Olympus XA3 Focus lever stuck

Greyscale · 10-27-2010

I received an XA3 today. The meter and shutter seem to be working fine, but the zone focus lever is stuck at a two full

(using the smilies to represent the "people" icons, I think this is the default focus position, where the lever should return to with the cover closed). Does anyone know if it is possible to "unstick" this lever?

Greyscale · 10-27-2010

I was able to free the lever by removing the clamshell, and it is moving freely when the shell is open, and returns to the proper position when it is closed. However, I don't know if it is actually doing anything, shouldn't I see some movement of the lens when focusing?

Harlee · 10-27-2010

I would try a drop of WD-40 applied to the lever where it slides up and down, and then move the lever up and down since you now have it freed up. You won't see the lens move as you move the lever up and down since the focusing is internal. I had an XA2 in China with me and for some reason I moved the lever to the people image instead of the mtn. image on most of one roll of film, and you know what, they all came out just fine. But the day was sunny and warm and most likely the lens stopped down enough to keep the image in focus. I also have an XA3 now and like it very much. However, even though it sets the film speed automatically, I still manually set the film speed lever to let me know what ISO film I have in it. I presently have 2 XAs, a XA2 and a XA3. All great cameras, and I've been shooting them for the past 20 years or so in one form or another.

Greyscale · 10-27-2010

Thanks, Harlee. I thought that might be the case, but just wanted to be sure before I ran a roll through it.

Now if I can just figure out how to change the battery in the A1L flash. It seems that some disassembly will be required on that.

fidget · 10-27-2010

Hi Greyscale, looking at my XA3, I can see that the outer lens rotates with the lever as if the lever is directly fixed to it. I had to use a magnifying glass to see that it moves slightly in or out as the focus lever is moved.
I also (since I got it a couple of years ago) simply put some tape over the DX contacts in the film chamber, it then uses the ISO speed setting on the front.

David Hughes · 10-28-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greyscale

...Now if I can just figure out how to change the battery in the A1L flash. It seems that some disassembly will be required on that.

Hi,

I'm not sure what your flash is like but I've had one or two A11's and 9's over the years with a sad, antique battery left in it. The little cover comes off with a lot of patience and shoving and then you'll see, perhaps, a battery stuck there. I remove them with a wide wood screw. Use a self taping screw and put it into the battery and then pull the lot out gently. The battery may slide out easily but leaving the plastic wrap round cover inside. Then clean with a pipe cleaner etc. Far easier to type than to do, btw.

I'd be interested to know how you do it, if you manage to dis-assemble the flash unit. I've a couple of duds I look at and worry about from time to time. And the fear of a nasty shock from the condenser keeps me away, too.

Have fun, David

btgc · 10-28-2010

Greyscale, look here for some interesting bits about A1L. Scroll down to replay Brian Vierstra , Sep 03, 2001; 04:02 p.m.

Greyscale · 10-28-2010

Thanks for the link, btgc, sounds like a project for a rainy day. But first I need to determine if the focus is working correctly. I see no movement of the lens at all when focusing, and am still unsure if this is normal or not.

I tried to remove the stationary side of the clamshell to get a closer look at the focusing mechanism, but there is a hidden screw, or some other fastener on the focus lever side of the shell that I cannot seem to find.

Greyscale · 10-28-2010

I think that perhaps I will take it on faith that the focus is working, run a roll through it, and let the results be the litmus test.

Harlee · 10-28-2010

My A1L flash on my XA3 runs off the camera battery. It's best to use silver 1.5V batteries, if you can find them. My A1L flash provides good coverage what few times I've had to use it.

Greyscale · 10-28-2010

Harlee, the A1L actually has an internal 6-volt lithium battery hardwired inside the flash unit (trust me, I opened mine up and peeked inside). They were originally intended to be semi-disposable, designed to last for about 700 flashes before the user was expected to replace the entire unit (see the link btgc posted above). Yours has probably been used so little that there is still some life left in the original battery.

David Hughes · 10-29-2010

Interesting, I'd read A1L as A11 and confusion reigned. But I'll look for two screws under the little rubber/neoprene pad on the side; it might be interesting.

Dare I ask what the A1L looks like? I've never seen one.

