Free Free: Olympus XA with A16 flash in rough shape

[mgb74]

This camera is in rough shape and does not appear to be working. I think it spent it's life on Martha's Vineyard, so a lot of exposure to salt air and the resulting corrosion. Plus, probably, battery corrosion in the flash. "Features" include:

• Doesn't fire, even with new batteries (though alkalines)
• Clamshell cover slides, but roughly
• Back doesn't open
  
• Flash doesn't screw off from camera
• Flash battery door won't slide off

But, the glass looks good, the aperture slide works, focus works but is stiff. And it's free (except for shipping). Ships from 56468 (US).

 

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[mgb74]

Taken

 

[M-88]

It has finally reached my country today. I disassembled and cleaned it, shutter button especially. Put alkalines in. Everything worked fine, but after 20-25 test fires shutter became sporadic. I even tried to shorten the circuit directly, but most of the time shutter won't trip anyway.

At least now I know why everyone's going crazy over XA - it's incredibly compact and well thought. Indeed, Maitani was a genius.

 

[mgb74]

I've never opened one up, but yes, you can appreciate the design. It was never that compact with the flash, but without the flash it was/is tiny. Rumor had it that his design criteria was a cigarette pack.

Too bad you can't get it working reliably (so far). Hopefully you found the education worth the cost of postage.

 

[M-88]

Well, I passed 30 this year and even I function intermittently, what can be said about electronic thing that's older than me and definitely wouldn't be made to last this long. Either way, it's a nice educational piece for me, thank you.