Home   Donate   New   Search   Gallery   How-To   Books   Links   Workshops   About   Contact

Olympus XA and XA2
© 2006 KenRockwell.com

Please help KenRockwell..com

Olympus XA

Olympus XA (1979 - )

Olympus XA2

Olympus XA2 (1980 - )

You can get these at these direct links to it at eBay and Adorama. It helps me keep reviewing this older stuff when you get yours from these links, thanks! Ken.

 

Introduction

adorama

Ritz Camera

I personally buy from Adorama, Amazon, Ritz, B&H, Calumet and J&R. I can't vouch for ads below.

 

These came out in the 1980s. First there was the XA, complete with manual rangefinder focus, and then the less expensive XA2.

Much less common are the XA1, XA3 and XA4. The XA3 is an XA2 with DX reading for film speed. The XA4 has a wider 28mm lens. A really cheap version was called the XA1 - avoid it for photography since the other models aren't much more expensive.

I bought these and used them extensively in the 1990s. I carried one on my waist everywhere I went. I put a piece of black electrical tape over the Olympus logo for added concealment.

I sold them in August, 2006, and had no idea that I had collected six of them! I also had a seventh XA I sold a few months before. I loved them so much I wanted to be sure I always had one if parts got tight. Luckily all seven always worked perfectly.

These are a masterpiece of optical and industrial design. They make great photos, too.

 

Performance

Overall

Brilliant: Close the clamshell and all optics are protected. Open the clamshell and it's ready to shoot instantly.

Not only are the images wonderful, but the design and styling of these cameras are a joy to behold.

Metering

Great! I always shot Fuji Velvia 50 slide film in them.

I preferred the XA2. It's meter was more consistent and had a clearer center weighted pattern. I preferred the full program automation. The XA's meter had a weird sensitivity pattern which extended beyond the image.

The meters are traditional and non-evaluative. You must use use the Zone System and compensate for light and dark subjects. I set the ISO lower to increase exposure and higher to reduce it.

The XA adds a +1.5 stop backlight position.

Lens

Both lenses are sharp. The XA has a very complex lens design allowing it to fit in the camera without needing to retract or extend, and as a result of this design has some barrel distortion and light falloff at all apertures.

I prefer the XA2 again, which also has some light falloff.

Film Advance

Manual thumb wheel, like a disposable!

Manual rewind with a release button and crank.

Power

The power switch is the sliding clamshell case.

I would get years, typically 10, from a set of two S76 cells. The camera turns off completely when shut.

 

Specifications

Olympus XA

Lens: 35mm f/2.8 internally focused lens. Does not retract: magic optical design makes it shorter than it's own focal length! It's ready to shoot the instant you slid it open.

Exposure: Aperture preferred automation.

ISO: 25 to 800.

Shutter: Automatic electronic analog, 1/500 - 10 seconds.

Aperture: two-bladed manual, f/2.8 - f/22.

Focus: Rangefinder.

Power: Two S76 cells.

Colors: Black; also red, silver or blue.

Weight: 7.800 oz (221.15g) with batteries (measured).

Size: 2.567" x 4.123" x 1.572" HWD (measured).

 

Olympus XA2

Lens: 35mm f/3.5, four element Tessar variant, front element focus.

Focus: three zone manual. Resets to mid-distance when clamshell is closed.

Metering: Center weighted, program auto.

ISO: 25 to 800.

Shutter: 1/500 - 2 seconds. Aperture integrated with the two shutter blades.

Power: 2 S76 cells.

Size: 2.598" x 4.102" x 1.605" HWD (measured).

Weight: 7.480 oz., (212.1g) with two S76 cells (measured).

 

Olympus XA4 (1985)

The XA4 was an XA2 with a 28mm lens that scale-focuses as close as 1 foot (0.3m). The wrist strap was this same length so you could tape-off your shots.

Closing the cover also reset the scale focus back to 10 feet (3m).

 

Olympus A11 Flash

GN: 33,' 10m , ASA 100 (rated)

Power: One AA cell, alkaline or Ni-Cd . Rated 150 shots, alkaline.

Recycle: 7 seconds.

Exposure Settings: ISO 100, IS0 400 and Manual full-power.

Exposure Technology: On-flash accumulation sensor, non-thyristor.

Size: 2.4 x 1.4 x 1.3" (60 x 36 x 33mm) HWD, specified.

Weight: 2.275 oz. (64.55g) (without AA cell, measured).

 

Recommendations

These are my favorite take-everywhere film cameras, especially the less expensive XA2.

 

More Information: Olympus.

 

PLUG

I support my growing family through this website.

If you find this as helpful as a book you might have had to buy or a workshop you may have had to take, feel free to help me continue helping everyone.

If you've gotten your gear through one of my links or helped otherwise, you're family. It's great people like you who allow me to keep adding to this site full-time. Thanks!

If you haven't helped yet, please do, and consider helping me with a gift of $5.00.

The biggest help is to use these links to Adorama, Amazon, B&H, Calumet, Ritz and J&R when you get your goodies. It costs you nothing and is a huge help. These places have the best prices and service, which is why I've used them since before this website existed. I recommend them all personally.

Thanks for reading!

Ken

Home   Donate   New   Search   Gallery   How-To   Books   Links   Workshops   About   Contact