Throwback Edit Version: I edited this in October 2024, checked the links and converted it to the new WordPress blocks format. 

I have read so many reviews about this camera, but this is my first time trying it. It is an Olympus, my favourite brand, and sort after…so I want it. I searched eBay and set a maximum price for myself, which was actually quite low. I bid that maximum on a few items and watched each one get sold over my maximum. Then finally one stuck and I got it. A bonus was that it was listed by a charity shop so the money went to a good cause too.

I got one in great condition, with a box and the A11 flash attachment. The seals needed changing and I did a terrible job in my rush to use the camera. Later, I took the seals out and tried again. They were still not perfect but much better. The main place to make sure they were in good condition, was the door hinge.  I find this is the area where most light leaks occur on my wombled cameras.

The camera turns on by sliding the lens cover, which then sits over the rewind knob. There are soooo many websites with details about this camera. Here are just a few:
35MMC
XA dedicated site
Ken Rockwell
Matt’s Classic Cameras

Anyway, this truly is a popular camera and deservedly so. Without the flash attachment, it will easily fit in a pocket and the cover keeps the lens safe. It is well built and sturdy enough to throw in a bag, though I would keep the flash attachment off if I did this.

For my test roll, I was so excited that I barely thought about what I was doing, almost lomography style. Then I settled down a bit.

It is a zoned camera with 3 zones, which you can see at the side of the lens. Here is the best bit for me and what makes it a fantastic street camera…when you close the lens cover the zone button automatically resets the middle setting. Fantastic and very thoughtful. How many times have I written that I forgot to set the zone? Loads! With this camera, it always resets to the most commonly used setting. However only having 3 settings does mean the depth of field is quite large.

And that is it, put in the 2 x SR44 (I used regular 357), load it up with film, set the ISO (25-800) on the front of the lens and you are away.

Here are my test shots with the camera.

Can you see the notepad? I tried to take a photo with details of the camera and film I was using. Obviously, that didn’t work so from now on I will take a selfie in a mirror to remind me of the camera….or just test fewer cameras at once. I took the picture of the shop to remind me to try Britain’s best pork pies. I love pies and that is a bold claim.

As you can see the camera worked well, a few shots had speed issues but that was my fault for continuing to walk at the same time as shooting.

Keep or sell: I set out to buy this camera, but I found I wasn’t using it much so I sold it.