Want to Buy Buy or trade for Olympic XA.

eli griggs · Jan 30, 2023

Looking at my small pocket cameras, mostly point and shoots, I'd like to argument the twin Olympic XA 2 units I have with a working XA and perhaps, later, the XA4 Macro.

I had an XA years back and I remember some nice b&w shots made at a UNCC Women's volleyball tournament, with the XA, Tri-x and some fiddling with b&w colour contrast filters, placement, over the lens-sensor.

These little cameras, including some other point and shoots, in a small bag, shaving kit, etc make, in my opinion a nice challanged to street photography and the lens on the XA is quite nice with Tri-X, 200 iso, box or pushed.

I'm no looking for anything of collector's value, other than a clean lens and proper function, do no high dollar offerings please.

bernard_L · Jan 30, 2023

Today marks the start of the great One-Dollar-Olympus-XA thread. See you two years from now.

Willy T · Jan 30, 2023

bernard_L said:
Today marks the start of the great One-Dollar-Olympus-XA thread. See you two years from now.

eli griggs · Jan 30, 2023

You're so funny, the both of you, I'm almost ashame to offer a bit more, but I guess that's the name of the game.

Hopefully, it'll no be two years, but I'm patient and would rather buy/trade here than eNay.

Godspeed to All, Keep Warm, Spring is no all that far off!

Eli

Cholentpot · Jan 30, 2023

You're also looking for one Eli? Half this place is looking for an XA. Almost nabbed one last week for $80 but someone cut in front of me. It's a dog eat dog world out there.

eli griggs · Jan 30, 2023

I had scant idea they once again, are so desired.

Looking at YouTube, it seems they are currently as sought after as much higher end cameras, which is almost funny.

I had hoped to find one in working order for a few rolls of colour film, but we'll see what develops over time.

Cholentpot · Jan 30, 2023

eli griggs said:
I had scant idea they once again, are so desired.

Looking at YouTube, it seems they are currently as sought after as much higher end cameras, which is almost funny.

I had hoped to find one in working order for a few rolls of colour film, but we'll see what develops over time.

Maybe a few packs of film.

Cinema · Jan 31, 2023

The patch on mine is like 90% gone but still can turn out some good pictures. I paid way too much for it i think like 120 with the flash in 2021 because it was described as ‘mint’. I can barely make out the patch and using orange gel on the rf window doesn’t help much. Anywho i just treat it like a scale focus camera now. But theres nothing in its size that compares really. If you have an oly rc i would trade for that.

A good idea would be finding a real crummy one and sending it to that guy who repairs them.

eli griggs · Jan 31, 2023

Thank you for your offer, but I have two points and shoot XA2's, which are basically zone focus as is, so I'll have to decline your camera, at least for now.

Please, tell us more about the guy whom rebuilds/repairs the XA.

Godspeed, stay warm and Cheers,
Eli

Cinema · Jan 31, 2023

I

eli griggs said:
Thank you for your offer, but I have two points and shoot XA2's, which are basically zone focus as is, so I'll have to decline your camera, at least for now.

Please, tell us more about the guy whom rebuilds/repairs the XA.

Godspeed, stay warm and Cheers,
Eli

9 - Body Repair Prices

Do you have an olympus rc you’d want to trade? I could just send you the xa to play around with if you like it, maybe i’m being picky.

4season · Jan 31, 2023

I got a complete but non-functional XA. I maybe damaged the integrated circuit when I reassembled it and got a couple of wires transposed, because now it just emits a steady beep when powered up, and not just during battery check. Cosmetics are 6/10, looks like a former owner habitually carried it around in a pants pocket, with some overall abrasion to the exterior.

eli griggs · Jan 31, 2023

The only, if I recall correctly, Olympus I have (of that style line and able to put my hands on) is an ECR, which I need to repair the battery contacts in.

The filter ring looks like it needs an adjustment and it's been several years since I've shot it.

I may have a second Olympus of the series, but if so,no have no idea where it is, for years now.

No, you're no picky, you want what you want and you never have to justify yourself and wants to anyone, except, perhaps, a spouse.

I'm sorry I do no have what you need; I hope you find it soon,
Eli

4season, please PM me when able.

Huss · Feb 1, 2023

I got given an XA2 today and a bunch of 220 film for free from a friend.

So if I was Eli, I'd hold out for a free one. It happens.

madNbad · Feb 1, 2023

Huss said:
I got given an XA2 today and a bunch of 220 film for free from a friend.

