Olympus XA - Understanding if focus works

Ricardo Miranda · Jun 30, 2016

Chan Tran said:
Since we all agree that the indicator in the viewfinder is totally independent then there must be 2 sensors.

I didn't know that and that's why I asked where the 2 cells are.

Mainecoonmaniac · Jun 30, 2016

Richard S. (rich815) said:
Wow! Love those.

Thank you Richard. The funny thing is with my Olympus XA, I shoot much more carelessly because it's such a simple camera. My more complicated cameras where I think too much, I get fewer favorite shots. Isn't that weird?

Chan Tran · Jun 30, 2016

Ricardo Miranda said:
I didn't know that and that's why I asked where the 2 cells are.

My apology as I misunderstood you. Let me see if I understand you now. You thought that the same sensor sending the signal to both the automatic exposure control and the meter display. While the scaling circuit for the display is out of specs the auto exposure is still fine.

AgX · Jun 30, 2016

On the two-basic sensors issue see here too:

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Ricardo Miranda · Jun 30, 2016

Chan Tran said:
My apology as I misunderstood you. Let me see if I understand you now. You thought that the same sensor sending the signal to both the automatic exposure control and the meter display. While the scaling circuit for the display is out of specs the auto exposure is still fine.

Yeap, that's about it. Except I thought (there was a url link here which no longer exists) that that when he mentioned he had no indication in the viewfinder I consider it to be a cable that was disconnected or had electrical problems.

AgX said:
On the two-basic sensors issue see here too:

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Thanks for the link.

Ricardo Miranda · Jun 30, 2016

Mainecoonmaniac said:
Thank you Richard. The funny thing is with my Olympus XA, I shoot much more carelessly because it's such a simple camera. My more complicated cameras where I think too much, I get fewer favorite shots. Isn't that weird?

Nah, it is just the XA lends itself to that.
See:

5-30-2016_016 by Ricardo Miranda, on Flickr

elcabezagrande · Jul 4, 2016

thuggins said:
...All the XA's focus internally, with the exception of the XA1 which is a fixed focus...

Unless my memory is faulty, the XA2 uses front cell focus, while the XA, XA3, and XA4 focus internally. But I am getting old and forgetful.

Ricardo Miranda · Jul 4, 2016

elcabezagrande said:
Unless my memory is faulty, the XA2 uses front cell focus, while the XA, XA3, and XA4 focus internally. But I am getting old and forgetful.

You're right about the XA2.
I can't comment on the XA3 or 4 as I don't have them.

Luminousoctaves · Jul 9, 2016

nosmok said:
MCM, there are TWO meters in an XA-- one feeds the display, the other exposes the film. One or the other can be wrong, but it's better to have the display meter off of course.

Hmm, that explains why my XA gives longer exposures than seen in the meter window. Anyone knows how to fix this?
The XA is a great camera by the way, definitely one of my all time favorites.

EDIT: Ok, I read further down the thread and found new info on this, never mind the "fix".

Olympus XA - Understanding if focus works

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