First test roll from Olympus XA2

Sorry this took a while, guys. But here are some pictures from my first test roll in the Olympus XA2. It's

nothing really special, mostly just snapshots I took around town. (I live in San Bernardino, California). The film is Fuji 200.<p>

 

So far, it's turning out to be a really cool little camera. It does have a tendency to underexpose a bit, which

you might see in some of these pictures. But I think that's probably because it needs a new battery. There was

a battery already in it, and who knows how old it is. But otherwise, the pictures looked great to me...very

sharp, with good colors.<p>

 

This first picture is a place called "Fun Corner." It's a novelty and costume shop. I used to go there

sometimes when I was a little kid, in the late 1980's and early 90's. But it's been there forever. I talked

with the owner recently, and the original shop was opened in the 1950's.<p>

 

<img src="http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f86/gatewaycityca/006_6small.jpg"><p>

 

<img src="http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f86/gatewaycityca/012_12small.jpg"><p>

 

While I was looking around town for some interesting subjects, I came across this mural on a realty office. It's

a scene of the city, with advertisements from local businesses. I thought it was kind of cool. One thing I've

noticed is that apparently there are a lot of undiscovered artists in the city. I've come across a lot of murals

on buildings lately where you can tell they put a lot of work and time into them.<p>

 

<img src="http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f86/gatewaycityca/016_16small-1.jpg"><p>

 

<img src="http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f86/gatewaycityca/010_10small.jpg"><p>

 

This next picture is "Bud Rickert's Art Supply." I've always thought that old car was pretty cool!<p>

 

<img src="http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f86/gatewaycityca/009_9bsmall.jpg"><p>

 

And this last picture is my co-worker's car. She really takes good care of it, and you can tell she really loves

that little car! I did crop the picture a little, but that's the only "editing" I did.<p>

 

<img src="http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f86/gatewaycityca/015_15small.jpg"><p>

 

That's all for now, but I'm sure I'll have more to post soon. Thanks for looking!

<p>The results look credible, for sure.<br>

Thanks for posting.</p>

<p>Nice pics of your town, <strong>Chris.</strong> That little camera produces quality images, for sure.</p>

Great job. Chris. I own several XA-2's, an XA-3, XA, and XA-1. Never an excuse to be without a camera. Thanks for

posting.

<p>Hey, the little guy does the job! Nice to see you take several views of the mural from different angles. Good way to work a scene!</p>

<p>Chris,</p>

<p>Lovely photos. It makes me wonder why I spent an arm and leg on my T3. It looks like the Olly takes just as nice photos.</p>

<p>They maybe just snapshots but still show off the potential of that Zuiko lens. I assume it is the f3.5?</p>

Thanks for the feedback, guys. I'm so impressed with this little camera that I'm thinking I might even chance a roll of Ektar 100 film in it. (Although I will definitely get new batteries first...Ektar does not handle underexposure well at all).

 

Starvy, you're right, the lens is f3.5

<p>Congratulations Chris, I'm looking forward to seeing the results with Ektar.The great thing with the small cameras like the XA2 is that you can keep them with you most of the time.</p>

<p>Nice job, Chris. An XA2 was my first camera, bought new in 1982 or so in Arizona. Used ever since, sometimes more, sometimes less. Been with me in Alaska on the motorcycle and in the Grand Canyon aboard a raft. Though the Canyon trip may have been its last. Still works great, but the really fine sand there found its way into any opening it could, and now the controls are a little grindy.</p>

<p>If you find you're underexposing a little, you can always just adjust the ASA setting by a stop or so. I think the XA2's averaging meter can get fooled a little as such meters often do, and the shots can come out a bit dark. This remains one of my favorite cameras, one which I almost always carry, and which often turns out to be the one that captures the best pictures of the day.</p>

<p>By the way, I forgot to mention that I really like both the perspective and the color rendition in those shots, especially the "Fun Corner" pictures. The XA2 is right at home there.</p>