Difference between revisions of "Olympus XA"

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http://photos15.flickr.com/20759015_5620aeae51.jpg
 
  
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== Description ==
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/rachelrayns/3123083470/in/pool-camerawiki/
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|image= http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3090/3123083470_a63223ac4f.jpg
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|image_align= center
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|image_text=  
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|image_by= Rachel Rayns
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|image_rights= wp
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Designed by the famous Yoshihisa Maitani, the Olympus XA series of cameras are a range of amazingly compact cameras in a clam-shell case.
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{|align=right
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||
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/ludoo/3344634241/in/pool-camerawiki/
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|image= http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3537/3344634241_04f4afb064_m.jpg
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|image_align=left
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|image_text=[[rangefinder camera|Rangefinder]] XA
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|image_by= Ludovico Magnocavallo
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|image_rights=wp
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}}
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|-
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||
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/zuiko21/5195762460/in/pool-camerawiki/
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|image= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4113/5195762460_ed388b2bd0_m.jpg
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|image_align= right
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|image_text=[[Guess focus|Zone focus]] XA2
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|image_by=Carlos Santisteban
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|image_rights=wp
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}}
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|-
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||
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/vagn49/7112692825/in/pool-camerawiki/
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|image=  http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5032/7112692825_bdf565021e_m.jpg
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|image_align= right
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|image_text= XA 3
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|image_by= Vagn Sloth-Madsen
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|image_rights= nc
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}}
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|-
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||
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= https://www.flickr.com/photos/vagn49/7112693017/in/pool-camerawiki/
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|image= https://live.staticflickr.com/7218/7112693017_96925e9c52_m.jpg
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|image_align= right
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|image_text= XA 4
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|image_by= Vagn Sloth-Madsen
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|image_rights=  non-commercial
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}}
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|}
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The '''Olympus XA''' series of cameras were an innovative range of very [[compact camera]]s in clam-shell cases. They were designed for [[Olympus]] by [[Maitani Yoshihisa]]{{Japanese name order}}. The XA series was largely replaced by the [[Olympus_mju_Stylus_Epic|Stylus/mju series]] in 1991, but continue to have a cult following today.
  
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The XA is the benchmark of the series containing a true rangefinder focusing mechanism and an aperture priority exposure system within its tiny case.
+
==Models==
 +
===XA===
 +
The '''XA''', introduced in 1979 was the benchmark of the series containing a true [[rangefinder (device)|rangefinder]] focusing mechanism and an [[aperture priority]] exposure system within its tiny case. It had a six element Zuiko 35mm f:2.8 lens, a [[CdS]] exposure meter and a shutter to 1/500. The aperture is changed thanks to a small lever. It is also possible to compensate the exposure by two ways : a lever at the bottom plate of the camera ensures a + 1.5 EV back light ; the ISO sensitivity lever, at the bottom of the lens, allows to change the value easily to under or to overexpose the frame. A self-timer is also available. Accurate focusing in a pocketable design, combined with convenient autoexposure, made this a very successful model.
  
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== Links ==
+
===XA 2===
 +
The '''XA2''', introduced in 1980, was a simplified version of the XA with [[guess focus|zone focusing]] and a programmed exposure system. Its Zuiko 35mm f/3.5 lens had four elements in four groups. The exposure meter was a [[CdS]] exposure sensor above the lens. Shutter speed range was 2 secs. to 1/750. The minimum focusing distance was 3 feet or .9 meters. Its film speed range was ASA 25 -800. Limited supplies in white, red and blue were also produced.
 +
 
 +
===XA1===
 +
The '''XA1''', introduced in 1982, was the cheapest and simplest of the series.  It had a fixed focus four element 35mm f:4 lens, a shutter from 1/30 to 1/250 and a programmed exposure driven by a [[selenium meter]]. The only [[film speed]] settings were 100 and 400 [[ASA|ISO]].
 +
 
 +
===XA 3===
 +
The '''XA3''', from 1985, was basically an XA2 with [[DX Encoding|DX film coding]] and manual [[ASA]] settings up to 1600 ASA. It also had the "backlight compensation" feature from the original XA, a feature lacking in the XA2. Like the XA4, it had easy film loading, requiring no threading on the take-up spool. A limited edition in red was also produced.
 +
 
 +
===XA 4===
 +
The '''XA4''', from 1985, was much like the XA3, but with a wide-angle, 5-element Zuiko 28mm f/:3.5 lens. This could focus all the way down to a very close 0.3m, with the help of a plastic distance-measuring index attached to the wrist strap.
 +
 
 +
== Accessories ==
 +
Four different types of flash units were offered to use with the various XA models. All must be screwed to the left hand side of the body, and are very compact units. All auto flash models have settings for 100 or 400 ISO films.
 +
* '''A9M''', a purely manual flash. Uses one AA battery.
 +
* '''A11''', an auto flash with settings for ASA 100 and ASA 400. Uses one AA battery. [http://rapidshare.com/files/48202482/Olympus_A11_Flash_Manual.zip A11 User's Manual] Courtesy: acolla
 +
* '''A16''', a more powerful auto flash than the A11. Has settings for ASA 100 and ASA 400. Uses two AA batteries.
 +
* '''A1L''', lithium batteries not replaceable by the user without dismantling the flash.
 +
 
 +
A macro attachment was available for the A-11 and A-1L to use with the XA-4 at close focusing range.
  
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* The definitive [http://www.diaxa.com/xa/ XA] site (includes [http://www.diaxa.com/xa/manuals.htm manuals])
+
Cases were sold for both the body only, and for the body with a flash attached.
 +
<br clear="both"/>
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== Photos ==
 +
<div class="floatleft">
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source=http://www.flickr.com/photos/ricksoloway/2264875593/in/pool-camerawiki/
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|image= http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2036/2264875593_23d653bdda_m.jpg
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|image_align= left
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|image_text=XA with A11 Flash
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|image_by= Rick Soloway
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|image_rights=wp
 +
}}
  
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* [http://www.cosmonet.org/camera/olympus_xa_e.html Classic Cameras] overview
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/vagn49/8190985703/in/pool-camerawiki/
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|image= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8477/8190985703_5766d0787c_m.jpg
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|image_align= left
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|image_text= red XA 2 w/A11
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|image_by= Vagn Sloth-Madsen
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|image_rights= wp
 +
}}
 +
</div>
 +
<br clear="both"/>
 +
<div class="floatleft">
 +
{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/timmythesuk/283414077/in/pool-camerapedia/
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|image= http://static.flickr.com/122/283414077_a7dffa21c7_m.jpg
 +
|image_align= left
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|image_text=Close up of XA2 lens
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|image_by=Tim Williams
 +
|image_rights=nc
 +
}}
 +
{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/timmythesuk/283418334/in/pool-camerapedia/
 +
|image= http://static.flickr.com/113/283418334_7323cde5f1_m.jpg
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|image_align= left
 +
|image_text=A11 Flash unit
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|image_by=Tim Williams
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|image_rights=nc
 +
}}
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/timmythesuk/283418337/in/pool-camerapedia/
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|image= http://static.flickr.com/104/283418337_afbbe0a544_m.jpg
 +
|image_align= right
 +
|image_text=Clam-shell design for XA series
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|image_by=Tim Williams
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|image_rights=nc
 +
}}
 +
</div>
 +
<br clear="both"/>
 +
== Compare ==
 +
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" style="margin: 0.5em 2em; text-align: center; border-collapse: collapse;"
 +
! scope="col" width="70" |
 +
! scope="col" width="100" | XA
 +
! scope="col" width="100" | XA1
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! scope="col" width="100" | XA2
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! scope="col" width="100" | XA3
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! scope="col" width="100" | XA4
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|-
 +
| Year|| 1979|| 1982||1980||colspan="2" |1985
 +
|-
 +
| Lens||35mm f/2.8|| 35mm f/4 || colspan="2" |35mm f/3.5||28mm f/3.5
 +
|-
 +
| Focus || Rangefinder || Fixed || colspan="3"| Zone
 +
|-
 +
| range || 0.85m-inf ||1.5m-inf||colspan="2" |1.2m-inf|| 0.3m-inf
 +
|-
 +
| Meter || CdS || [[Selenium]]||colspan="3" | CdS
 +
|-
 +
| Shutter|| 10 - 1/500 || 1/30 - 1/250 || colspan="3" | 2 - 1/750
 +
|-
 +
| Release|| electronic || mechnical|| colspan="3"| electronic
 +
|-
 +
| ISO || 25-800 || 100 / 400 || 25-800 || colspan="2" |25-1600
 +
|-
 +
| DX || colspan="3"|NO || colspan="2" |YES
 +
|-
 +
|Power || 2x SR44 ||None ||colspan="3"|2x SR44
 +
|}
 +
{{br}}
  
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* Matt Denton's [http://homepage.mac.com/mattdenton/photo/cameras/olympus_xa.html XA] and [http://homepage.mac.com/mattdenton/photo/cameras/olympus_xa2.html XA2] pages
+
== Notes ==
 +
<references />
  
 +
== Links ==
 +
* The definitive [http://www.diaxa.com/xastart.htm XA] site (includes [http://www.diaxa.com/manuals.htm manuals])
 +
* Matt Denton's [http://www.mattdentonphoto.com/cameras/olympus_xa.html XA] and [http://www.mattdentonphoto.com/cameras/olympus_xa2.html XA2] pages
 
* Karen Nakamura's [http://www.photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/OlympusXA.html overview]
 
* Karen Nakamura's [http://www.photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/OlympusXA.html overview]
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* The Other Martin Taylor's [http://www.theothermartintaylor.com/moveabletype/archives/cameras/000006.html overview]
 
* The Other Martin Taylor's [http://www.theothermartintaylor.com/moveabletype/archives/cameras/000006.html overview]
 +
* Dante Stella's [http://web.archive.org/web/20050208233300/http://davidde.com/articles/xa.html overview]
 +
* Chris Lee's history of the XA detailed in the [https://web.archive.org/web/20040714094445/http://www.geocities.com/maitani_fan/xa_camera.html XA Way] (archived)
 +
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090315005739/http://www.olympus-global.com/en/corc/history/camera/popup/capsule_xa.cfm?message=1 XA], [https://web.archive.org/web/20090315011006/http://www.olympus-global.com/en/corc/history/camera/popup/capsule_xa2.cfm?message=1 XA2], [https://web.archive.org/web/20090315012715/http://www.olympus-global.com/en/corc/history/camera/popup/xa_xa1.cfm?message=1 XA1], [https://web.archive.org/web/20090315011620/http://www.olympus-global.com/en/corc/history/camera/popup/xa_xa3.cfm?message=1 XA3] in the Olympus Global History (archived).<BR>
 +
*[http://camarasclassicas.blogspot.com/2010/09/yoshihisa-maitani-and-cult-of-olympus.html Maitani Yoshihisa and the cult of Olympus] at [http://camarasclassicas.blogspot.com/ Classic Cameras] by RaúlM.
 +
* [http://www.theothermartintaylor.com/moveabletype/archives/photo/cat_xa.html Photos taken with the XA by the other Martin Taylor]
 +
* Random [http://pbase.com/cameras/olympus/xa XA] photos at pbase.com
 +
* User manuals at [https://www.butkus.org/chinon/ Butkus.org] :
 +
**[https://www.butkus.org/chinon/olympus/olympus_xa/olympus_xa.htm XA]
 +
**[https://www.butkus.org/chinon/olympus/olympus_xa1/olympus_xa1.htm XA1]
 +
**[https://www.butkus.org/chinon/olympus/olympus_xa2/olympus_xa2.htm XA2 and XA3]
 +
**[https://www.butkus.org/chinon/olympus/olympus_xa4/olympus_xa4.htm XA4]
  
−
* Dante Stella's [http://www.davidde.com/articles/xa.html overview]
+
In French:
 +
* [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/x/html/page_standard.php?id_appareil=908 XA], [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/x/html/page_standard.php?id_appareil=24 XA2] on [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/general/html/francais.php www.collection-appareils.fr] by Sylvain Halgand
 +
* Lionel's Olympus [http://35mm-compact.com/compact/olympusxa.htm XA], [http://35mm-compact.com/minicompact/olympusxa1.htm XA-1], [http://35mm-compact.com/minicompact/olympusxa2.htm XA-2], [http://35mm-compact.com/minicompact/olympusxa3.htm XA-3], [http://35mm-compact.com/minicompact/olympusxa4.htm XA-4] pages at [http://35mm-compact.com/ 35mm-compact.com]
 +
* [http://www.collectiongeven.com/piwigo/picture.php?/2325/category/654 XA] and [http://www.collectiongeven.com/piwigo/picture.php?/30053/category/654 XA2] in [http://www.collectiongeven.com/piwigo/ G. Even's collection].
 +
In Japanese:
 +
* [http://fukucame.fan.coocan.jp/keifu/xa/keifuxa.htm Olympus XA page] at [http://fukucame.fan.coocan.jp/index.htm K.Fukushi's Rangefinder website]
 +
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20170424175027/http://puppysisland.3zoku.com/XA2.html Olympus XA2] at [https://web.archive.org/web/20160710050851/http://puppysisland.3zoku.com/left.html Puppy's Island] (archived)
  
−
* Chris Lee's history of the XA detailed in the [http://www.geocities.com/maitani_fan/xa_camera.html XA Way]
+
{{Compact classic}}
 +
{{Olympus classic}}
  
−
== Photos ==
+
[[Category: 35mm ultra compact]]
−
* Random [http://pbase.com/cameras/olympus/xa XA] photos at pbase.com
+
[[Category: Japanese 35mm rangefinder]]
−
* [http://www.theothermartintaylor.com/moveabletype/archives/photo/cat_xa.html Photos taken with the XA by the other Martin Taylor]
+
[[Category: Japanese 35mm viewfinder]]
−
* [http://groundglass.ca/archives/cat_olympus_xa.php Olympus XA shots at groundglass.ca]
+
[[Category: Olympus|XA]]
 +
[[Category: O]]
 +
[[Category: X|XA]]

Latest revision as of 06:24, 10 April 2023

3123083470_a63223ac4f.jpg
image by Rachel Rayns (Image rights)
3344634241_04f4afb064_m.jpg
Rangefinder XA
image by Ludovico Magnocavallo (Image rights)
5195762460_ed388b2bd0_m.jpg
Zone focus XA2
image by Carlos Santisteban (Image rights)
7112692825_bdf565021e_m.jpg
XA 3
image by Vagn Sloth-Madsen (Image rights)
7112693017_96925e9c52_m.jpg
XA 4
image by Vagn Sloth-Madsen (Image rights)

The Olympus XA series of cameras were an innovative range of very compact cameras in clam-shell cases. They were designed for Olympus by Maitani Yoshihisa[1]. The XA series was largely replaced by the Stylus/mju series in 1991, but continue to have a cult following today.

Models

XA

The XA, introduced in 1979 was the benchmark of the series containing a true rangefinder focusing mechanism and an aperture priority exposure system within its tiny case. It had a six element Zuiko 35mm f:2.8 lens, a CdS exposure meter and a shutter to 1/500. The aperture is changed thanks to a small lever. It is also possible to compensate the exposure by two ways : a lever at the bottom plate of the camera ensures a + 1.5 EV back light ; the ISO sensitivity lever, at the bottom of the lens, allows to change the value easily to under or to overexpose the frame. A self-timer is also available. Accurate focusing in a pocketable design, combined with convenient autoexposure, made this a very successful model.

XA 2

The XA2, introduced in 1980, was a simplified version of the XA with zone focusing and a programmed exposure system. Its Zuiko 35mm f/3.5 lens had four elements in four groups. The exposure meter was a CdS exposure sensor above the lens. Shutter speed range was 2 secs. to 1/750. The minimum focusing distance was 3 feet or .9 meters. Its film speed range was ASA 25 -800. Limited supplies in white, red and blue were also produced.

XA1

The XA1, introduced in 1982, was the cheapest and simplest of the series. It had a fixed focus four element 35mm f:4 lens, a shutter from 1/30 to 1/250 and a programmed exposure driven by a selenium meter. The only film speed settings were 100 and 400 ISO.

XA 3

The XA3, from 1985, was basically an XA2 with DX film coding and manual ASA settings up to 1600 ASA. It also had the "backlight compensation" feature from the original XA, a feature lacking in the XA2. Like the XA4, it had easy film loading, requiring no threading on the take-up spool. A limited edition in red was also produced.

XA 4

The XA4, from 1985, was much like the XA3, but with a wide-angle, 5-element Zuiko 28mm f/:3.5 lens. This could focus all the way down to a very close 0.3m, with the help of a plastic distance-measuring index attached to the wrist strap.

Accessories

Four different types of flash units were offered to use with the various XA models. All must be screwed to the left hand side of the body, and are very compact units. All auto flash models have settings for 100 or 400 ISO films.

  • A9M, a purely manual flash. Uses one AA battery.
  • A11, an auto flash with settings for ASA 100 and ASA 400. Uses one AA battery. A11 User's Manual Courtesy: acolla
  • A16, a more powerful auto flash than the A11. Has settings for ASA 100 and ASA 400. Uses two AA batteries.
  • A1L, lithium batteries not replaceable by the user without dismantling the flash.

A macro attachment was available for the A-11 and A-1L to use with the XA-4 at close focusing range.

Cases were sold for both the body only, and for the body with a flash attached.

Photos

2264875593_23d653bdda_m.jpg
XA with A11 Flash
image by Rick Soloway (Image rights)
8190985703_5766d0787c_m.jpg
red XA 2 w/A11
image by Vagn Sloth-Madsen (Image rights)


283414077_a7dffa21c7_m.jpg
Close up of XA2 lens
image by Tim Williams (Image rights)
283418334_7323cde5f1_m.jpg
A11 Flash unit
image by Tim Williams (Image rights)
283418337_afbbe0a544_m.jpg
Clam-shell design for XA series
image by Tim Williams (Image rights)


Compare

XA XA1 XA2 XA3 XA4
Year 1979 1982 1980 1985
Lens 35mm f/2.8 35mm f/4 35mm f/3.5 28mm f/3.5
Focus Rangefinder Fixed Zone
range 0.85m-inf 1.5m-inf 1.2m-inf 0.3m-inf
Meter CdS Selenium CdS
Shutter 10 - 1/500 1/30 - 1/250 2 - 1/750
Release electronic mechnical electronic
ISO 25-800 100 / 400 25-800 25-1600
DX NO YES
Power 2x SR44 None 2x SR44


Notes

  1. ↑ The name is given in the Japanese order, with family name followed by the given name.

Links

In French:

In Japanese:

Classic Compact Cameras
Canon IXUS | Minox 35 | Olympus XA | Penti
Olympus Classic Cameras
Semi | Semi II | Six | Chrome Six | Flex | Standard | 35 | Ace | Pen | Pen F | FTL | OM-1/2/3/4 | OM-10/20/30/40 | Trip | µ (mju:) | XA
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