So if I was Eli, I'd hold out for a free one. It happens.

Nice XA2, no rangefinder to worry about!

Huss · Feb 1, 2023

madNbad said:
Nice XA2, no rangefinder to worry about!

I had one as a kid, and have no idea what happened to it. Never got a decent pic out of it, but back then that could have been me, or those garbage photolabs we used.
This one had leaky batteries in it - luckily no damage done! - and a half shot roll of Ektachrome 400. When I replaced the batteries at first nothing - the engine check light didn't come on, self timer didn't work, shutter didn't work. But after a few minutes not doing anything apart from looking perplexed, it all started working! At that point I hard to press really hard on the feather light shutter button for it to shoot, but that too seems to have improved just by dry firing it.
Not sure about the shutter timing - seems a bit long judging by firing it with the back open and pointing at a light source - but I have a roll of K400 in it to test.

And now, back to Eli's programming! Who's gonna give him an XA?

Cholentpot · Feb 1, 2023

Huss said:
I had one as a kid, and have no idea what happened to it. Never got a decent pic out of it, but back then that could have been me, or those garbage photolabs we used.
This one had leaky batteries in it - luckily no damage done! - and a half shot roll of Ektachrome 400. When I replaced the batteries at first nothing - the engine check light didn't come on, self timer didn't work, shutter didn't work. But after a few minutes not doing anything apart from looking perplexed, it all started working! At that point I hard to press really hard on the feather light shutter button for it to shoot, but that too seems to have improved just by dry firing it.
Not sure about the shutter timing - seems a bit long judging by firing it with the back open and pointing at a light source - but I have a roll of K400 in it to test.

And now, back to Eli's programming! Who's gonna give him an XA?

The XA2 is a different camera than the XA. It just has the same shell. I've found that one of my copies will under expose the film, I have to test out. Maybe I can push to 1000 in that one because the sensor is a little off. I've gotten good results with the XA2 but almost always when shooting at 800.

Huss · Feb 1, 2023

Cholentpot said:
The XA2 is a different camera than the XA. It just has the same shell. I've found that one of my copies will under expose the film, I have to test out. Maybe I can push to 1000 in that one because the sensor is a little off. I've gotten good results with the XA2 but almost always when shooting at 800.

I am shooting a test roll but I am wary of the shutter timing. For some exposures it just seems too long. This could be because of years of inactivity.
Also while the shutter button action is improving, some require a very hard press to release, others a softer touch to take a pic.

I also have the Ricoh FF1, which is a cross between the XA and XA2, being that it is a zone focus camera but with a 35mm 2.8 lens. I will right up a comparison once I get my XA2 pics back, because frankly the Ricoh is superb, but relatively unknown.

Now.. someone get Eli an XA!

cptrios · Feb 1, 2023

I picked up an XA recently (I may or may not be the dog to Cholentpot's...dog), and I'm not sure if I'm going to end up keeping it in favor of my various Minox 35s. I'd be happy to trade it for that $10 CL you got, Eli!

Really though, if I don't keep it, it'll be back in the Classifieds within the next month or so.

bernard_L · Feb 1, 2023

cptrios said:
I picked up an XA recently (I may or may not be the dog to Cholentpot's...dog), and I'm not sure if I'm going to end up keeping it in favor of my various Minox 35s.

Agree with that assessment. Viewfinder is not very good, framelines tend to disappear, and RF patch is not very comfortable. IMO that camera sits as a poor compromise somewhere between:

Super-light Minox 35 (190g IIRC). Was my main travel camera for maybe 15 years. The Minotar delivers sharp pics.
Auto-everything P&S Oly Mju I or II Yashica T3 or T4. Concentrate on the image, the camera takes charge of the rest.
Full control, no frills, yet high quality, as in Oly 35RC (yes, can be used as metered manual).

Cholentpot · Feb 1, 2023

cptrios said:
I picked up an XA recently (I may or may not be the dog to Cholentpot's...dog), and I'm not sure if I'm going to end up keeping it in favor of my various Minox 35s. I'd be happy to trade it for that $10 CL you got, Eli!

Really though, if I don't keep it, it'll be back in the Classifieds within the next month or so.

If it went for less than a Benj then it was probably that puppy I was after. If it pops up in the classified for a decent price I hope to get in the swings.

