So I got an XA today

[SMBooth]

Film - Lucky100 I think, it was a while ago. Strangely I just brought 5 rolls of 120 lucky at Vanbers for 3.50 a roll.

 

[Steve Smith]

I have an XA and an XA4. They're expensive though. My XA cost me £1.00 and the XA4 was £0.50!


Steve.

 

[tomalophicon]

Man, this camera is the bomb for carrying round. It's so LITTLE!


Off the first role. I can just throw it in my pocket walking the dogs.

 

[tomalophicon]

 

[Toffle]

A few years ago I have had an XA gone flaky, shutter release wise, sent in for repair.

The repair guy died. I profited a lot from the liquidation auction of the stuff his shop stocked.

Mike, was that Gord from International, down on Church? I used to hit his shop every time I went to Toronto, and was sad to hear of his passing. He always had something I could use.

I love my XA2, but wish it had more exposure control. You can use the ISO setting to over/under expose shots to your liking, but you still don't have control over DOF, which for me is a vital consideration of every shot. I missed out on an XA at my local camera shop a couple of months ago, and passed on one going for stupid money at Downtown a little after that. Some day one will be mine. (Hopefully before its shutter goes completely wonky )

 

[bobwysiwyg]

but you still don't have control over DOF

Couldn't you do this by selecting the correct f-stop for your needs, then adjust the ISO for what you need exposure-wise?

 

[Toffle]

Couldn't you do this by selecting the correct f-stop for your needs, then adjust the ISO for what you need exposure-wise?

Unfortunately the XA2 does not allow aperture selection like the original XA. The only control you have is ISO selection.

...but I don't look a gift-horse in the mouth. This camera was a gift from Steve Smith, and delivers great pictures.

 

[summicron1]

the XA is an amazing camera -- shot b/w all through italy with one a few years ago and -- god help me -- the prints are as good as anything shot with a Leica, and the camera is the fastest to use you will find -- pre-select an f-stop that handles a wide range of situations with a decent shutter speed, focus and shoot, that's it. The shutter is vibration free.

being mostly plastic you will get wear in the film advance, which can mean the shutter won't fire reliably -- my original one that i found for $10 at a yard sale 15 years ago or so is finally showing some aging issues, but I've got two more I found in thrift stores.

 

[nsurit]

All this talk about the XA has me feeling quilty about mine languishing in the back of my stash cabinet. One of the images I have hanging in my home is a 16 X 20 done with my XA with consumer film, scanned and printed in a non-analog manner. Must get the XA out and put it in my pocket. I'm thinking Ilford HP-5 because that is what I have plenty of and use in my OM cameras.

 

[mbsmith]

I absolutely adore my XA2. I take it with me on my bike rides, up in the mountains, out in the desert, in the city... it's so small and sturdy that I really don't have an excuse NOT to take it with me. And with the A11, it's great for indoor parties as well

Plus, if I tell my wife I'm shooting XP2 in my XA2, I'm guaranteed an eye-roll

That said, I would love to pick up another - probably the XA, for the focus and aperture control.

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

I like my XA lot but get similar results from my Stylus Epic too. I wonder how different the lens are if at all. Other similar cameras I've used and really like are the Vivitar 35EM and 35EE.

 

[pbromaghin]

All this talk about the XA has me feeling quilty about mine languishing in the back of my stash cabinet.

Me too. I bought one last year at Goodwill for $5 and have never used it. Just plain old gear snobbery. It's coming out this weekend.

 

[danfogel]

I have had one for years, though I am in the group who leaves it in a drawer lately. I find it hard to focus with glasses and so put a small square of black tape on the rangefinder. That helped quite a bit. I took the shot below in London by placing the camera on a low wall. Shot is about 10 seconds.

 

[Chan Tran]

I like the XA and about the biggest complain is the flash capability. I can't use any other flash besides the A11 and A16 which I do have and I can't use any aperture I want just 1 aperture is available when using flash.

 

[tomalophicon]

I like the XA and about the biggest complain is the flash capability. I can't use any other flash besides the A11 and A16 which I do have and I can't use any aperture I want just 1 aperture is available when using flash.

Well certainly design sacrifices had to be made with such a camera.

 

[Dr.Pain-MD]

I have had one for years, though I am in the group who leaves it in a drawer lately. I find it hard to focus with glasses and so put a small square of black tape on the rangefinder. That helped quite a bit. I took the shot below in London by placing the camera on a low wall. Shot is about 10 seconds.


View attachment 46738

Nice! I've done the same with mine on a concrete barrier and it came out wonderfully. The meters in the XAs are great.

 

[Steve Roberts]

Funny how these cameras seem to have prompted people on this thread to attempt such unusual and/or ambitious shots to very good effect. Apart from showing what the cameras are capable of, it's also perhaps representative of the old saying that the £5 camera you've got with you is better than the £500 that's at home in the cupboard!
And yes, like others, I'm shamed into digging out the XA that I bought for £12 last year. Pretty pricey compared to most listed here, but it was immaculate and I couldn't resist it.

Steve

 

[SMBooth]

It really all about making photography fun.

 

[IloveTLRs]

I've had an XA for years, along with an XA2 for color. I use them as "commuting cameras" (back and forth when going to work) since they are small, light and quiet.

I hope this thread doesn't cause their prices to go up

 

[Bateleur]

Feeling a trite guilty, my XA is begging to be fixed, the shutter does not fire, does anyone know of a good repair shop in Europe?

 

[Dr.Pain-MD]

I hope this thread doesn't cause their prices to go up

It's too late for that, they're already a cult camera. However, the prices aren't as high as the Yashica T4 yet, thank god!

 

[tomalophicon]

I think they already went up.
I paid 60 bucks for mine!

 

[Toffle]

It's too late for that, they're already a cult camera. However, the prices aren't as high as the Yashica T4 yet, thank god!

Downtown Camera in Toronto has one for $275. (Well, it does include an A11 flash. )

 

[clayne]

275$!? Crack smoking.

 

[Toffle]

275$!? Crack smoking.

That's CDN$... not sure if that is more or less today. Could be a bargain for someone crossing the border.