Xa Vf?

[MV72]

Dim, yellowish patch indeed, but the viewfinder is very clear and big enough to see the 35 mm frame even with glasses. I tend to use zone focusing (f/5,6 - 3m), otherwise look for distinguishable lines to put the RF patch on.

 

[DNG]

I'll have to add to this poll, after I get my XA this week I hope!

 

[randomm]

I voted "it sucks" as mine is so misaligned that it is unusable. I have been waiting for a good time slot to open it up to see if I can fix it! Does anyone have good instructions on doing it ... I found some instructions on flickr, which weren't as clear as I hoped...

 

[DNG]

I Voted VG
Only because, if I get my eye centered just right it is VG to EX
Bright and well defined....
Indoors, it is "Just OK", usable though.
Lack of good light I guess.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

I Voted VG
Only because, if I get my eye centered just right it is VG to EX
Bright and well defined....
Indoors, it is "Just OK", usable though.
Lack of good light I guess.

Glad to hear you got a like new one... Those are not common... Mine has an 80% vanished patch... Yet it's usable in good light situations, but I have never used its patch and maybe I'll never use it: I reserved my XA for direct sun at f/8 with Tri-X and prefocused at 8 feet...

It's a great camera design. I just aim and shoot, and get great images.

Cheers,

Juan

 

[whitecat]

The XA has a "decent" rangefinder. When they came out they were 100 bucks. Not quite the Zeiss ZI but a good fun camera.

 

[raytoei@gmail.com]

I used the yellow highlight marker on the whole RF window. It sort of shades the area around the patch.

 

[abumac]

Sensor-cleaner and a Q-tip work for me. The patch is yellow but contrasty. It's not a Leica, but it works ik.

 

[lxmike]

I wear glasses and when shooting into sunlight I find the viewfinder and rangefinder and meter information difficult to read and not so keen on the flare I sometimes experience in the viewfinder

 

[olympusVFRF]

I had one that sold a few weeks ago and the viewfinder was very clean & bright (like new), and the rangefinder was has good as many others i have, and i have quite a few...

 

[tokengirl]

The XA has a rangefinder patch? 😉


I don't mind, I love the camera anyways. It's not like it's difficult to zone focus at f16 anyways. 😛

 

[mackigator]

I have four XA's at the moment, two broken, two working. Using the broken ones as test beds, I've been learning to clean the RF mechanism (and look for other obvious problems).

It is possible to clean the XA VF/RF windows and it does make for a significant improvement in operation. On my XA with the dimmest patch (basically nonexistent) cleaning all the surfaces in the light path brought the VF up in brightness and gave me a crisp, if slightly dim, focusing patch. It can now be focused in low light. This is significant improvement and makes me think that all dim XA's can be brought up to much better functionality.

I found these links helpful:
http://forum.manualfocus.org/viewtopic.php?id=16360
http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/forum/messages/6901/2122.html
http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/repairmanuals.html
http://brashear.phys.appstate.edu/lhawkins/photo/xa.faq.html

As is pointed out in those links, take special care not to lose the small metal cylinder that floats under the sliding cover - it is responsible for the "click" into place.

Having done it, I would try cleaning the VF/RF before deciding to apply the black tape trick, which can also help. Here's that hack for anyone who needs a quick "improvement."

http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-165.html

 

[matthewm]

I no longer have an XA. I had four of them at various times and at best, one was good enough to use indoors under normal tungsten lighting conditions. The others could only be used within 2 miles of the sun. I thought it was an XA thing that the RF patch was so faint, but apparently, mine were just old and faded.

Does anyone service the RF's in the little XAs anymore? Would be nice to get one and have it brightened up. It's a great little camera!

 

[stupid leica]

considering it fits in my pocket, has aperture priority, is deadly silent, and has a base length of only like 2mm, i think it is pretty darn good.
takes great shots too.

 

[oftheherd]

I don't know why this thread jumped up since its last entry seems to be 3 monthis ago, but I am glad. Thanks to makigator for his comments and links. I have one that now works well except for the metal pin mentioned that keeps the clam shell cover clicked open. I figured out something went there, but didn't know what. If the clam shell isn't engaged by the pin, it won't stay fully opened, and the lever that opens the RF patch and AE won't engage.

I may try the trick of the wooden toothpick mentioned above, or see the machine shop people where I work to see it they have something that might substitute.

 

[Greyscale]

I don't know why this thread jumped up since its last entry seems to be 3 monthis ago, but I am glad. Thanks to makigator for his comments and links. I have one that now works well except for the metal pin mentioned that keeps the clam shell cover clicked open. I figured out something went there, but didn't know what. If the clam shell isn't engaged by the pin, it won't stay fully opened, and the lever that opens the RF patch and AE won't engage.

I may try the trick of the wooden toothpick mentioned above, or see the machine shop people where I work to see it they have something that might substitute.

I have one that is also missing the roller, but my clamshell seems to have no problem staying open. I guess that I better not try cleaning it any. 😉