Steve Harris , Sep 06, 2010; 06:50 p.m.
My spouse recently traveled to Washington state and along to the Wallowa Mountains area to visit friends and then on to Seattle to visit family. I gave her the Olympus XA1 loaded up with Tri-X and asked her take a few shots for me. Suddenly this tiny, fully automatic, battery-less camera had new potential!- I can give it to friends and family traveling to exotic places and live vicariously! I was excited to develop the film upon her return and asked her not to tell me what may be inside. Thought this entry might inspire you too to purchase a couple of fully auto, pocketable classics and send them on their way! Cheers.
xa1
Steve Harris , Sep 06, 2010; 06:50 p.m.
mountain 1
Steve Harris , Sep 06, 2010; 06:51 p.m.
Steve Harris , Sep 06, 2010; 06:53 p.m.
mountain 3
Steve Harris , Sep 06, 2010; 06:54 p.m.
petro1
Steve Harris , Sep 06, 2010; 06:55 p.m.
petra 2
Steve Harris , Sep 06, 2010; 06:56 p.m.
market 1
Steve Harris , Sep 06, 2010; 06:56 p.m.
market pikes
Mike Gammill 
, Sep 06, 2010; 08:47 p.m.
Very nice. The XA-1 doesn't get the respect of the XA or even the XA-2, but despite being fixed focus, at medium to small apertures the lens is decently sharp. I snagged one on ebay for about 5 USD a few years. As long as the selenium cell is within specs the camera can set programmed exposures and you're set. Not a new concept as some of the early zone focus and rangefinders of the 60's had programmed exposures set by selenium cell. Later, CDS cells won out because of their greater sensitivity. I like to think of the XA-1 as an updated classic because of its selenium cell/programmed exposure arrangement.
Rob Holz , Sep 06, 2010; 09:07 p.m.
She did well. I like the mountain and market shots. My regards to the Mrs.
