any oly xa users here?

[izo]

i post in genneral, cuz there's no olympus topic in forum.
anyway, i would like to hear some feedback about this litle cam. as far i can tell, it got nice 35/2.8 lens, manual aperture settings, not shure abou metering and autofocus (not in xa model i think, maybe in later models). rf is only in firrst xa model, so i'm only interested in that.
i tthink it is smallest cam with rf as i know, i could take this anywhere beacuse it size. it would be great duo with my yashica, oly for casual, lynx for lowlight, at least in my mind.

[jonasv]

I really like my XA... Very small and insuspicious rangefinder. No autofocus but rangefinder focussing. Only aperture-priority metering and exposing, no manual override except a +2 EV (+ 1,5 EV?) button.

I really like the rendering of the lens... Of course, out of focus highlights are squares because of the mere four diaphragm blades, which is less attractive. Other than that, there is quite a bit of sample variation as far as vignetting goes - some have a lot of it wide-open, some have nearly none. Mine's somewhere in between but I shoot b&w and I really don't mind the vignetting. Furthermore I love the softness of the out-of-focus renderings.

In this thread of the antwerp rff meet - http://www.rangefinderforum.com/foru...ad.php?t=18511 - there are quite a few photos taken by me with my XA, posts number #11, #12 and #13 in the thread.

I can really recommend the little XA, though I have to admit I've used it a lot less since acquiring a Bessa R and 35mm skopar. I still use the XA when I want a smaller and even more insuspicious camera than the bessa. I prefer the bessa for normal use because the XA's rangefinder patch is quite dim - not very hard to see, but the bessa is just nicer to use overall. Plus, it has completely manual settings.

[izo]

hmm, only 4 blades? i guess, it should be carefull with backgroud when shoting wide open, but for casual it will be just fine, i guess.
howb about shutter noise, is it loud?

[jonasv]

The shutter is very quiet.. quieter than any other camera I know, except maybe some TLR's - but the winding is just a tiny bit louder in the XA. Definitely much quieter than my Bessa, Kiev, Zorki or the Leicas I've heard.

[izo]

wow, cool pics, jvx, bokeh is just fine. were all pics at 2.8?
this litle oly looks more and more interesting.

[hiwatt]

Originally Posted by izo

hmm, only 4 blades? i guess, it should be carefull with backgroud when shoting wide open, but for casual it will be just fine, i guess.
howb about shutter noise, is it loud?

1) why would you care about blades when wide open? It's the only case where 3 or 36 blades will yield the same result...

2) shutter is only noisier than my thoughts (and I seldom have any....)

[izo]

yep, u're right on that. at f2.8 blades are "out of the hole", bu t sometimes it's fragments can be seen in lens, bu t that deosn't count. i usualy stop down just a litle bit, to get more boost from the lens, when i shoot portraits etc. that is my "wide open", hehe.
thnx.

[sleepyhead]

A great little camera - in 20 years of shooting it has been my longest lasting camera, and I never had any square highlights. The shutter sound IS A DEFINITE SHARP "CLICK" however.

[nightfly]

My whole photoblog was shot on an XA:
http://provoke.mediumstudios.com

I love it. The rangefinder patch is a bit dim but I find I tend to hyperfocus anyway and the short focus throw is great. It is super quiet. Quieter than either my M4-P or my Rolleicord, well maybe about the same as the Rollei. Winding is a little louder but still pretty quiet.

The lens is good. I've had some problems with flare as there is no hood or anything but since I use it for street photography, I'm not all that picky. For me it's the perfect take anywhere camera. It would be nice if it were a little thinner since you can throw it the pockets of anything but you get a bit of a bulge.

Now that I picked up a Leica, I think it will be seeing less use but I still plan on taking it with me when I go out at night (long shutter speed and aperture priority make for good night shooting). I'll probably send it in to have the seals replaced and a little once over which will cost the same as the camera. I haven't used the XA1 or two but loosing the rangefinder for zone focusing wouldn't be that aweful although I think the lens on the original XA is reputed to be better.

[Trius]

My avatar photo was taken with one of my XAs... I love it as a lot of other XA users here do. I found the shutter to be very quiet; a bit metallic, yes (it is after all a leaf shutter and most of the body is plastic, though very sturdy.

There is no manual exposure mode (it is aperture preferred automatic only), which is the only thing I change aside from wanting a faster lens. But a faster lens wasn't possible in such a small package, and I wouldn't sacrifice that.

[Robin Harrison]

The XA is to visual stealth shooting what the Konica Hexar AF is to sonic stealth shooting - you won't get noticed with this camerea. It's very easy to 'palm' in one hand, or let swing from a wrist. A great camera - tiny, hardy, quick. Mild annoyance - ISO rating only up to 800. I use the ISO dial for exposure compensation, and a greater range would be nice.

[izo]

yep, small size is big plus on this camera. it also looks cheap, hehe, so folks don't take u serius.
i'm looking something for street like that, i could pick some old fed, also have chance tu buy rollei 35s (optics probably better than in oly xa, but it's not that cheap). for first two options is no problem for me, since thy're on sell here on local web market, for oly i must take a peek on ebay. also not biggy, a lot of xa's there, end prices are low.
hm..

[anandi]

It's a great camera and worth using as an everyday shooter. I've got some of the sharpest pics that I have with this camera, it is stealthy and way more accurate than my scale focus stealth camera which is a Minox GL, which would be pretty similar to a Rollei 35S/T. As a bonus, I find the A11 flash works really well. I generally dislike flash photography.

