XA2: Scale Focus Appreciation Week

[cbass]

Every time I look at the images I get back from the Olympus XA2 I fall a little bit more in love with that cutie. Sure, she's no RF...but shes got her family's good genes and class to spare.

So easy to get creative with this little lady, too. Focus on your compositions and then let 'er rip. I may catch some heat in an RF forum for this, but I'm declaring the last five days of April as "Scale Focus Appreciation Week".

I'll put up some more in my gallery (kudos to the new software 😀 ) when I have more time.

 

[jon_flanders]

As I noted in another thread, I got some good results with the XA2 on my recent trip to Italy. I found it a handy second camera, particularly when "shooting on the run."

 

[Jon Goodman]

I'll put in an endorsement for the XA2...but heck, I'm also a fan of the XA1, and some people seem to shy away from it. I've taken some great pictures with both of them.
Jon

 

[Rob]

I was just thinking about the XA2. There are 2 of them local to me that are for sale.
I was thinking of replacing my Olympus Stylus with one of these for the lack of shutter lag
and noise of the autofocus on my stylus. I think they have similar lenses...35mm f3.5....

 

[chenick]

I have just got back my first roll from my XA - and I am very impressed!
Sharp & well exposed, if the XA2 is any way similar it should be very good indeed!

 

[Roger Hicks]

Another lovely Olympus -- the Pen W half-frame with 25/2.8 6-glass lens. Gorgeous!

Cheers,

Roger (www.rogerandfrances.com)

 

[ChrisN]

Just about to finish the first roll in my XA2, then a new XA to try!

 

[st3ph3nm]

I sometimes use my XA in "scale focus" mode. In my gallery you'll find a shot of some girls with umbrellas which was shot from the hip, sideways as I walked past them!

Great little cameras.

Cheers,
Steve

 

[o0dano0o]

spin it when you shoot - get a fun "startrail" effect

ala http://www.pbase.com/dsquires/image/41136327

 

[DougK]

No worries cbass, I like to think of scale focus cameras as "non-coupled, non-adjustable rangefinders" anyway 🙂. Lots of fun to shoot, easier (for me anyway) to focus on composition and definitely easy to hipshoot with. If I didn't already have an XA and a Trip 35 I'd definitely go for an XA2.

Nice photo, BTW 🙂 I love the interplay of the lines, light, and textures.

 

[cbass]

Thanks, Doug. I wish the scan had been better. Used the Kodak C-41 400 speed B&W film which yields good results in the XA2. I put up a few more XA2 photos in my gallery (I just can't figure out how to put the "my RFF gallery" link in my signature).

I almost bid for a Pen EES-2 on the 'bay over the weekend but I thought it'd make my XA2 jealous.

 

[bmattock]

About the only thing I don't like about my XA2 is that when you close the clamshell, it returns the distance-setter thing to mid-range, no matter what you had chosen previously. I'd like it better if it left it the way I set it. If I make a mistake and forget to set the distance, that's my lookout. But otherwise, the XA2 is my 'toss in the glovebox' camera.

Sorry it took me so long to respond - just got the film turned in today!

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[dominicLF]

The XA2 is great. It's the only camera that really fits in your pocket. I've heard that the original XA had a much better and faster lens. I would love to get hold of a good one. I recently took my XA2 along to a school science camp at the beach and popped it out to take pictures of the kids now and again.Kid on Beach