Regards, David

Greyscale · 10-29-2010

David, here is a link to a photo of the A1L:

http://www.pacificrimcamera.com/images/120486.jpg

David Hughes · 10-30-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greyscale

David, here is a link to a photo of the A1L:

http://www.pacificrimcamera.com/images/120486.jpg

Many thanks; another of life's mysteries solved. Regards, David

fidget · 10-30-2010

The idea that the A1L flash runs off the button cells in the camera is wonderful. The A11 is slow with a good AA cell, goodness knows how long a charge will take on the A1L. Seems a bit unlikely?

A quick search on google for Olympus A1L brings up all sorts of links, as you can guess. One of them is camerapedia.org, here
http://www.camerapedia.org/wiki/Olympus_XA

This goes with the internal and non-user replaceable lithium cell. Makes more sense too, don't you think?

pvdhaar · 11-01-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greyscale

I was able to free the lever by removing the clamshell, and it is moving freely when the shell is open, and returns to the proper position when it is closed. However, I don't know if it is actually doing anything, shouldn't I see some movement of the lens when focusing?

The XA-3 has front cell focusing. In other words, it focuses by changing the relation of the front lens element to the other three elements. The amount that the front element moves is really minute. It's about 1mm from nearest to furthest. It's completely invisible when you look at the camera from the front. The only way to actually see it move, is to peek over the camera from the top. You'll notice that it's not the lens barrel itself that moves, but that the front glass element peeps more/less out of the barrel (by a mm).

Greyscale · 11-04-2010

Unfortunately, there is no movement at all of the front element at all on my example. Fortunately, I think that I have discovered the "hidden" fastener that holds the stationary part of the clamshell in place, there is a small tab directly in front of the strap lug that looks like it needs to be pushed in in order to release the shell, so I should be able to take a peek at the mechanism to see if I can figure out where it is uncoupled. Unfortunately, I forgot and left the XA3 at work, so my disassembly will have to wait another day.

But I did successfully switch the back from a dead Stylus onto one that I have that had a broken latch, so at least I managed to resuscitate one Olympus today.

Harlee · 11-04-2010

That's interesting re: A1L Flash. Since I never had mine apart my obvious conclusion was that it ran off of the camera battery, but that somehow didn't make sense. All I know was that it fired up very quickly and the coverage is great. Thanks for the info.

Greyscale · 11-05-2010

I fixed the focus on my XA3. I ended up having to pry the stationary side of the clamshell off, there is a hidden screw underneath it that I could see no way of accessing.

There is a small metal post on the side of the lens opposite the focus lever that needs to fit into a notch in the focus lever mechanism which had become uncoupled. Once I could see how everything was connected, it proved to be an easy fix. Then a little dab of JB Weld in the screw hole that I stripped out, snapped the clamshell back on, and she's good to go.

David Hughes · 11-06-2010

Wonderful, many thanks for the info.

Regards, David

Greyscale · 11-07-2010

I took my little XA3 out for some fresh air and exercise this morning. What a fun little camera it is.

Now I really, really, really want an XA. These little cameras are worse than baked beans. I am feeling a little GASsy right now.

ChrisPlatt · 11-07-2010

Get an XA, but keep the XA3...

Chris

ully · 07-10-2012

I thought the xa3 is zone focus.
The lever is for setting speed at least thats what i thought.

eurekaiv · 07-10-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greyscale

I took my little XA3 out for some fresh air and exercise this morning. What a fun little camera it is.

Now I really, really, really want an XA. These little cameras are worse than baked beans. I am feeling a little GASsy right now.

If it helps to quench your gas any... I personally prefer the scale focus XAs to the RF XA. The RF lever is very tricky to get your finger to and focus quickly. The RF patch is also not the most glorious of which to focus with. Obviously one could just scale focus it and have aperture priority but the lever gets moved by accident too easily—its not dampened or stiff enough for that sorta use. Of course the AE exposure and picture quality is as good as any XA so it's definitely a YMMV thing.

David Hughes · 07-11-2012

Hi,

While we're on the subject; does anyone know what the A12 flash is like? I read about them a couple of days ago and it said the A16 had replaced it but...

Regards, David