XA3 bargain find.

John Bragg

John Bragg

Well-known
Local time
5:10 AM
Joined
Nov 25, 2005
Messages
1,813
I am eagerly awaiting the delivery of a bargain XA3 purchased for a whole 99p on ebay. I guess a new set of seals and it will be good to go. Any tips for using this mini Maitani marvel ?
 
Hi,

The first thing is to search for an instruction manual; not that one is really needed. And, while it's in the post(?), hunt around for two SR44's but compare prices as you can pay a lot or a little for them.

I'll wish you luck with the battery compartment of the camera and flash. Especially the flash; I've had to screw a large self tapper into an AA battery in a flash and then lever it out. Fun, fun, fun, in other words. Personally I leave the flash at home.

The camera is a joy to use, load with battery and film and open the front and it's switched on and at a nice mid point for focusing. Push the focus lever down for portraits and up for landscapes. And remember that it reverts to the mid-point when the front closes (and switches off).

You may feel the shutter jams at times, the thumb wheel has to be rotated slightly more than you think: well, that's the best way to describe it. The clip on the wrist strap often needs a little gentle bending back into shape.

Don't forget the little lever underneath for the back-light compensation, battery check and delayed action.

Nothing else except keep the batteries nearby when stored as it's easy to start turning the thumb wheel and half cock it. Then you need the batteries to fire it.

There's three cases for it; short, longer and posh. Short for the body and A11 flash, longer for A16 flash and there's the posh one here:-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171019041952?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Edit: Just remembered where I saw a normal case etc:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Olympus-X...311150?pt=UK_Film_Cameras&hash=item565477976e

The short and longer cases are a sort of reddish brown and turn up in charity shops with camera etc for a pound or two. I don't know why people dump them, but there you are.

Lastly, you'll find the serial number in front of and parallel with the hinge.

Regards, David
 
Thanks for all the info David. I really am looking forward to using it. I was looking for an XA but I couldn't resist at this price and sometimes simple is best. How do you find it in low light ?
 
Besides the two cases David showed above, there are also durable canvas soft cases for the body + A6 flash, as seen here:


Olympus XA with A16 flash by Greyscale3, on Flickr

I also have a similar case in brown canvas.

Regarding low light, my XA3 seems to have a slow shutter speed of about 2 seconds, so depending upon film speed, it should be a decent performer in most low-light situations.

If you plan on shooting film in a DX canister at other than box speed, cover the DX markings on the film canister and manually set the ISO.
 
Hi,

Talking of covers reminds me. It's easy to turn the thumb wheel and, once started, you have to take it all the way and then fire the shutter as, otherwise, it stays cocked for too long. So get a case - if you must - that it goes into from the top and not from the side. sideways will turn the thumb wheel.

I don't bother with cases or the flash but just have them as they were with the camera but I've never managed to get the big A16 flash, even for display only. So I'm jealous.

Low light doesn't seem to bother it, I've had the LED in the VF come on from time to time, to warn of longer than 1/30th s., but I cope, somehow. I usually use Fuji C200 or FP4=, neither being fast films, except to us old gits.

I forgot to mention that there's instructions all over the web for changing the seals. I took the back off of my XA? to do it which made it easier.

Beware of it starting you collecting all of them. Although the XA1 and XA2 are cheap and common in charity shops. Luton Camera Repairs will work magic on them if need be; they did on mine a while ago.

Regards, David
 
Thanks for the advice guys. It arrived today and the seals look to be intact. There is also an A11 flash that is in good nick, although I probably won't be using it. I have a set of Jon Goodmans seals ready if it needs it and have downloaded his detailed instructions.
 
I'm always interested in any XA discussion. I've owned one since the early 80's and worn a couple out. My favorite by far. My collection these days includes several XA & XA2's. (in case I need backups ;)). While reading this I wasn't sure which model some are talking about. I've never seen an XA3. But this turned out to be very interesting because of my experience today. There was a fire in my neighborhood. I walked over with my XA2 and it was not working. I just put batteries in a month ago. I suspect mine had become cocked too long as pointed out. That's never happened to me before. I also never thought the long grey case pictured was original Olympus, I have one of those. I don't think mine says Olympus on it. Cool :).
 
eyesglassy said:
I'm always interested in any XA discussion. I've owned one since the early 80's and worn a couple out. My favorite by far. My collection these days includes several XA & XA2's. (in case I need backups ;)). While reading this I wasn't sure which model some are talking about. I've never seen an XA3. But this turned out to be very interesting because of my experience today. There was a fire in my neighborhood. I walked over with my XA2 and it was not working. I just put batteries in a month ago. I suspect mine had become cocked too long as pointed out. That's never happened to me before. I also never thought the long grey case pictured was original Olympus, I have one of those. I don't think mine says Olympus on it. Cool :).
Click to expand...

Sorry your XA2 has died. Thanks for the tip about keeping the shutter un-cocked. I went for new seals from the get go and this is now the third camera I have re-sealed with the same Jon Goodman kit and I still have loads of material left ! Amazing stuff and great value, although I heard Jon no longer sells on ebay.
 
Here is the little pocket gem, re-sealed and ready for a steady diet of Tri-X.

8654984800_9c26b3b613_c.jpg
 
I mostly use the XA. And I've always used it scale focus style. Next time I grab my XA2 I'll check the battery. Tips? Carry it, it's very easy. It's perfect for quick snaps. I hardly ever have to look at the settings. Practice a from the hip shot on every roll, it comes in handy. The A11 is a very good flash. Even if you don't use it put in a battery and exercise it. Just power it up and let it sit awhile. Have fun I think they're great cameras.
 
Sweet! Thanks for the picture. DX coded. Now I understand the tape comment. I have always set the speed to over expose a little. Also the ones I like the best have a hair trigger. Better than the alternative. If I ever see a XA3 I'll buy it too. Keep us posted.
 
Sorry, XA2 is all I ever need from compact camera. Scale focus, manually set ISO - no need to tape or modify DX code. I miss only Av mode but...can't have everything, right?

Well, XA4 would be crop of the cream....but they aren't cheap.
 
btgc said:
Sorry, XA2 is all I ever need from compact camera. Scale focus, manually set ISO - no need to tape or modify DX code. I miss only Av mode but...can't have everything, right?

Well, XA4 would be crop of the cream....but they aren't cheap.
Click to expand...

I was not looking for this camera. An XA or XA2 were on my "to get" list but this one looked so nice and the price was a clincher. I figured that since it was basically an XA2 + and the Dx is easily over ridden, the 1600 speed would be handy too.
 
What I like best about the XA is I can shoot longer exposures with the flash. But any lonely XA models I find have usually gone home with me. Sometimes people will come up and ask "what kind of camera is that?" or "That's a neat little camera". I've given a couple away to really interested people and said "I've got a dozen of these at home"
 
Thanks all for the tips and hints. These little cameras sure are addictive. I now have this XA3, a Mju I stylus infinity, two Mju ii stylus epics and a Mju V. I think an XA next if I can find one for a decent price !
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom