embarrassing question for Olympus XA 2

[David Lyga]

On the Olympus XA 2 there is provision for its A11 flash to be screwed into the body (on the side). Then, to activate the flash mode, one slides the lever under the lens to the left. The plastic button on the top of the flash pops out, signifying the the flash's capacitator is loading and getting ready. Then the orange light in that button goes on. All is ready.

Here is what confuses me: the meter for the camera is not then deactivated, meaning that it sets the camera's exposure as if there were no flash going off. RESULT? In rooms where there is marginal lighting, the shutter speed can be as slow as half a second (ghosting?) ... YET the flash always DOES fire (but towards the END of the shutter duration).

Shouldn't the shutter speed be automatically 'set' to the fastest speed, since the flash (at least, theoretically) does all the lighting here and its duration is well under the fastest shutter speed? Ideally, shouldn't the shutter be 'told' that flash is now 'taking over'? I am truly stumpted with this one, as I never even thought that the metering would NOT be deactivated.

And, also, how is the aperture size affected within the flash mode: by the distance set by the manual focus (to conform with guide number theory) or by the film speed set on both the camera and the flash?

If this problem sounds very strange to someone who is very familiar with this camers, pehaps my camera is (interestingly) defective. - David Lyga

 

[Rick A]

http://www.cameramanuals.org/olympus_pdf/olympus_xa2.pdf

http://www.cameramanuals.org/flashes_meters/olympus_a11.pdf

If I remember correctly, when the camera is switched to flash it should set proper shutter speed. I had an XA though, not an XA2.

 

[David Lyga]

Thank you Rick, but I have alreasy perused the Butkus stuff and there is no mention of this factor. Even if my camera is defective (paid $5 with flash) it is still usable for non flash functions. But I would be interested in HOW that matter is internally dealt with. - David Lyga

 

[Rick A]

Like I stated David, I thought the shutter was automatically set when the flash is activated. If it isn't working then you have "fill flash"

 

[David Lyga]

One thing in re-reading the manual that has piqued my interest is this: if says to 'SET' the camera's lever to 'flash'. When I slide it to the left, the flash button pops up but the LEVER under the lens springs right back. I wonder if that lever is SUPPOSED to remain to the left? - David Lyga

 

[OptiKen]

One thing in re-reading the manual that has piqued my interest is this: if says to 'SET' the camera's lever to 'flash'. When I slide it to the left, the flash button pops up but the LEVER under the lens springs right back. I wonder if that lever is SUPPOSED to remain to the left? - David Lyga

On my XA2, the lever does not spring back like you described and it definitely adjusts the shutter speed when I turn on the flash. Last night I grabbed my XA2 for a couple of shots of the cat playing in the house. I took one shot without the flash and the shutter took approx. 1/2 sec or longer. I turned on the flash and the shutter was as fast as you would expect it to be....fast.

 

[Truzi]

Can you hold the lever in place to determine if it makes a difference?

 

[AgX]

All cameras of tbat era that took a proprietary flash (I know of) have an actuator that sets the shutter speed when the flash is attached.

Actually several compact cameras with a hot shoe have such actuator too.

 

[David Lyga]

On my XA2, the lever does not spring back like you described and it definitely adjusts the shutter speed when I turn on the flash. Last night I grabbed my XA2 for a couple of shots of the cat playing in the house. I took one shot without the flash and the shutter took approx. 1/2 sec or longer. I turned on the flash and the shutter was as fast as you would expect it to be....fast.

Thank you, Ken, this is what I was afraid of. I cannot move the lever ALL the way to the left. There is much resistance. Something must be broken inside the body. I can move it enough to force the flash button to pop out, but, because that lever will NOT stay to the left, I cannot use the flash effectively because the internal metering is NOT shut off.

Truzi: I cannot even HOLD that lever to the left to check this disengagement. Thank you all. - David Lyga

 

[Rick A]

David, do you think there may be some debris impeding the lever? Possible build up of dirt or whatever in the slot the lever rides in.

 

[trythis]

problem could be in the flash unit.

 

[David Lyga]

No, RIck, I looked at it all with a magnifying glass. There is an internal restriction and, given the damn delicacy of this camera (and small size) I am not going to venture inward to see what is wrong. For $5, I am happy as is.

trythis: NO, again, the flash is fine: its tiny 'button' to let the top button pop out is just fine. It, again, is a problem internal ... within the body. - David Lyga