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CameraFile: Olympus XA2

Camera Model: XA2

Manufacturer: Olympus

Format: 35mm film

Type: Zone-Focus Compact

Price: second-hand (anything from £5 to £30)

Reasons to Buy: Much cheaper than the XA (also slightly smaller and lighter).  Built-in self-timer and battery test function (such a simple idea, but so effective).  Wonderfully sharp and vivid images – indeed the results from the XA2 are very similar to those from the Lomo LC-A, making the XA2 a great low budget alternative.  Easy to find functioning second-hand models (the XA2 was produced from 1980 to 1986) – and loads of online community support waiting to answer questions and help troubleshoot any problems that may occur (which are rare).  Great wide angle (35mm) lens.  And that clamshell design is a classic look (and stops you having to worry about losing the lens cap!)  All in all: robust, unobtrusive, cheap, great results – the perfect street camera!

Processing: The XA2 shoots standard 35mm film, so can be processed absolutely anywhere.  Most developers will be willing to cross-process as well, although some of the high street stores/supermarkets might require a bit of talking around – as it is true that if you process lots of E6 film in C41 chemicals it will affect the chemicals and make them less effective when processing C41 film.  However it’s perfectly safe (apparently) to cross process one E6 film for every 10 or so C41 film.  Just tell them I said it was okay  

Bad Stuff: Well, one of the worst things about the XA series of cameras are the compatible flashes (which screw handily onto the side).  The most common is the A11, which is powered by a single-AA battery but really only casts light a couple of metres away from the camera – so it’s fairly useless for anything other than mug shots.

Also, the XA2 doesn’t provide quite as good quality images as the original XA – due to it having only a 4 element f/3.5 lens (as opposed to the XA’s 6 element f/2.8 lens).

The original XA also has a coupled rangefinder.  Which is useful if you need a bit more precision – and if you know what it is, and how to use it!  It basically means you can focus the XA, whereas with the XA2 you just have the option of selecting the 3 focus zones.  (So if you want simplicity this isn’t actually a bad point!)

The usual thing to look out for with second-hand cameras are petrified light seals, check inside the camera and see how the foam seals look.  However, they’re easy enough to replace so it’s not a deal breaker.

Tips and Tricks: Because the XA2 is a zone focus camera, knowing the distance from camera to subject is incredibly important for achieving sharp shots (particularly with the shorter distances).  The zone settings on the XA2 are close (1.2m to 1.8m), near (1.2m+), and far (6.3m to infinity) – the camera defaults to ‘near’ everytime you open the clamshell.

As with the LC-A , when you take a shot with the XA2 it’s important that you keep the shutter release pressed for the duration of the shot (you’ll hear one click when the shutter opens and another when it closes) – in bright light these two clicks will be simultaneous, but if you’re shooting in the dark they could be anything up to a minute or so apart.  So for long exposures ensure that the camera is stable (perhaps using the self-timer to trigger the shutter) and that you’re in a comfortable position!

Accessories: A11 removable flash, A9M removable flash (usually comes with the XA1 but compatible with the XA2 – lacks the power control of the A11).

Related Flickr Group: flickr.com/groups/xa2_only

Sample Shots:

Tags: 35mm, camera, camerafile, clamshell, compact, eighties, film, Olympus, secondhand, XA2, zone focus

5 Comments to CameraFile: Olympus XA2

1. 

   Do you know if the xa got some vignetting? I’m hesitating between xa et xa2 for my “camera wish list” and as I desire to have some cheap olympus to replace a lomo, I would like to have the same “effect”. tx
shmileblik on January 17th, 2009
2. 

   mmmm XA2, one of my favourites I take one every where with me (I have two )
Beth on January 17th, 2009
3. 

   Blik – the results from the XA and XA2 are very similar. The XA images may be slightly sharper, and it performs slightly better in low light (due to the f/2.8 lens). But really, the difference is minimal. Hard to chose between the two.

   Have a look at some of the shots from XA family cameras in this group: http://www.flickr.com/groups/olympusxa/
Paul on January 17th, 2009
4. 

   Thank you! Good news I won’t have to really choose (except the price and condition)
shmileblik on January 17th, 2009
5. 

   i love the middle photograph of the train station.

   the xa2 really is a superb camera. it reminds me of the lomo lca a lot, though i think it’s lens is sharper than the lomo.
James K on December 6th, 2009

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