Which is better?

Ben1223 · 9th December 2005

Hi,
Would like to get input from you guys. Which takes better photos, an Olympus XA or a Yashica T4? Assuming same guy uses them.

Thx

ricohflex · 10th December 2005

have enlarged 1/3 of neg from T4 to 8x12 and it is sharp.
have not tried this with XA.
personally I will enjoy the experience of taking a pic with XA more.

kahheng · 10th December 2005

Originally Posted by Ben1223

Hi,
Would like to get input from you guys. Which takes better photos, an Olympus XA or a Yashica T4? Assuming same guy uses them.

Thx

Depends on the guy......

tjtan77 · 14th December 2005

XA... feels.. hmm betteR?

Ben1223 · 15th December 2005

I finally settled on an XA. A nice CSer sold his cam. Very much appreciated. Takes getting used to but I love it.

celerystalksme · 16th December 2005

the glass? i'd guess the T4 is slightly better...but overall i'd prefer the XA...

jaix · 24th December 2005

Wondering what would be a reasonable price to pay for an Olympus XA?

Saw someone selling a XA2 for $108... is that overpriced?

celerystalksme · 24th December 2005

Originally Posted by jaix

Wondering what would be a reasonable price to pay for an Olympus XA?

Saw someone selling a XA2 for $108... is that overpriced?

WAY overpriced!!! that's just stupid! you can find MINT+++++ XA2's for $50 or less.

for $108 the thing better be New In Box, Unopened, Never Used...and even then, it's overpriced...

celerystalksme · 24th December 2005

one more thing...

i see you're considering the xa2 instead of the xa. just make sure you know the differences...they're appreciably different...

jaix · 25th December 2005

Originally Posted by celerystalksme

one more thing...

i see you're considering the xa2 instead of the xa. just make sure you know the differences...they're appreciably different...

Hi... thanks for pointing that out... still pretty noob at this... so it's more research I guess.

Any idea where I can find XA2 and XA and what is the market cost for a XA? Think a XA is quite difficult to find now?

Merry Christmas to everyone!

celerystalksme · 25th December 2005

Originally Posted by jaix

Hi... thanks for pointing that out... still pretty noob at this... so it's more research I guess.

Any idea where I can find XA2 and XA and what is the market cost for a XA? Think a XA is quite difficult to find now?

Merry Christmas to everyone!

XA's can cost a lot. I MINT XA with everything it comes with can run over $100. But you should be able to find a NEAR MINT XA without the box and such for under $50.

i typically use ebay...i've gotten most of my used cameras from ebay and have not been ripped off once! i got good deals and all have been MINT! just be careful and pay attention to the seller ratings.

otherwise, you can try sites like adorama, b&h, keh, koh's camera, ritzcam...they sell used cameras. i'm sure there are other sites as well. or you can check classifieds at sites like clubsnap, rangefinderforum, or photo.net...stuff like that.

jaix · 25th December 2005

Originally Posted by celerystalksme

XA's can cost a lot. I MINT XA with everything it comes with can run over $100. But you should be able to find a NEAR MINT XA without the box and such for under $50.

i typically use ebay...i've gotten most of my used cameras from ebay and have not been ripped off once! i got good deals and all have been MINT! just be careful and pay attention to the seller ratings.

otherwise, you can try sites like adorama, b&h, keh, koh's camera, ritzcam...they sell used cameras. i'm sure there are other sites as well. or you can check classifieds at sites like clubsnap, rangefinderforum, or photo.net...stuff like that.

Thanks for all the info!

Are the ranges for the prices that you quoted in US$ or SGD$?

Okay... had some phobia about buying from ebay... but after reading your 'review', guess it's worth a try.

celerystalksme · 25th December 2005

Originally Posted by jaix

Thanks for all the info!

Are the ranges for the prices that you quoted in US$ or SGD$?

Okay... had some phobia about buying from ebay... but after reading your 'review', guess it's worth a try.

US$

ebay works...just read the auction carefully, read the seller rating, and ask all your questions to the seller before bidding! otherwise, the sites i mentioned usually have a good inventory.

good luck!

skinnylatte · 25th December 2005

eBay isn't a bad place to start looking because you get to choose between many different listings.. however it's always "caveat emptor" and my own experiences point to the same thing too.

As a general rule try not to buy from those "I know nothing about cameras so sold as is" listings. They mostly scream "dud". The risk is entirely yours and even if you are able to return it — the shipping costs two ways already usually exceed the cost of the camera.

The cameras I've bought from eBay have mostly needed cleaning and other servicing, and after adding these costs, I would go to camera forums instead and look at their classifieds. Or buy from a reputatable dealer like www.keh.com.

Ben1223 · 28th December 2005

Originally Posted by jaix

Hi... thanks for pointing that out... still pretty noob at this... so it's more research I guess.

Any idea where I can find XA2 and XA and what is the market cost for a XA? Think a XA is quite difficult to find now?

Merry Christmas to everyone!

Here's a link to photos taken with the XA by various people:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/ol...a/interesting/

skinnylatte · 29th December 2005

To buy the XA I'd hang around a few places... photo.net classifieds, nelsonfoto forums, and definitely the rangefinderforum.. post a WTB.. or try the Buy/sell here too. I'd rather buy the XA (and other cameras) from people who actually use it.

