I Appreciate You, Olympus XA-2! – Beau Photo Supplies Inc.

We all have that one camera that perhaps doesn’t receive as much appreciation as others. Maybe we take it for granted, don’t use it often, or compare it unfairly to other cameras with different capabilities (like measuring the image quality of a point-and-shoot against a field camera). I’m feeling particularly appreciative this month and want to acknowledge a camera that I often forget is a remarkable piece of engineering . . . lest I forget to mention the marvelous photos it takes.

One of my (remembered) favourite cameras, and one that I have the privilege of owning, is the pocketable, insurmountable, adorable Olympus XA-2. As I review photos that I’ve taken with it over the years, I would argue that this is the best everyday camera. I’ve carried it in my pocket to Toronto, on photo walks in Vancouver, and it will be the first and last film camera I’ll take on vacation—leaving my bulky F2 behind.

The XA-2, with its clamshell design, lightweight build, quiet shutter, and sharp Zuiko 3.5 lens, is the perfect camera to take everywhere, from camping trips and city walks to your friend’s afternoon barbecue.

The XA-2 is quick to power on and its zone focus system allows for quick picture taking (I usually leave it on the middle mode, which throws everything into focus from about 1.2m and onwards to infinity). Despite its plastic construction (the door seems to be metallic), it feels solid and can easily backpack along with your other gear. The ISO range spans from 25 to 800, but shooting in low-light situations can be challenging, especially with slower films like Color Plus.

Olympus' renowned designer, Yoshihisa Maitani, famed for creating compact cameras like the half-frame Olympus Pen series, introduced the XA2 in 1979.

The bright and clear viewfinder features an important green light (which brings to mind the iconic light at the end of Daisy’s dock in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”) that alerts you to insufficient light in the scene you’re attempting to capture. Olympus’ proprietary flash unit is available for these scenarios. It’s quite easy to accidentally trigger the red rectangular shutter button when opening the clamshell, and I’ve taken an inadvertent photo or two. The focus lever resets to the default middle setting when you close the camera, so remember to adjust it accordingly for your next shot. Plus, film loading can be tricky due to the right-hand slit and potential slippage upon advancement.

While it has its quirks—a sensitive shutter button, film loading challenges, and focus lever resetting—the XA-2 excels in every other aspect. What I love most is its lightweight and pocketable design. It’s the first camera I reach for when I go outside.

As it happens, we have the XA-2 for sale on consignment. We also have the first version up for grabs, or the Olympus XA.

Stop by the store and see if this portable little charmer is right for you. You may not want to put it down.

I will tuck mine into my front pocket and go out to take fresh pictures.