nikon_sam
Shooter of Film...
I still have the same (first) roll of film in it...It goes with me when I cycle...I know it's there but it's very rare when I use it...I really want to see the results...
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oktyone
Member
I like it, it's kind of like a more conveniently smaller Trip 35 version, but maybe not as pretty or classy.
kuzano
Mentor
Have part of an XA4.....
Have part of an XA4.....
I had an XA4 but I never had the most important part. Well, I now have that part but not an XA4. I have the camera cord with the little red XA button on it. It doubles as a cord to measure the distance to subject optimal focus. Only time I've ever seen this cord, and I've had XA, XA1, XA2 and XA4.
Love the whole line. Never bothered with the XA3 as is only offered DX coding of the film canister and one stop faster ASA.
Have part of an XA4.....
I had an XA4 but I never had the most important part. Well, I now have that part but not an XA4. I have the camera cord with the little red XA button on it. It doubles as a cord to measure the distance to subject optimal focus. Only time I've ever seen this cord, and I've had XA, XA1, XA2 and XA4.
Love the whole line. Never bothered with the XA3 as is only offered DX coding of the film canister and one stop faster ASA.
muf
Well-known
I've got an XA and in a recent trip to Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire it outperformed my Konica Hexar AF. Sun was quite low and lots of shadow with plenty of bright backdrops. The XA handled it much better than the Hexar. Surprisingly... Gotta love the XA.
BradM
Established
I just had the XA1's 400ASA film developed and I am very impressed.
I'll scan and post some pictures soon - but it worked really well. Mostly very sharp pictures, only one minor failure where it was fairly dim and it came out under exposed rather than have the red dot appear. But as a general P&S camera - I'll be carrying this one around for quick 'no thought' shots.
I'll scan and post some pictures soon - but it worked really well. Mostly very sharp pictures, only one minor failure where it was fairly dim and it came out under exposed rather than have the red dot appear. But as a general P&S camera - I'll be carrying this one around for quick 'no thought' shots.
oftheherd
Mentor
Never had the XA1. I have two XAs though. One I bought off ebay, and the other a friend gave me. It is missing the sliding cover. They do make great little P&S cameras. Quite easy to carry and good photo takers as well.
dave lackey
Mentor
Have an XA2. Spends most of the time either in the handlebar bag on the bike or in my pocket with the grandkids. Supeb snapshooter!
When our summer babysitting (raising?) days are done, I hope to spend some time with it and see what this camera can really do. Until then, I will work on my controlling the little bugger without camera shake as the focus can be all over the place sometimes.
Here are some absolutely nice images that illustrate what can be done with the XA.
http://fiveprime.org/flickr_hvmnd.c...ingness&textinput=olympus,xa&search_type=Tags
When our summer babysitting (raising?) days are done, I hope to spend some time with it and see what this camera can really do. Until then, I will work on my controlling the little bugger without camera shake as the focus can be all over the place sometimes.
Here are some absolutely nice images that illustrate what can be done with the XA.
http://fiveprime.org/flickr_hvmnd.c...ingness&textinput=olympus,xa&search_type=Tags
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BradM
Established
I'm looking at getting an XA2 - some have popped up locally on ePay Australia - and if the price is right....
melangeatrois
Member
I picked up an XA1 on eBay a couple of months ago. As i'm on holiday for the next 7 days, I've made it a mission to put a roll of film in this baby and see what it's got. i've got others from the XA series (XA, XA2 and XA4) but this one is the most curious one to me. While it does not have the "control" factors of other XA models, I think it's good to have a model that is point-and-shoot in its most literal sense. Not requiring a battery is a very smart function. Plus I always root for the underdog, which seems to be the status of the XA1 in the XA lineup.
T
tedwhite
Guest
I've had my XA for quite some time. It's my second one. When the XA first came out (was it in the late 70's) I bought one, mainly because I was using Spotmatics and really liked Pentax cameras, but none were pocketable. I cannot remember what happened to that one, but I've been carrying my current XA in a motorcycle tank bag. Despite the bouncing around (moreso than in a car) it continues to work fine. Recently I found a belt-clip cell phone holster big enough for the XA and now carry it most of the time. I usually just zone focus with it.
