RE: [Leica] Re: Request for Advice

["Kotsinadelis, Peter (Peter)" <peterk@lucent.com>]

Bud,

Well I own an XA and have taken it around the world as a backup.  My
pictures on slide film were superb.  Yes, they were not Leica quality, but
projected to a very large wall size image they held up.  I have had my XA
repaired 3 times since I first bought it in 1982  (clumsy me, I dropped it
on occasion.) It is not built like a tank, but smaller than most and very
useful as a backup.  It is certainly smaller than comparable P/S including
the Leicas.  For shaprest photos the lens is best at F8 and F11.  I try no
to use it wide open, where (like most other lenses including some Leica
lenses) it is not good! :-(
May I suggest you get your wife's XA checked at a reputable repair place,
perhaps even at Olympus if they still repair them. Perhaps the camera is out
of sorts.  

Peter K

- -----Original Message-----
From: Bud Cook [mailto:budcook@ibm.net]
Sent: Friday, December 04, 1998 10:31 AM
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: Re: [Leica] Re: Request for Advice


B.D.,
I have a problem with the raves about the XA's lens.  It might be OK for
drugstore prints but stick a roll of color reversal film in it and I
think you'll find the lens has pretty poor contrast.  At least that's
been our experience.  The rangefinder isn't much to brag about either.

My wife has a pristine XA w/A16, packaging and manuals sitting on the
shelf.  She stopped using it when she turned to Leica P&S cameras.

It is a nicely made and compact camera.  I just don't agree with you
that the lens is all that great.

Best Regards,
Bud