[jmilkins]

I really like mine as well, used to have two and keep B& W neg in one and colour neg in the other, though I think the meter was good enough for slide. I also really like my XA4 very good 28 mm lens with .3 metre close focus ability.

Here's a good site you may not have seen http://www.diaxa.com/xa/xa.htm

[bmattock]

Ditto all the good points made about the XA. I think mine is great as well.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

[SteveM(PA)]

If your patch is dim...I put a little blob of orange hi-liter on the vf, makes it a little contrastier...I've heard of people using tiny squares of black tape as well, somewhere here there is a thread about it.

[DougK]

Maitani really nailed the design for the XA. I'm not sure we'll ever see another camera to compare with it.

To expand on a comment above, the meter is most definitely good enough for slide film; that's all I've ever shot in mine and every shot was well-exposed.

[MikeyGaGa]

I have many RFs(including Rollei 35S),but the Olympus XA4(no RF,but 28mm lens)is the camera that goes everywhere with me.

I like to photograph groups of people doing things-parting,dancing,working,etc);nice though a 40 or 50mm lens is (I loved the 58mm F1.4 that came with my first Nikon F-yeah,I'm that old!),ther is no substitute for a 28-the XA4 has it!

It is truly a pocket camera.

Mikey GaGa

[Trius]

Mikey: I'd LOVE to have an XA-4 ... envy meter is pegged out!

Dean: Amen. I've shot all kinds of film in mind ... B&W, colour neg, chrome ... Agfachrome, Ektachrome, Kodachrome. Even Kodachrome 25 came out properly exposed unless I had a brain fart. The nice thing about K25 in the XA is the ability to handhold at slower speeds than any other 35mm I own. An extra stop or more of speed was great. However, I have often put the XA on a tripod. With its long auto exposure capability, you could get some really great shots. Looked kinda funny though, especially if I mounted it on a Zone VI tripod!

[ChrisPlatt]

There are lots of small cameras out there, but IMO the Olympus XA
is the best compromise of cost, quality and features. Its small size
and weight allows it to live comfortably in your pocket at all times.

If you want to get the shot, you must have your camera with you...

Simplify!
-Chris-

[MikeyGaGa]

Originally Posted by Trius

Mikey: I'd LOVE to have an XA-4 ... envy meter is pegged out!

Dean: Amen. I've shot all kinds of film in mind ... B&W, colour neg, chrome ... Agfachrome, Ektachrome, Kodachrome. Even Kodachrome 25 came out properly exposed unless I had a brain fart. The nice thing about K25 in the XA is the ability to handhold at slower speeds than any other 35mm I own. An extra stop or more of speed was great. However, I have often put the XA on a tripod. With its long auto exposure capability, you could get some really great shots. Looked kinda funny though, especially if I mounted it on a Zone VI tripod!

Hope the envy meter doesnt go full till,but heres how I acquired the XA-4:

In 1993,i closed down my studio,and sold off most of my gear-I rented a table at a cmera show and sold about 75% of my large and med format stuff,and nearly all of my Nikons. I had bought the stuff cheap in the 70s and 80s,and walked away with enough cash to buy a new Saturn SL2,which my wife needed. I was returning to college full time(yeah,I was the worlds oldest freshman)and wasnt going to be using it anyway. A dealer wanted to give me cash to buy out the rest of the table,but hung tight on his cash offer. I glanced down at his stuff and saw the XA-4;at that time it wasnt a collectors item;I think he was asking $60 for it. So he threw it in and sealed the deal. i have been lucky with GAS satifaction,but my wife has a stack of losing lottery tickets,which if stretched end to end could trace Magellans voyage. Now PLEASE DONT HATE ME,BUT last weekend I stopped by the local thrift shop to look for old record albums and picked up a Nikon L35,a Rollei 35S and a Rolleiflex 3.5F for $24.00. The clerk warned me thought,that I might not be able to use them,because Walmart is selling film real cheap meaning that it will soon be discontinued,and Id better get a digital camera. Such a nice boy!

MikeyGaGa

[MikeyGaGa]

Originally Posted by jmilkins

I really like mine as well, used to have two and keep B& W neg in one and colour neg in the other, though I think the meter was good enough for slide. I also really like my XA4 very good 28 mm lens with .3 metre close focus ability.

Here's a good site you may not have seen http://www.diaxa.com/xa/xa.htm

Scoped your gallery...love your work

MikeyGaGa

[jmilkins]

Thanks Mikey- I'm still on a learning curve - never stop learning do we? - But encouragement is very welcome!

[Trius]

Mikey: Well thanks for THAT ... I think.

I had one of the XAs with me this weekend on a tour around Cayuga Lake, loaded with NPH 400. Alas, the film advance has failed. What happens is there is no stop at the next frame; i.e., you can keep advancing the film forever. What is it with a camera messing up after 23 or so years? I'll ship it off to John Hermanson for a spa treatment. The viewfinder is in need of a bath anyway. But the meter is bang on!

[rovnguy]

Think about the XA this way: they are 20 to 30 year old cameras that are going to outlast the first three generations of digital cameras... maybe even more. So just where is technology taking us? The scale of planned obsolescence is increasing and what are you really getting for your money? Just sharing some thoughts I've had recently.