My new/old Olympus XA

Mainecoonmaniac · May 11, 2015

Over the weekend, I found an Olympus XA for only 50 cents. At first glance, the meter seems to be 3 stops over in the viewfinder. After some research, there are 2 meters in the camera. One for the shutter and one for the viewfinder. I shot and processed a roll of Arista EDU 100 to test the exposure and the accuracy of the focus of the range finder. Both the exposure and the focus is fine on that camera. Should I be really worry over the inaccuracy of the meter in the viewfinder that has no bearing on the exposure? Or shall I try to fix it? Looking at the neg, the lens is pretty sharp. I love the compact size and the focal length of the camera too.

Colin Corneau · May 11, 2015

It takes pictures well, and you got it for 50 cents.

I'd say this is a classic "low risk" situation.

You could just go with it, and ignore the erroneous reading, or you could risk 50 cents and try your hand at fixing it...me, I'd just go with a camera that works and look at the viewfinder reading as a charming quirk.

Mainecoonmaniac · May 11, 2015

You are right sir

Colin Corneau said:
It takes pictures well, and you got it for 50 cents.

I'd say this is a classic "low risk" situation.

You could just go with it, and ignore the erroneous reading, or you could risk 50 cents and try your hand at fixing it...me, I'd just go with a camera that works and look at the viewfinder reading as a charming quirk.

You have the right perspective. I get too obsessive sometimes. I could end up ruining the camera by trying to "fix" it. I would end up like Mr. Bean.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWqVoaYxgRs

Mustafa Umut Sarac · May 11, 2015

Mainecoonmaniac said:
You have the right perspective. I get too obsessive sometimes. I could end up ruining the camera by trying to "fix" it. I would end up like Mr. Bean.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWqVoaYxgRs

+1

Richard S. (rich815) · May 11, 2015

Mainecoonmaniac said:
Both the exposure and the focus is fine on that camera. /QUOTE]

You're done. Just shoot! After all it is a point and shoot for the most part. Use your more advanced cameras for when or if your ever need to know the exact exposure parameters before each shot. Lucky you at 50 cents!!!

Chan Tran · May 11, 2015

Mainecoonmaniac said:
Over the weekend, I found an Olympus XA for only 50 cents. At first glance, the meter seems to be 3 stops over in the viewfinder. After some research, there are 2 meters in the camera. One for the shutter and one for the viewfinder. I shot and processed a roll of Arista EDU 100 to test the exposure and the accuracy of the focus of the range finder. Both the exposure and the focus is fine on that camera. Should I be really worry over the inaccuracy of the meter in the viewfinder that has no bearing on the exposure? Or shall I try to fix it? Looking at the neg, the lens is pretty sharp. I love the compact size and the focal length of the camera too.

Mine is the same way and I was looking for ways to fix it but it seems too difficult so I gave up. Mine is only 1 stop off so it's not too bad.

Mainecoonmaniac · May 11, 2015

I think that's the best solution

Chan Tran said:
Mine is the same way and I was looking for ways to fix it but it seems too difficult so I gave up. Mine is only 1 stop off so it's not too bad.

As long as it exposes the film properly. I think I need to know too much. I should get into a Zen moment and just shoot and forget about the need to know the shutter speed.

Chan Tran · May 11, 2015

Mainecoonmaniac said:
As long as it exposes the film properly. I think I need to know too much. I should get into a Zen moment and just shoot and forget about the need to know the shutter speed.

Yeah just got an XA2 recently for $1 and found out that it doesn't have the shutter speed indicator in viewfinder so no problem there.

darinwc · May 11, 2015

The xa has two meters. If I remember correctly. One for the viewfinder and one for the exposure. So if the viewfinder doesn't work or is wrong, you can still get perfect exposures.

nsurit · May 11, 2015

Would you be interested in doubling your money? If so, where do I send the dollar? Keep the camera. I have 16 X 20 hanging about 15 feet fro where I sit made with an XA hand held. Nice little camera. zuiko.com still repairs the original XA, but not the later models of the XA. Bill Barber

Theo Sulphate · May 11, 2015

I didn't realize the XA has two meters. What is the reason that the meter which decides the shutter speed isn't also being used to show the shutter speed in the viewfinder?

Chan Tran · May 12, 2015

Theo Sulphate said:
I didn't realize the XA has two meters. What is the reason that the meter which decides the shutter speed isn't also being used to show the shutter speed in the viewfinder?

I thought I knew the reason but I forgot and can't think of it now. It's kind of Olympus thing. The OM-2 also has 2 meters one for indication and one for actual exposure in automatic.

wblynch · May 12, 2015

Well the OM-2 has a manual exposure option so its viewfinder meter is very important..

Chan Tran · May 12, 2015

wblynch said:
Well the OM-2 has a manual exposure option so its viewfinder meter is very important..

Checking the service manual the technique that Olympus used to control shutter speed is charging a capacitor until it's full. The intensity of light striking the photocell controls the charge current. Other manufacturers like Nikon would hold the voltage from the photocell and use it to control the shutter timing.

thuggins · May 12, 2015

Chan Tran said:
I thought I knew the reason but I forgot and can't think of it now. It's kind of Olympus thing. The OM-2 also has 2 meters one for indication and one for actual exposure in automatic.

The OM-2's metering is completely different from the XA. The 2 (and the 4) use Olympus' innovative Off The Film metering. This sets the shutter speed based on the actual amount of light striking the film.

MattKing · May 12, 2015

Theo Sulphate said:
I didn't realize the XA has two meters. What is the reason that the meter which decides the shutter speed isn't also being used to show the shutter speed in the viewfinder?

Most likely, because to integrate the two functions would require a bigger camera.

The system used to vary the ISO is intriguing - the cell has a fixed sensitivity, and moving the ISO dial varies the size of the aperture in front of it.

My new/old Olympus XA

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