For what it's worth I've never missed focus due to the RF on my XA. And just for giggles I loaded up my XA2 today. I forgot how much fun it is to shoot with no thought. The results aren't always great but shooting with the XA2 is loads of fun.

Huss · Feb 1, 2023

bernard_L said:
Agree with that assessment. Viewfinder is not very good, framelines tend to disappear, and RF patch is not very comfortable. IMO that camera sits as a poor compromise somewhere between:

Super-light Minox 35 (190g IIRC). Was my main travel camera for maybe 15 years. The Minotar delivers sharp pics.

Auto-everything P&S Oly Mju I or II Yashica T3 or T4. Concentrate on the image, the camera takes charge of the rest.

Full control, no frills, yet high quality, as in Oly 35RC (yes, can be used as metered manual).

Shooting the test roll in my new to me XA2 - the wheel wind film advance is remarkably smooth and easy to use. The VF w frame lines is excellent. Very bright and clear, with really nice frame lines. Compared to my otherwise superb Ricoh FF1s (I have had three, gave one to a friend), the Ricoh's get a bit hazy from age.
The shutter button action is improving, and the shutter itself sounds more consistent. I guess I should have spent much more time dry firing it to get it back into shape!

Did not change the light seals yet. They seem ok, but I don't want to get into that until I know the camera is ok.

Hey Bernard - your Minox 35s actually work? Every single one I've come across has had a broken shutter. It's how I found out about the Ricohs - just like the Minox, except they work!

Huss · Feb 1, 2023

p.s. bump for Eli's XA request!

eli griggs · Feb 1, 2023

Huss said:
p.s. bump for Eli's XA request!

Cheers, Huss.

The XA I had long ago, was a good camera, and, besides ladies volleyball, I loved to use it at a favorite, downtown eatery, where you really could eat really good, home cooked meals for lunch only, at low prices, with a lunch-line service.

The owners ran it and had a garden that supplied much of the rare, but it was a little darkly lit, so I typically took shots with the camera on the table edge, with and without the timer.

I got pretty good shots and a fine meal during my lunch break from the Andera Studio.

Everyone came to that place, mayor, sports figures, film production folks, bankers and any one from the lowest levels of the social spectrum to the top heights and you never knew whom would show up.

The Ericksons, bought out that square block and more, for Panthers parking and, though it's been years back, I still remember the place fondly.

The XA is a lot of fun!

madNbad · Feb 2, 2023

eli griggs said:
Cheers, Huss.

The XA I had long ago, was a good camera, and, besides ladies volleyball, I loved to use it at a favorite, downtown eatery, where you really could eat really good, home cooked meals for lunch only, at low prices, with a lunch-line service.

The owners ran it and had a garden that supplied much of the rare, but it was a little darkly lit, so I typically took shots with the camera on the table edge, with and without the timer.

I got pretty good shots and a fine meal during my lunch break from the Andera Studio.

Everyone came to that place, mayor, sports figures, film production folks, bankers and any one from the lowest levels of the social spectrum to the top heights and you never knew whom would show up.

The Ericksons, bought out that square block and more, for Panthers parking and, though it's been years back, I still remember the place fondly.

The XA is a lot of fun!

The XA is a lot of fun! I bought my first one in the spring of 1980 and after riding around in the faring pocket of my BMW R75/6 for a year, until it rattled apart. The second one met a quicker death when it was in my jacket pocket and it rained the entire two hundred mile round trip from my house in SE Pennsylvania to Pocono Raceway, plus the time we were at the race. After that the next XA rode in the tank bag for a week and a half, two thousand mile trip to Quebec and back. That one survived the big move west and was sold or traded for a long forgotten camera. There were a couple more as accompaniments to the larger format cameras that were the passion at the time. The last one was traded when I moved to a Leica M6 TTL in the early 2000's. They are really fun little cameras and if I still had one, I would send it to you. Hang in there, you'll get one.

bernard_L · Feb 2, 2023

Huss said:
Hey Bernard - your Minox 35s actually work? Every single one I've come across has had a broken shutter. It's how I found out about the Ricohs - just like the Minox, except they work!

I have a number of minoxes bought at photo fairs or garage sales, and yes, they need work. Don't think the shutter is broken, (probably, hopefully) just needs cleaning and adjust. The door mechanism also may break if handled the wrong way.
Two XAs: one working (family heritage), the other (photo fair) not. Meager statistics.
Interesting information you give about the Ricoh.

Want to Buy Buy or trade for Olympic XA.

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