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| Olympus XA1 (1982) |
#419
This photo is from the copy I ownHistory and technical features
The XA1 is often rated as the runt of the XA series litter by XA officandos. But this little overlooked number can still deliver despite it’s limitations and can surprise.
The XA series was Olympus compact clamshell range of cameras that were sold predominately in the 80’s and carried the torch on for Olympus from the Trip 35 and 70’s compact rangefinders. The series is probably best known for the XA probably the most compact 35mm rangefinder in the world and the Ubiquitous XA2 (to some one of the finest P&S there was – I’ve already said it’s good but just not that good). The XA3 & 4 build on the XA2 but in the middle sits the humble XA1.
This shares the shares the same clamshell design. This makes it compact and ideal to keep in the pocket. You slide open the clamshell to activate the camera’s metering & shutter. But open it and you’ll get a blast from the past in that it’s selenium metered (so no batteries). The spec is also suspiciously not a million miles removed from its more famous selenium ring predecessor the trip with the exception the lens is fixed focus and a fraction of a stop slower. Like the Trip shooting in too low light causes a red flag appears in the viewfinder which locks the shutter.
The camera also lacks the red membrane touch shutter of the rest of the series. Some moan about its more traditional sticky out shutter but I for one am happier with it and certainly you don’t get any annoying sticky shutter issues. And …psst… wanna know a secret unlike the other XAs you can exposure lock by half depressing it. Sadly it isn’t cable threaded.
Now the downsides. The camera is the most basic in the series, I’ll admit. The camera’s speed range is much more limited (no 2 minute metered exposures here) and you are irritatingly limited to either 100 or 400 asa. The camera loses the self timer and backlight lever compared to its siblings. The lens is f/4 compared to the XA2 f /3.5 (a pretty minor issue – otherwise they are both 4 element set ups). The lens is fixed which does become an issue in low light whereas the XA2 has the zone options. Like the XA2 there is no manual override option for exposure as you get with the Trip.
Like all of the series the camera only uses as a proprietary XA series flash units. It was sold with the A9M as a package but will work with the better units like the A11 or A16.
So how does it shoot ? In good conditions it does fine and I’d argue little different from the XA2 (predominantly a fixed focus camera with the option of zone focus in low light). Yup it does become poorer at low light but then again the XA2 isn’t exactly spectacular there either although it’s zone focusing does help. I’m Guessing the sweet spot for the XA1 in low light is around 3-5 meters. Manual suggests 1.5m to ∞ in good conditions.
Is it better than a XA2 ? In good light it’s just as good and has a better shutter button IMHO and can exposure lock. The XA2 is more versatile however and on a recent trip away where I took the XA1, I was missing having either a LC-A or XA2 for the long shutters in low light. Still the XA1 is a fine camera with 400asa and good weather. It knocks the spots off cheap plastic fix focus numbers. The XA1 is widely available and you should get well under a tenner as it tends to have bad press. Expect to replace the light seals.
Source: austerityphoto.co.uk
Introduction and Overview
How much do you know about the Olympus XA1? Not much, I assume. You might even be surprised to know that the model ever existed. Seems that the XA1 is the least acknowledged or known of the compact clamshell designed 35mm range/viewfinder film cameras made popular by Olympus in the 80's.
Contrary to the few adverse comments belittling the camera that you can find scattered across the Net, I find the Olympus XA1 to be exactly the opposite, and a delight to use.
Olympus Capsule Cameras
The Olympus Capsule camera series is best known for the Olympus XA which came with signature red membrane touch shutter and a semi-automatic aperture preferred shutter system. It was one of the most compact 35mm rangefinders on the market then. Success breeds success, the capsule series was expanded to incorporate the XA2, a viewfinder with zone focusing; the XA3, upgraded XA2 with DX decoding; the XA4 with macro capabilities; and then there was the XA1.
Design and Build
Olympus XA1, Side Front
The XA1, introduced in 1982, a true point-and-shoot, was the simplest in the clamshell XA range. It came with a fixed focus four elements in four groups 35mm f/4 lens, a programmed shutter range from f4/1.30 second to f22/1.250 second. Exposure is automatic by a built-in selenium meter, which is coupled to a shutter lock with a red pop-up flag mechanism that prevents underexposure (as seen previously on the Olympus Trip 35).
