Olympus XA - first pics!

st3ph3nm · 11-05-2004

I didn't want to rave about this camera until I'd got my first roll back. But now they're here, and I can wax lyrical.

This is my first RF, and OH WOW!!!

I haven't had so much FUN running around with a camera. Partly the size - it's so little, this thing, you can literally put it in the pocket of your jeans, and walk out with it! Parly how quiet it is - it just makes a little "tic" noise (or if it's a really slow shutter speed, you'll here a second "tic" as the shutter closes). The RF patch took a tiny bit of getting used to, but I'm getting better at that, although in low light it gets quite difficult, with glasses on. All in all, though, this is a great little number. I put it in my denim jacket pocket, with a little bendy tripod in my other pocket, and the A11 flash in a breast pocket, and you'd never know it was there. So anyway, how do the pictures come out? Using Kodak HD 200 print film, here's some results from a morning walk...

Cheers,
Steve

st3ph3nm · 11-05-2004

And another:

st3ph3nm · 11-05-2004

Here's another again...

back alley · 11-05-2004

very nice.
wait till you see what it can do with some nice b&w film.

joe

st3ph3nm · 11-05-2004

Spring in Melbourne - especially in my suburb of Hawthorn - is just gorgeous. Perfect for testing colour rendition! Anyway, on a different note, I took this one a little closer to Kris's end of the world. Pity I didn't frame it higher, though...

st3ph3nm · 11-05-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by backalley photo
very nice.
wait till you see what it can do with some nice b&w film.

joe

Yep, I'm really looking forward to it. But I thought it'd be a good idea to test it's colour abilities first. I'm pretty darn happy with it, so far! (In case you hadn't noticed

)

Cheers,
Steve

DougK · 11-06-2004

Steve, I too just got an XA and I feel pretty much the way you do about it. I'm not sure I like the 35mm focal length as much as I like 40-50mm, but for the sharpness of the lens and the extra-compact size, I think I can live with it quite happily. There's definitely little hesitation in my mind that it will be the camera that goes to Florida with me in a couple of weeks - can't beat an entire camera outfit that fits in your pockets

Honu-Hugger · 11-06-2004

Congratulations on the new camera, Steve. Very nice pictures, too. In reference to your navatar you seem to have advanced rapidly on the "learning to focus" curve

D2

Roman · 11-06-2004

Congratulations!
I've got 2 XAs myself; BTW, you said that this is your first rangefinder, so let me tell you that on most other RFs focussing is much easier, since they have much contrastier RF patchs; that's one of the two weak points of the XA (the other: vignetting at f2.8 to 4).
What's also nice to know: this camera can do very long automatic exposures (somewher around 30 sec.) - use a 400 ASA film, put it on a little compact pocket tripod, and you're all set for city night photography...

Roman

l.mar · 11-06-2004

Gorgeous photographs!

October and November here in the upper Midwest (U.S.) looks a bit less temperate than where you are.

st3ph3nm · 11-07-2004

Thanks for the comments guys,

Roman, wrt long exposures, I'd heard about this, so I took a photo in a cinema during the advertisements! Came out surprisingly well exposed, (but very poorly composed!). More as a laugh than anything else.

Love this little thing, really!

Cheers,
Steve

taffer · 11-08-2004

That looks good Steve !! As others said, you must just try that cute little thingie with some B&W film, Neopan 400 ie, and go grab some night shots.

Congrats ! And enjoy !!!

Oscar

laurentvenet · 11-08-2004

Beautiful first try Steve.
Amazing result for such a little and cheap camera !

I was wondering what was the best : Olympus 35 rc (which looks better than XA) or Olympus XA ?

I have an Olympys XA and it's such a pretty little cam, I aslo bought an Olympus 35 Sp which has more features but the Olympus 35 rc looks more convenient to use with semi automatic mode, pocket size.

I don't understand why camera manufacturer don't make anymore little toys like this. Digital camera are everywhere now, no way to avoid it !
When I look at tech magazines, rangefinders don't have more than 3 pages on the whole magazine.