Olympus XA User manual

INSTRUCTIONS

DESCRIPTION OF CONTROLS
Rangefinder Window
Exposure Counter
Film Winder
Self-Timer/
Battery Check Lamp
Strap Eyelet
Aperture Lever
Distance
Scale Window
Lens
Shutter Release
Self-Timer/Battery Check Beeper
Non-Slip Finger Grip
Rewind Crank
Rewind Knob/
Camera Back Release
Dust
Barrier
Viewfinder
CdS Light Sensor
ASA Film Speed Lever
Focusing Lever
X-Synchro Contacts
Flash Retaining
Socket
Flash
Guide Pin Hole
(Side View)
1

Film Rewind Shaft
FilmChamber
Sprocket
Film Take-UpSpool
ASA Film Speed Window
Film Speed
Adjustment Lever
Auto
Flash Sensor
Battery
Chamber
Tripod Socket
Rewind Release Button
Control
Lever
Camera Back
Flash
Clamping Screw
Film Pressure Plate
Flash
Diffuser Window
Flashtube
Charge Lamp
2

TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Olympus XA is an aper-
ture priority auto-exposure
rangefinder camera setting new
standards for function and feel,
appearance and performance.
Please read the following pages
carefully and your new camera
will provide maximum per-
formance and satisfaction.
DESCRIPTION OF CONTROLS .............. Page 1•2
PREPARATION
Installing the Batteries ..................... 4
Loading the Film ....................... 5•6
SIMPLE STEPS FOR TAKING PICTURES
Setting the Aperture ...................... 7
Focusing ............................ 8
Releasing the Shutter ..................... 9
Unloading the Film ...................... 10
Self-Timer ............................ 10
Automatic Flash Photography .............. 11•12
PHOTOGRAPHIC TECHNIQUES
Aperture and Depth of Field ............... 13•14
Shutter-Speed Priority Photography ........... 15-16
Backlighting Compensation .................. 17
Daylight Synchronization .................. 18
HELPFUL HINTS .......................... 19
CARE AND STORAGE ....................... 20
MAIN SPECIFICATIONS .......................... 21•22
3

If the beeper doesn't signal, the
batteries are inserted incorrectly
or are exhausted.
The batteries will last about one
year and must be replaced with
two 1.5V silver oxide batteries
(SR 44, EPX-76 or equivalent).
Do not press the shutter release
during battery check operation,
or the battery will run down
quickly, leaving the shutter open-
ed. Return the lever to the normal
position.
2. Check the batteries.
Set the control lever to "CHECK".
The beeper emits a tone and the
check lamp glows brightly.
Installing the Batteries
PREPARATION
1. Insert the batteries correctly.
SR 44
(EPX-76,
MS-76 or
equivalent)
4

Loading the Film
1. Open the camera back and in-
sert the film cartridge. (Dust Bar-
rier is in closed position.)
Never load the film in direct sun-
light.
2. Attach the film end to the
take-up spool.
The film end must not stick out
of the slot excessively.
3. Startwindingthefilm and close
the camera back.
Film perforations must engage
with sprocket teeth and the film
must be drawn flat.
5

4. Open the Dust Barrier.
If the Dust Barrier is not fully
opened, the shutter cannot be
released.
5. Wind and expose two blank
shots until the exposure counter
shows "1".
The lens should be aimed toward
a bright light when shooting.
6. Set the ASA film speed.
6

SIMPLE STEPS FOR TAKING PICTURES
Setting the Aperture
1. Open the Dust Barrier and set
the aperture lever ( mark) to the
F-number required.
2. Confirm the shutter speed in
the viewfinder, aiming at the sub-
ject.
(The arrows indicate parallax cor-
rection marks.)
If the shutter speed nee-
dle enters the striped, over-
exposure warning zone,
push the aperture lever
downwardsothatthenee-
dle points to "500" (1/
500sec) orunder.
If the needle points to
"30" (1/30 sec) or under,
be careful not to shake the
camera.
(To make full use of aperture con-
trol,see pages 13 & 14.)
Aperture guideline (ASA 100)
7

Focusing
3. Looking through the view-
finder, compose and focus.
If the subject distance is 0.85 ~
1 meter (2.8 ~ 3.3 feet), frame
the subject in the area under the
2 parallax correction marks.
Turn the focusing lever until the
double image in the central rec-
tangle fuses into one. Focusingcan
also be done with the knurled
mount (e.g. when a tripod is in
use).
Out of focus
In focus
8

Take care not to block the lens, flash dif-
fuser window or auto flash sensor.
Releasing the Shutter
4. Hold the camera steady and
lightly press the shutter release.
The release requires a minimum of
finger pressure, reducing chance of
image blur due to camera shake.
9