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pinkarmy
Well-known
(i suspect some people here has mistaken XA for XA1...)
anyway,
i bought a minox GT when i was in school, i am proud of this little gem.
it is small AND "it can take pictures!" which amused my schoolmates,
but then i found another schoolmate have this Olympus XA,
which is also small and "it can take pictures too!" AND--it has rangefinder!!!
i also have some other unfortunate events regarding Olympus brands (like my my first girlfriend took my Pen EE2, my second took my Ecru...)
so, all these years i was kind of having a Love/Hate complex for the Olympus camera, esp. the XA series.
i finally overcome the complex and start collecting these tiny Olympus.
i got a XA2 first, then the rangefinder XA,
i also wanted a XA4 (for the marco) but it is over-priced (to me)
so i got the underdog XA1 instead recently.
i like XA1 more than XA2 because i always like the Pen EE2-styled "circle eyes".
some said XA1 is a "Trip 35 in a shell",
i would add that it is like a "full-frame version of a Pen EF"
the XA1 has the famous Olympus red flag which prevent shooting in low light.
mine cmoe with a working red flag and A9M flash,
what amused (puzzled) me is that the flash fires alright in daytime
but NOT in the night (the red flag also show up), which is ridiculous
does it has some tricky way to activate it i am not aware of?
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nasdak
Established
i own a XA, wonderfull little camera with a wonderfull "electronic" trigger feeling.
i don't use it often though since i have 2 M's...
i don't use it often though since i have 2 M's...
T
tedwhite
Guest
Frankly, I didn't know there was such a camera a an XA1. I had never seen one until you posted the picture, so obviously I'm of no help.
jamesj
Well-known
I had one but it didnt work. I used it for spare parts.
pinkarmy
Well-known
Noll
Well-known
I think some people above have the XA and XA1 confused... I put 2 rolls of 100 speed print film through mine and was mostly disappointed. Not because of the lens being un-sharp (the in-focus frames were good, but don't expect miracles), but mainly for the fact that it has a slower default shutter speed and I couldn't hold the dang thing steady enough at 1/40th.
Also, with dim light you are not going to get focused shots at infinity at f4 and 1/40th. Just a blurry shillouette. I ought to try it again with 400 speed film and hope the higher shutter speed is triggered more often.
Also, with dim light you are not going to get focused shots at infinity at f4 and 1/40th. Just a blurry shillouette. I ought to try it again with 400 speed film and hope the higher shutter speed is triggered more often.
pinkarmy
Well-known
.... it has a slower default shutter speed and I couldn't hold the dang thing steady enough at 1/40th.
Also, with dim light you are not going to get focused shots at infinity at f4 and 1/40th. Just a blurry shillouette. I ought to try it again with 400 speed film and hope the higher shutter speed is triggered more often.
this picture is good enough for a little point & shoot!
i think the XA1 is, like those Pen-EE-with-red-flags, mainly a "daytime" camera, not for serious photography.
T
tedwhite
Guest
I think he should get an XA. It's much more user friendly: You can focus it and you can adjust the f stops. Makes it much more versatile.
BradM
Established
I've put two rolls through my XA1, and I've been mostly happy. A sharp lens for a point and shoot, light in weight, and the case protects the camera lens well.
The down sides are there is only a choice of ASA 100 or 400, and my camera at least, allows me to shoot in too low a light. The red flag does come on at very low light, but on both rolls, the camera has allowed me to take shots it should have said no to.
The shots in good to reasonable light have been great however.
Sure, it's not in the league of the others in the XA range in terms of it's versatility, but it's a fun camera that's good for putting a roll through every now and then.
Oh, and it's not a Trip 35 in a clamshell either. I've seen the webpage where someone has claimed that. It probably shares quite a lot of the mechanics, like the shutter release, the selenium cell/galvanometer system for selecting speed and aperture, but the Trip 35 is a bit more complex, having many more film speed positions from 25-400, a manual mode (designed for flash, but can be used for a forced shot) and is a zone focus system not a fixed focus.
The down sides are there is only a choice of ASA 100 or 400, and my camera at least, allows me to shoot in too low a light. The red flag does come on at very low light, but on both rolls, the camera has allowed me to take shots it should have said no to.
The shots in good to reasonable light have been great however.
Sure, it's not in the league of the others in the XA range in terms of it's versatility, but it's a fun camera that's good for putting a roll through every now and then.
Oh, and it's not a Trip 35 in a clamshell either. I've seen the webpage where someone has claimed that. It probably shares quite a lot of the mechanics, like the shutter release, the selenium cell/galvanometer system for selecting speed and aperture, but the Trip 35 is a bit more complex, having many more film speed positions from 25-400, a manual mode (designed for flash, but can be used for a forced shot) and is a zone focus system not a fixed focus.
David Hughes
David Hughes
Hi,
What did I start? Still it's nice to know I'm not alone. I think "fun" is the word for them and really no worries at all. Unlike the pure XA which I'm always scared of damaging/dropping.
Regards, David
What did I start? Still it's nice to know I'm not alone. I think "fun" is the word for them and really no worries at all. Unlike the pure XA which I'm always scared of damaging/dropping.
Regards, David