Olympus XA2 Camera w/ A11 Flash. Original Case, Manuals, Receipt & Fresh Batteries V2423

I bought this camera a few weeks ago but wanted to get my first roll of film back before writing this review. I am happy to report that there were no surprises or disappointments. I was a little concerned about light leaks on this 30+ year old camera but none were evident. The photos I got back were very sharp, at least as sharp as those from my similarly sized Rollei 35s. The exposures were right on the money. I have two Olympus Stylus Epics, which are nice cameras, but they are auto everything, including wind and rewind. As a result, they can be a bit noisy. The XA2 is probably the quietest camera I own. On the XA2, I also have the option of changing the exposure by changing the ISO. My only complaint is that it is easy to overwind the film and the rewind can be a bit fiddly. Hopefully, this will get better after more experience using the camera. These cameras have somewhat of a cult following. As a result, I paid a premium (but not exorbitant) price for my XA2. Nonetheless, I feel it was worth it.

Received a damaged camera and received no offer to resolve my issue. First roll of film developed every single picture was blurry and had afterimages even if the subjects were not moving. Reached out to seller and they said it was an issue with image stabilization. I said sure I’ll test it by placing it on its stand and setting a timer but again same issue. Seller has stopped returning messages

Lasted about 5 years, shutter always had issues. Light leaks from back so had to tape up. Just an average purchase and now it’s broken because the electrical circuit on light meter is confused. Pretty shoddy

Didn't arrive, but the seller contacted me and has sent another camera.

Ever since I got my first Holga a few years back, I've re-discovered film photography and as much as I love my Holga, I wanted a camera with a proper viewfinder to more accurately compose my shots. I picked up a used Olympus XA2- one that was mildly beat up on the outside, but with a clean lens and everything else working.I really like this camera. It's build like a Russian battle tank with a sturdy metal and plastic exterior. The fact that this camera was produced in the early 1980's and there are still so many working models floating around is a testament to their build quality. The power consumption is minimal. It runs on two silver oxide batteries (don't use alkaline or your pictures will be underexposed) which I hear can last for several years with typical use. To turn the camera on, you slide open the clamshell. The lens is a fixed focal length lens with no zoom and does not retract; once you open it up, it's ready to fire instantly. The shutter button requires very minimal pressure to release. This comes in handy for low light shots requiring you to hold the camera still, as pushing the shutter with such a light touch doesn't cause the camera to violently shake. Focus is controlled by a lever in 3 zones: near, intermediate, and far. There are other versions of the XA that provide more control over focusing, but I prefer the zone focusing because it's faster and more than adequate for most situations. Plus it reminds me of shooting my trusty Holga.Image quality is excellent. I'm not one to scan my negatives at a hundred and fifty thousand pixels per inch (or whatever ridiculous number it's up to nowadays) and inspect every pixel with a magnifying glass. I really don't care about such nonsense. There are plenty of internet trolls out there who do such comparisons, so a simple web search will provide this information if that's what you're interested in. The important point is that a well composed, well thought out shot in proper lighting with this camera produces great results.Many people who consider buying this camera also have looked at the Stylus point and shoots. I have both the Olympus Stylus Epic and the original Olympus Stylus (mju 1), and both of these cameras are capable of producing nice photos as well. I prefer the mechanics of the XA2 simply because of the zone focusing and ability to manually set ISO. I shoot a lot of landscapes, and occasionally the autofocus of both the Stylus Epic and Stylus will get things way out of focus. Though I try not to shoot through glass, sometimes that is the only option, and this is another area where the zone focus of the XA2 shines while my Stylus Epic will sometimes focus on the glass window instead of the subject beyond it.In a world of digital photography where you are encouraged to spend thousands of dollars for equipment that will be obsolete in 2-3 years, it's refreshing to use an old school camera like this that has stood the test of time. A good film camera from decades ago is still a good film camera today. Considering how easy it is to find one of these gems for a mere fraction of the price of any comparable digital camera, it's a no brainer that you should purchase one if you're looking for a great tool to capture those special moments.

The camera did not work and it did not come with batteries as described. Waste of time.

I really do like this camera, as it's fun to tote around while traveling or even just for every day use; however, all of my film is coming back with considerable light leaks. I realized (after getting my film back of course) that the back of the camera is warped, so that light is being let in through the back. Kind of disappointing, since I paid what would be considered top dollar for this camera. I just feel that the seller should've maybe tested the camera before saying it was in excellent condition, or at least been honest about it.

the camera wind function stopped working a week after i purchased this camera.I have to send this in for repair