Basic Camera Features
The Olympus XA1 is normally sold as a kit with the Olympus A9M external flash unit. The A9M is a purely manual flash unit powered by a single AA battery.
The D.Zuiko 35mm f/4 fixed lens sits protected behind the capsule cover until it is opened, showing the lens surrounded by bubble modules with the selenium cell behind it. On the lower part of the lens is the latch lever that turns on the flash unit. The viewfinder is on the upper part of the lens assembly.
On the left of the top plate of the XA1 is the film rewind crank, which will be half covered when the capsule cover is opened. The shutter release button, the only protrusion out of the body when the capsule is closed, and film frame window are located to the right of the top plate.
On the bottom plate are the film ISO selector dial and the rewind release button. The XA1 does not have a tripod socket.
The back of the XA1 is plain except for the viewfinder eyepiece, which is again covered when the capsule cover is closed. The film forward wind is on the right shoulder of the camera body, and the film back is a fixed hinge type. Film loading is standard easy load with film chamber, shutter frame, forward sprocket, a multislot take-up spool, and the standard two blank shots to load the film to frame 1.
Film ASA Speed
The only film speed settings are ASA 100 and ASA 400. Like the rest of the series, the camera only uses a proprietary XA series flash units. The XA1 was sold with the A9M flash unit as a package but will also work with the A11 or A16. By itself, the XA1 does not need any batteries to run or operate it.
Very Affordable
The Olympus XA1 is very affordable, getting one from online sellers and auction sites are usually dirt cheap.
Using The Camera
Olympus XA1, Handling the camera
The compact clamshell design is ideal sliding in and out of your pocket and is just as handy to hold snug in the palm of your hand. Slide the clamshell open to uncover the lens, which also activates the camera’s selenium metering, and you are ready to go.
While some moans at the lack of the red membrane touch shutter, as the rest of the series has them, the shutter of the XA1 is mechanical, does not get stuck, and you know what, the XA1 is the only model in the series that you can do exposure lock with.
The camera does not have a self-timer and the back-light lever which the others have. The fixed f/4 lens does not need any focusing effort on your part, everything in between 1.5 meters to infinity will be in focus. There is no manual override option for exposure, as what you can do on the Olympus Trip 35, either.
All these the XA1 sound like an ideal street shooter actually, where you can shoot from the hip, held up above your head, or while groveling on the ground, and such. Wouldn't that be great?
Exposure Lock Trick
Reminiscence of the Olympus Trip 35 and the Pen EF, the XA1 uses the red pop-up flag system which will activate and lock the shutter in insufficient light condition. If you into some creative shooting, you can overcome this by first pointing the camera to a brighter light source, one which will not trigger the red pop-up flag, half-press the shutter, bring the camera back to the scene you want to capture, and press the shutter release home.
So how was your session with the camera? I thoroughly enjoyed mine, in good lighting condition the renowned Zuiko glass is all glam and glamor, as you can see from the photos posted here, grain and all.
I will continue using it as a fun street shooter, getting yourself lost in the crowd, with a good 35mm lens to boot. Images might not be as clear and sharp in lower light condition, but I suppose you can overcome that too with the tricks that you have up your sleeve.
Source: imagingpixel.com
Specifications
Lens: D. Zuiko 35mm
Focus: Fixed (1.5m to ∞)
Metering: Selenium Cell
Aperture: f/4-f/22
Shutter: 1/30-1/250
EV 100asa: 9-17
Film speed: 100 or 400asa
Filter-Thread: None
Source: austerityphoto.co.uk
Model
Reference sites
austerityphoto.co.uk
imagingpixel.com
Manual
English manual
Film
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| Kodak ColorPlus 200/24 |
Pictures taken with this machine
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| Olympus XA1 sample 1 |
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| Olympus XA1 sample 2 |
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| Olympus XA1 sample 3 |
Videos