You probably won't have much luck hoping to find it in a shop here.. and even if they do have it, it'll be very expensive too, probably expensive enough for you to buy overseas+CLA if you have to, and still have enough left over.

jaix · 29th December 2005

A big thank you to Skinnylatte, celerystalksme and Ben1223 for all the help!

Now on the quest for XA (and maybe XA2 as well)....

Skinnylatte: Sorry, I'm kinda new at this... but what is LCA?

Ben1223 · 29th December 2005

Originally Posted by jaix

A big thank you to Skinnylatte, celerystalksme and Ben1223 for all the help!

Now on the quest for XA (and maybe XA2 as well)....

Skinnylatte: Sorry, I'm kinda new at this... but what is LCA?

I think CLA stands for cleaning, lubrication, adjustment.
Here's a useful site on the XA. I did my research before I bought mine and stumbled upon them:
http://www.diaxa.com/xa/xastart.htm
http://www.photoethnography.com/Clas...html~mainFrame (there's a list of cameras at the left side. Look for the XA)
http://homepage.mac.com/mattdenton/p...lympus_xa.html

I saw several XA2's at TCW. It's inside the shop and not at the display window. There is also an XA at 2nd hand shop beside Cathay at Peninsula.

skinnylatte · 29th December 2005

Ask me again in a month or two, I might have an extra XA2 to release

I currently have one that I'm going to collect from the shop (got it CLAed). I have another one with me that hasn't had any work done on it (I bid on two at the same time one eBay not knowing that I'd win both). If my friend doesn't want the other one, or if I tire of it, perhaps I can let you have it. Just so that someone else gets to share the fun.

skinnylatte · 29th December 2005

Originally Posted by jaix

Skinnylatte: Sorry, I'm kinda new at this... but what is LCA?

Oh, and CLA means cleaning, lubing and adjustment.. or something like it.

LCA.. Lomo LCA, most overpriced pretend-rangefinder for the people who like the leaky lomo look. I also have one that I'll be glad to sell cheap. Heh.

9th December 2005	#1
Ben1223 Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bedok, Singapore Posts: 548	Which is better? Hi, Would like to get input from you guys. Which takes better photos, an Olympus XA or a Yashica T4? Assuming same guy uses them. Thx

10th December 2005	#2
ricohflex Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: sing Posts: 1,538	Re: Which is better? have enlarged 1/3 of neg from T4 to 8x12 and it is sharp. have not tried this with XA. personally I will enjoy the experience of taking a pic with XA more.

14th December 2005	#4
tjtan77 New Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 41	Re: Which is better? XA... feels.. hmm betteR?

15th December 2005	#5
Ben1223 Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bedok, Singapore Posts: 548	Re: Which is better? I finally settled on an XA. A nice CSer sold his cam. Very much appreciated. Takes getting used to but I love it.

16th December 2005	#6
celerystalksme Deregistered Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 23	Re: Which is better? the glass? i'd guess the T4 is slightly better...but overall i'd prefer the XA...

24th December 2005	#7
jaix Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: West of Singapore Posts: 307	Re: Which is better? Wondering what would be a reasonable price to pay for an Olympus XA? Saw someone selling a XA2 for $108... is that overpriced?

24th December 2005	#9
celerystalksme Deregistered Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 23	Re: Which is better? one more thing... i see you're considering the xa2 instead of the xa. just make sure you know the differences...they're appreciably different...

25th December 2005	#14
skinnylatte Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 196	Re: Which is better? eBay isn't a bad place to start looking because you get to choose between many different listings.. however it's always "caveat emptor" and my own experiences point to the same thing too. As a general rule try not to buy from those "I know nothing about cameras so sold as is" listings. They mostly scream "dud". The risk is entirely yours and even if you are able to return it — the shipping costs two ways already usually exceed the cost of the camera. The cameras I've bought from eBay have mostly needed cleaning and other servicing, and after adding these costs, I would go to camera forums instead and look at their classifieds. Or buy from a reputatable dealer like www.keh.com.

29th December 2005	#16
skinnylatte Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 196	Re: Which is better? To buy the XA I'd hang around a few places... photo.net classifieds, nelsonfoto forums, and definitely the rangefinderforum.. post a WTB.. or try the Buy/sell here too. I'd rather buy the XA (and other cameras) from people who actually use it. You probably won't have much luck hoping to find it in a shop here.. and even if they do have it, it'll be very expensive too, probably expensive enough for you to buy overseas+CLA if you have to, and still have enough left over.

29th December 2005	#17
jaix Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: West of Singapore Posts: 307	Re: Which is better? A big thank you to Skinnylatte, celerystalksme and Ben1223 for all the help! Now on the quest for XA (and maybe XA2 as well).... Skinnylatte: Sorry, I'm kinda new at this... but what is LCA?

29th December 2005	#19
skinnylatte Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 196	Re: Which is better? Ask me again in a month or two, I might have an extra XA2 to release I currently have one that I'm going to collect from the shop (got it CLAed). I have another one with me that hasn't had any work done on it (I bid on two at the same time one eBay not knowing that I'd win both). If my friend doesn't want the other one, or if I tire of it, perhaps I can let you have it. Just so that someone else gets to share the fun.