Olympus XA2 help needed.

KerrKid · May 18, 2022

I just bought an Olympus XA2 for parts or repair and it arrived in like new condition with the exception of a missing screw by the viewfinder and the lens door will not stay shut - it slides open freely.

The seller said this was the case and that the shutter wouldn't fire. Well, with batteries in it, the shutter does fire but the lens door has to be open and squeezed just so.

I heard there's a little ball bearing behind this door and the baseplate has to be removed to slide the door off. I imagine the open door presses on this ball bearing which presses on a shutter activation switch. Do you think this ball bearing is missing? If so, is there a place to get one inexpensively or am I going to have to raid another parts camera for it and the little screw?

Thanks for your help!

4season · May 18, 2022

Assuming it's similar to the original XA, removing the sliding front cover is easy, and the thing which gives it the clicky feel is a small metal rod, not a ball bearing.

KerrKid · May 18, 2022

4season said:
Assuming it's similar to the original XA, removing the sliding front cover is easy, and the thing which gives it the clicky feel is a small metal rod, not a ball bearing.

I'm assuming I have to remove the base plate first which shouldn't be too difficult.

A small metal rod, huh? I think one repair I saw called that a roller bearing. I forgot that and called it a ball bearing.

Ok, I have another XA2 coming that I can do surgery on. Not that I want to, I just don't know who would have parts laying around.

dxqcanada · May 18, 2022

KerrKid · May 18, 2022

dxqcanada said:
View attachment 305881

Thanks! It’s a bit difficult to figure out but I’m assuming the part that’s sticking up is a plunger on a switch. I’m sure it will make sense once I get the lens door off.

reddesert · May 19, 2022

An Olympus XA service manual and exploded view are available for free download at learncamerarepair.com.

There is obviously an interlock between the door and shutter button since one cannot fire the shutter with the door closed. I don't know if the click of the door and the interlock are related.

KerrKid · May 19, 2022

reddesert said:
An Olympus XA service manual and exploded view are available for free download at learncamerarepair.com.

There is obviously an interlock between the door and shutter button since one cannot fire the shutter with the door closed. I don't know if the click of the door and the interlock are related.

I’d wager that they are. I’ll post what I find.

dxqcanada · May 19, 2022

KerrKid said:
Thanks! It’s a bit difficult to figure out but I’m assuming the part that’s sticking up is a plunger on a switch. I’m sure it will make sense once I get the lens door off.

Sorry I forgot to give you a link to the Service Manual on Learncamerarepair

KerrKid · May 19, 2022

dxqcanada said:
Sorry I forgot to give you a link to the Service Manual on Learncamerarepair

That's ok. I'll take a look at it. Should be just a matter of taking out 6 screws, removing the one little lever, then the baseplate, and slide the door off.

They sell the that roller bearing online. What a relief.

Since the screw is missing by the viewfinder, I think this camera was worked on, but whoever fiddled with it was very careful.

eurekaiv · May 21, 2022

If the metal rod "roller bearing" that sits on the spring for the sliding door is missing, clip a piece that's about the right length off the tube from a can of WD-40 or anything with a similar plastic tube insert. I fixed an XA2 this way and it works perfectly fine.

I haven't opened an XA2 in a bit but I've been messing with my XA4 a lot recently since it's been jamming up off and on. If they work the same (they might not, these things are all surprisingly quite a bit different internally), there's a gold metal contact down and to the right of the viewfinder when looking at the front with the cover off. This may have gotten bent slightly if someone was messing with it (and someone was if they lost the roller bearing).

KerrKid · May 21, 2022

eurekaiv said:
If the metal rod "roller bearing" that sits on the spring for the sliding door is missing, clip a piece that's about the right length off the tube from a can of WD-40 or anything with a similar plastic tube insert. I fixed an XA2 this way and it works perfectly fine.

I haven't opened an XA2 in a bit but I've been messing with my XA4 a lot recently since it's been jamming up off and on. If they work the same (they might not, these things are all surprisingly quite a bit different internally), there's a gold metal contact down and to the right of the viewfinder when looking at the front with the cover off. This may have gotten bent slightly if someone was messing with it (and someone was if they lost the roller bearing).

You’re kidding! I never thought something like that would work. I ordered a replacement roller bearing earlier today. Oh well. It wasn’t much and at least it will give a proper length reference. Do you know if the spring is held captive in the body or could that be gone, too?

I will check to see if there’s a gold metal contact and if it’s bent.

Thank you so much for the information!

I bought another XA2 with the flash unit for parts and it arrived today. The seller said the flash didn’t work and wasn’t sure about the camera. Turns out the camera is in excellent condition and with a new battery the flash works fine. All it needs are new light seals. Score!

Now I have three XA2’s. I love these things.

eurekaiv · May 21, 2022

I need to take my XA4 apart again, I’ll take a couple pics when I get a chance. Maybe the XA2 is similar. And yes, I love them as well. The XA4 in particular, with the focus measuring strap and a 28mm lens is my favorite compact camera along side the Pentax UC-1/Espio Mini.

