stnicholas81
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Terence said:
Hi Terence, please read my first post when i started this thread. I did state my budget. I already have a gsn. I am looking for smthg smaller than the gsn like the canonet or mju2.
Recommend me a small compact range finder.
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Hi Terence, please read my first post when i started this thread. I did state my budget. I already have a gsn. I am looking for smthg smaller than the gsn like the canonet or mju2.
stnicholas81
Member
Hi breakaway, please give me the URL for the range finder forums? i do agree that locally it is over priced for the XA series, even for the XA2.
RFF has very nice people in it. But I would recommend you get a Konica C35A, very light and compact, but a fullfledged RF with flash sync at nearly every shutter speed, (aperture isn't settable, as is shutter speed, but you can always change the stops by temporarily shifting the ASA speed rating). Very cheap, but very sturdy. Nifty little camera when you're on the go.
I'm getting an XA pretty soon. Look forward to using it. Heard the LOMO LC-A sucks really bad, but that's what lead me on my research to finding the XA, a much more utilitarian, functional, and beautiful compact RF.
I'm getting an XA pretty soon. Look forward to using it. Heard the LOMO LC-A sucks really bad, but that's what lead me on my research to finding the XA, a much more utilitarian, functional, and beautiful compact RF.
stnicholas81
Member
Hi Brains, when u spot some good XA deals let me know, if the fellow has two, we can share shipping.
Oh yea i just joineed RFF~!
Oh yea i just joineed RFF~!
fastshot
Member
I used the Oly XA for over 10 years during the 80's and early 90's. So here are some of my user experiences:
- it's truly a pocketable camera, very compact and pretty rugged. Without the flash attached, you could easily stick the camera into your jeans pocket.
- it can take excellent pictures around the mid apertures F5.6 to F11. Best aperture is F8. Wide open, it is soft.
- the metering is a weak point. I think it uses CDS and quite prone to going off calibration. I got my metering repaired once, but it failed again after a while. Since the camera is permanently in Aperture priority mode, there is little that can be done for reliable exposure once the metering or needle is suspect even though there is +1.5EV for backlightling and ISO settings available.
- the film winder gears is also prone to wear, so that it sometimes require a fair amount of nudging on the winder wheel in order to set the shutter trigger again
- the shutter trigger has very minimal travel, so it can be tricky to partially depress it to lock exposure.
- Due to the exposure being somewhat unreliable, it is not appropriate to use slide film for this camera. OK for color negatives and b/w because of exposure latitude available.
In conclusion, if you can find a low mileage XA - go buy it. It is best to avoid high mileage XA.
However there are many super compacts that outperform the XA -- Rollei 35, Contax T2, Minolta TC-1, Ricoh GR1V, GR21, Nikon 28Ti, etc. All of them are a joy to use, but they are several times the price of the XA in the used market.
- it's truly a pocketable camera, very compact and pretty rugged. Without the flash attached, you could easily stick the camera into your jeans pocket.
- it can take excellent pictures around the mid apertures F5.6 to F11. Best aperture is F8. Wide open, it is soft.
- the metering is a weak point. I think it uses CDS and quite prone to going off calibration. I got my metering repaired once, but it failed again after a while. Since the camera is permanently in Aperture priority mode, there is little that can be done for reliable exposure once the metering or needle is suspect even though there is +1.5EV for backlightling and ISO settings available.
- the film winder gears is also prone to wear, so that it sometimes require a fair amount of nudging on the winder wheel in order to set the shutter trigger again
- the shutter trigger has very minimal travel, so it can be tricky to partially depress it to lock exposure.
- Due to the exposure being somewhat unreliable, it is not appropriate to use slide film for this camera. OK for color negatives and b/w because of exposure latitude available.
In conclusion, if you can find a low mileage XA - go buy it. It is best to avoid high mileage XA.
However there are many super compacts that outperform the XA -- Rollei 35, Contax T2, Minolta TC-1, Ricoh GR1V, GR21, Nikon 28Ti, etc. All of them are a joy to use, but they are several times the price of the XA in the used market.
Think it is http://www.rangefinderforum.com/ without the sakdwivedi said:
stnicholas81 said:
Nice! Glad you're getting into RF's. Just keep checking RFF's section 35mm classifieds. They usually have sellers with XA's, but you can always post a thread there like
WTB: Olympus XA with A11 flash
and in the subject write how much you'd want it for.
I'm getting mine from a nice man in Austria, so I might not be needing one. Thanks though
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