First impressions: Olympus XA

[jasonjoo]

I recently purchased 2 Olympus XA's on eBay. I chose the XA because it seemed to be a favorite amongst APUG'ers and especially for it's small size!

Yesterday, I had a chance to use one of the XA's and ran a roll of film through it. I must say, it's quite nice having a nice, pocket-sized camera! However, I found the rangefinder really difficult to use. It's hard enough to see the shutter speed indicator on the side let alone the mirror image in the center of the viewfinder.

By hard, I mean VERY difficult! It seems like the inside of the viewfinder is a hologram and is only visible at certain viewing angles/distances. It could very well be the fact that I wear glasses, but still, it's a hassle trying to focus on anything!

Either way, it's a fun little camera and the images from it are great (when in focus at least).

I'd recommend it to anyone that needs a pocketable point and shoot camera!

Thanks for suggesting to me APUG. Can't wait to get some more film exposed and developed

[JohnArs]

Hi my camera friend!
Just show you a picture done with my Olympus XA!
http://www.apug.org/gallery/showphot...500&ppuser=189

Have fun Armin Seeholzer

[celerystalksme]

I also have two XA's i got off of ebay. One has a fantastic viewfinder...bright, clear, just very nice. The other one...not so good...it seems it can only be used in good light.

I'm not sure if the viewfinder can be brightene up by a camera repair person...but I'm considering looking in to it.

[JCT]

The shutter speed indicator is nearly impossible to see with glasses on with the XA. I thought I was going crazy (or blind) until I tried looking through the viewfinder without my specs.

Your rangefinder "patch" is probably dim -- one way to improve the contrast is to place a small square of gaffer's tape in the middle as shown here: http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-165.html

I've done this with both my Retina IIc and my XA and it does help -- it *is* important, as you noticed, to look straight through the viewfinder.

They are really nice cameras-- be sure that you don't have any light leaks, those seals can turn to an evil glue (but are easily repaired). Since you have two will you load one with color and the other with B&W?

Have fun,

JT

[jasonjoo]

Thanks for sharing the image John! It sure is a fun camera

celerystalksme, one of my viewfinders seems very dim as well (at least compared to the other). If the repairs are cheap, I would look into it as well, but I don't think i could part with these guys any time soon!

JT, thanks for the info! I will have to pick up some gaffers tape soon and try that out. I don't have batteries for my second XA, but once I pick up one, I will be sure to check it out. I should have swapped batteries before loading a new roll of film, but my excitement impaired my judgement! The first XA does not seem to have any light leaks.

Now to buy some film for my new-to-me Polaroid 440 land camera!