KerrKid · May 21, 2022

eurekaiv said:
I need to take my XA4 apart again, I’ll take a couple pics when I get a chance. Maybe the XA2 is similar. And yes, I love them as well. The XA4 in particular, with the focus measuring strap and a 28mm lens is my favorite compact camera along side the Pentax UC-1/Espio Mini.

I don’t know much about the XA4 other than it sells for quite a bit more than the 2. I’ll have to look into it. I think the general consensus is to skip models 1 and 3. I’ve heard good things about the mini but so have all the sellers.

reddesert · May 21, 2022

The XA (aperture priority auto, rf) is great (although, watch out for meter accuracy drift - I had one for years, got it out a few years ago and found it was overexposing). The XA1 has a selenium meter and fixed focus, so less desirable. The XA2 has a 35/3.5, 3-step scale focus and full-auto, which is not bad but means you don't know what speed it's picking.

The XA3 is basically the same as the XA2 but it adds DX coding and the backlight +1.5 setting from the original XA. I don't know that there's any reason to avoid the XA3 unless you hate DX coding. The backlight lever is a rarely mentioned bonus.

The XA4 has a 28mm lens that can be scale focused close with aid of a measuring tape. I think it's more expensive because different/rare, not necessarily better, unless you really want the 28mm lens. I have never touched one.

gone · May 21, 2022

I know you already ordered that bearing, but when one of my ball bearings in a plastic developing reel popped out, I was able to go to Ace Hardware and find it. They had a lot of loose ball bearings in many sizes.

KerrKid · May 21, 2022

momus said:
I know you already ordered that bearing, but when one of my ball bearings in a plastic developing reel popped out, I was able to go to Ace Hardware and find it. They had a lot of loose ball bearings in many sizes.

I didn't realize it could be a common size. I will definitely go to the hardware store and see if they have any once I know what I'm looking for. The aerosol straw cut to size also seems like a compelling fix if it holds up.

KerrKid · May 21, 2022

reddesert said:
The XA (aperture priority auto, rf) is great (although, watch out for meter accuracy drift - I had one for years, got it out a few years ago and found it was overexposing). The XA1 has a selenium meter and fixed focus, so less desirable. The XA2 has a 35/3.5, 3-step scale focus and full-auto, which is not bad but means you don't know what speed it's picking.

The XA3 is basically the same as the XA2 but it adds DX coding and the backlight +1.5 setting from the original XA. I don't know that there's any reason to avoid the XA3 unless you hate DX coding. The backlight lever is a rarely mentioned bonus.

The XA4 has a 28mm lens that can be scale focused close with aid of a measuring tape. I think it's more expensive because different/rare, not necessarily better, unless you really want the 28mm lens. I have never touched one.

I'm not sure the XA2 is favored over the XA3. I heard that the XA2 is slightly smaller, but that's probably splitting hairs. Maybe purists don't like DX coding? Maybe they like even rather than odd numbers? Who knows? Otherwise, I think the additional features on the XA3 add value. For me, the XA2 is what I know and it has sentimental value so I went that direction. If a 3 or 4 comes along at a great price, I'll snag one.

eurekaiv · May 21, 2022

momus said:
I know you already ordered that bearing, but when one of my ball bearings in a plastic developing reel popped out, I was able to go to Ace Hardware and find it. They had a lot of loose ball bearings in many sizes.

The piece in the XA isn't a ball, it's a small rod. A ball will not sit properly in the slot.

Here's a link to the spot where he opens the top and you can see the roller bearing.

KerrKid · May 21, 2022

eurekaiv said:
The piece in the XA isn't a ball, it's a small rod. A ball will not sit properly in the slot.

View attachment 306163

Here's a link to the spot where he opens the top and you can see the roller bearing.

.Very true. I would be looking for a roller bearing and not a ball bearing. We have a great hardware store here that usually has things no one else has, so maybe I can find one there. No problem as the aerosol straw is always an option.

Question: If this bearing was missing would it cause the slide to move back and forth freely and not "click" shut?

Thank you for the photo of the bearings location. I had no idea it was there. I will check out the video.

eurekaiv · May 21, 2022

KerrKid said:
Question: If this bearing was missing would it cause the slide to move back and forth freely and not "click" shut?

Yep. That's exactly how it behaved without the roller bearing.

KerrKid · May 21, 2022

eurekaiv said:
Yep. That's exactly how it behaved without the roller bearing.

That's good news! I'll get the camera apart today and see what I find.

KerrKid · May 25, 2022

The roller bearing arrived and I installed it today. I noticed a bent part and corrosion once I got things apart. I took care of that. Found missing screws under the cover so it's definitely been apart. The camera works fine now.

I've discovered that my XA2's favor a particular spot on the shutter release to fire the shutter. The pad of my finger won't trigger it reliably. I have to use the tip of my finger on the pad area closest to me when I'm holding the camera.

MattKing · May 25, 2022

Consider putting a small bit of tape in the spot - so your finger finds it by touch.

KerrKid · May 25, 2022

MattKing said:
Consider putting a small bit of tape in the spot - so your finger finds it by touch.

How come you're so smart? That's a good idea.

Olympus XA2 help needed.

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