Unloading the Film
Self-Timer
5. When the film ends, rewind and remove it.
Close the Dust Barrier, depress the rewind release button and
rewind the film. When the crank turns freely, open thecamera
back and remove the film in the shade.
Set the control lever to "SELF
TIMER" and release the shutter.
The beeper emits a tone and the
check lamp glows intermittently.
The shutter will release after a
delay of about 12 sec. The lever
also serves as a camera support.
To stop the timer midway, return
the lever to its normal position.
10

Automatic Flash Photography (Only the Electronic Flash A11 can be used.)
2. Connect the flash unit to the
camera.
Insert the guide pin into the guide
pin hole and turn the clamping
screw clockwise.
After connecting, do not twist
the A11.
1.5V AA battery
(Alkaline preferred)
1. Set the ASA film speed.
If the ASA speed of the film to be
used is close to "100" or "400",
use the nearest setting. (ASA 80
or 125 "100").
11

3. Set the aperture lever to"Flash".
The charge lamp pops up and the
A11 turns on automatically.
The flash setting has been design-
ed to require a stronger pressure
than the aperture setting.
4. When the charge lamp glows,
you are ready to fire.
Do not move the lever once it
has been set for auto flash, or in-
correct flash exposure may result.
5. At the end of flash
photography, fully
depress the charge
lamp to turn the
flash unit off.
Maximum working
distance 2.5m (8.2
ft.) at ASA 100, 5m
(16.4 ft.) at ASA
400.
12

PHOTOGRAPHIC TECHNIQUES
Aperture and Depth of Field
Depth of field is the area of accept-
able sharpness in front of and be-
hind the subject in focus. The larg-
er the F-number used (from F2.8
to F22), the deeper the depth of
field. On the contrary, the smaller
the F-number (from F22 to F2.8),
the shallower this zone of accept-
ablesharpness.
The table on the opposite page
shows that when the camera-to-
subject distance is 1m, the depth
of field at F4 ranges from 0.91m
to 1.12m.
Making use of "out of
focus" background or
foreground effects
Deep-focus effects
13

(Camera-to-subject distances with are indicated on the
camera's distance scale.)
Depth of field table
Circle of least confusion 1/30 mm.
Depth of field table
Circle of least confusion 1/760 in.
(in meters) (in feet)
14

To emphasize motion To stop movement
Shutter-Speed Priority Photography
When photographing fast moving
subjects, the impression of move-
ment can be emphasized by inten-
tionally allowing the image to be
blurred using a stow shutter speed.
On the contrary, the movement
can be "frozen" using a fast shut-
ter speed.
15

Move the aperture lever until the
needle points to the shutter speed
required.
If the shutter speed needle en-
ters the striped zone, push the
aperture lever downward so that
the needle points to "500" or un-
der.
An aperture-priority auto-expo-
sure camera, the XA lets you select
the aperture freely, then automati-
cally sets the right shutter speed
for correct exposure. The shutter
scale is visible in the viewfinder, so
you can pick exactly the speed and
aperture you like.
If the needle points to "30" or
under, hold the camera steady or
support with a tripod; or use a
faster shutter speed by pushing
the lever upward; or use autoflash.
16

Compensated+1.5EV
When shooting against the light
(bright sky, beach, snow, or facing
a window), the face tends to ap-
pear dark on the image. In this
case, use the control lever to pro-
perly expose the most importantarea.
Turn the lever to "BACK LIGHT
+1.5" and release the shutter.
You can get the same effect by
reducing the ASA film speed set-
ting.
Back Lighting Compensation
Before compensation
17

In situations like these, compen-
sate for the back lighting by using
the control lever.
Manual flash method is recom-
mended for daylight fill-in. Set
the A11 film speed lever to
"FULL" and the aperture lever to
the F-number (after having set to
the flash symbol) obtained from
the guide number formula.
Daylight Synchronization
18

HELPFUL HINTS
Dust Barrier
Opening the Dust Barrier fully switches the
power ON, and all camera functions are ready
to shoot. Closing the Dust Barrier switches
the power OFF, and all camera functions are
locked.
Foolproof electronic circuit
With the Dust Barrierclosed and camera func-
tions locked, the foolproof electronic circuit
nonetheless allows the camera back to be
opened for film loading, unlocking all relat-
edfunctions.
Electronic feather-touch shutter release
The release (pressure conductive polymer)
responds to very light pressure. Pressing with
a stroke as you normally do with other cam-
eras is not needed.
Treat the camera with care!
Do not exert stronger pressure on moving
parts than needed (Dust Barrier, levers,
knobs). When attaching a tripod, care should
be taken not to tighten the screw excessively
and not to rotate the camera on the screw.
Filters cannot be used with the XA.
19