Olympus XA2 - green light

Eric Rose · Dec 22, 2006

I just my new to me XA2. When I turn it on, ie. open the front cover, sometimes a little green light comes on. It's located on the right side of the view finder. What the heck is this for? I have downloaded the instruction manual for the camera but there is no reference to this led that I can find.

HELP?

Eric

Pinholemaster · Dec 22, 2006

Perhaps it a Green Light to signal it's ready to go. Grin.

I had an XA years ago, but for the life of me I can't remember if it displayed a green light or not.

Other cameras like the XA showed a green light when the flash was up to power for an exposure. For the XA2 I'd say test fire it with the flash on and off to see if the green light comes on.

Or perhaps it is a warning to get ready for the famous Green Flash at sunset. Double grin.

Good luck.

robert e · Dec 22, 2006

I don't think my XA had a green light, either. There was the red light on the front of the camera for battery check and self-timer. Is your light inside or outside the viewfinder?

Eric Rose · Dec 22, 2006

robert e said:
I don't think my XA had a green light, either. There was the red light on the front of the camera for battery check and self-timer. Is your light inside or outside the viewfinder?

Inside right side.
thx

DannL · Dec 22, 2006

I'm sure someone will have a definitive answer, shortly. Meanwhile, I also want to take a guess. I have the XA, but I reviewed the manual online for the XA2 and it's written something awful. My thoughts. . . position the camera so the light turns to green and then cover the lens with your hand. If the light goes out, then it's my guess it's a "good exposure indicator", probably tied to the ASA/ISO setting and internal metering.

If it's not that, then I give up. ;-)

Eric Rose · Dec 22, 2006

DannL said:
I'm sure someone will have a definitive answer, shortly. Meanwhile, I also want to take a guess. I have the XA, but I reviewed the manual online for the XA2 and it's written something awful. My thoughts. . . position the camera so the light turns to green and then cover the lens with your hand. If the light goes out, the it's my guess it's a "good exposure indicator", probably tied to the ASA/ISO setting and internal metering.

If it's not that, then I give up. ;-)

I tried that, good guess, but it didn't do anything. The mystery continues LOL.

DBP · Dec 22, 2006

It's amazingly counterintuitive. Green means "stop". It's an indication that the shutter speed is too low, and that you need flash. Why they didn't use a red LED is beyond me.

MattKing · Dec 22, 2006

Here is a link to a manual for the XA2:

http://www.diaxa.com/xa/XA2man.htm

The hard to read information is in part 3.

It is a low light/slow shutter speed indicator (as was posted above).

Matt

Eric Rose · Dec 22, 2006

Thanks guys and gals. I can't wait to soup the first roll from this baby. My buddy Ian's is so sharp. But then again his is the original XA so of course my is not worthy LOL.

robert e · Dec 22, 2006

Good call on the XA page: http://www.diaxa.com/xa/

Matt Denton's is worth reading, too, esp comparing lens to XA, and shooting tips.: http://www.mattdentonphoto.com/cameras/olympus_xa2.html

Neither page mentions the green light.

Elsewhere, I've read the XA2 has better metering than the XA.

Eric Rose · Dec 23, 2006

The green light is in fact the low light warning as mentioned above. If I turn the flash on it goes out and the little thunder bolt comes up in the viewfinder.

Ah ha, the mystery has been solved! I knew the collective smarts of APUG could rise to the challenge.

Thanks again all.

Merry Christmas!

Norman Hart · Dec 23, 2006

Hi Eric
The green light in the view finder is to let you know that you are using a slow shutter speed and you may therefore suffer from camera shake.If you point thecamera from low to high light it should go out
Regards Norman

Olympus XA2 - green light

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency