I was hired for my first retail job by a family friend who sold camping gear. He wanted to see if he could sell cameras, too. I was 15, an avid hiker, and knew cameras. I got the job.
His shop sold Olympus XAs. At the time (late ’70s), these were new, innovative cameras. Still are. The XA features rangefinder focusing and aperture priority metering in a tiny, lightweight body. A sliding cover protects the 35/2.8 lens. A proprietary flash (the A11 or A16) provided supplemental light. It was unlike anything else. And again, it still is.
I don’t remember selling a single camera, though I sold a lot of camping gear and hiking boots to justify keeping me around.
I have a thing for compact film cameras, and have shot with a couple of Minox 35s, a Rollei 35, and a Chinon Bellami. All are still in my collection.
None have the interesting and weird combination of features of an Olympus XA. After researching the XA line, I decided I needed some hands-on time with one. After a few months of watching eBay, I landed an XA with an A11 flash. I replaced the battery, loaded a roll of expired Fuji Sensia, and tested it out. The 45-ish year old camera works like a charm. Focusing and the meter are both dead-on, and the lens is sharper than it has any business being. Despite being a tiny thing, it handles well, and the controls fall readily to hand (finger?). The rangefinder patch is bright and focusing is quick. I love it.
In fact, I love it so much I bought a second XA at auction. It was an impulse purchase that came with an A16 flash and cost about half the going price of an XA in excellent condition. It’s the one in the photos, with the Gordy’s finger loop. And it works every bit as well as the first one I bought.
Here are a few photos I shot with the second XA in my collection.
The Olympus XA isn’t just unique. It’s a solid, easy-to-carry tool for film photography. I’m glad I finally got around to shooting with one after all these decades. Mine are keepers.