2,5 stops at borders, f/2,8 confirm what we observ in the real world (vignetting at f2,8 quite noticeable).
Attachments
newspaperguy
Well-known
I second (belatedly) Trius' recommendation of Camtech.
Great camera - great lens at all stops. Some vig. wide open.
I really do have to learn how to post pictures to this forum!
Great camera - great lens at all stops. Some vig. wide open.
I really do have to learn how to post pictures to this forum!
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