I think the XA is a wonderful camera. I have owned one since they first came
out. It
is often hard to tell if a photo was taken with the XA or the OMs. I rarely use
the
flash, and like the fact that I don't have to carry one if I am not going to be
using it. I have used mine as both a backup and a lightweight climbing camera. I
often choose to take it with me climbing instead of an OM with a 35mm lens.
A word on the light falloff on the corners, don't let this hold you back from
purchasing an XA. Most oif the time it is a total non-issue. If you shoot print
film
you may well never notice it! If you shoots slides (as I do most of the time)
in
the mountains with lots of sky in the composition, it will be noticible, but
rarely
offensive. It is similar to the results you often get with a polarizer and a WA
lens. Pick one up, and try it out. If you don't like it you can always sell it.
I
think it is one of the best two compact cameras in the world, of any kind!
(BTW,
the other is the Rollei 35-S for those who are wondering.)
As for photo quality, I have routinly enlarged my XA photos to over 11x14 with
great
results. With good film the XA is capable of stunning results.
For those who would like some idea of the XAs capabilities, here are some
photos I
posted a year or so ago. Scans are not great, and the page is slow to load, but
it
does give you a good feel for the camera. (BTW these were shot with print film)
http://home.earthlink.net/~spknsprkt/wsnC26F.html The bottom photo, "Climber on
Black Peak" was enlarged to 8x12, mounted and framed and presented to my
brother for
Christmas this year. You can see the light falloff on the RH side. This was
easily
fixed during printing and is not noticible in the final print.
Jim Couch
Alan Magayne-Roshak wrote:
>
> I agree totally. I don't like the time lag of autofocus on P&S cameras;
> the XA goes off immediately. And since I don't like on-camera flash, it is
> annoying to me too, when the Stylus defaults to flash ON after being
> closed. The XA is one of the greatest designs ever. I've had three photos
> taken with my XA reproduced as double-page spreads in hardcover books. My
> XA loves Kodachrome; I love my XA.
>
> Alan Magayne-Roshak
> Senior Photographer
> Univ. of Wis.-Milwaukee
> Photo Services
> amr3@xxxxxxx
> 229-4282
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