Olympus XA vs Contax T - Which is Better?
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- čas přidán 18. 10. 2020
- If you're wanting a pocket rangefinder the only two options you have are the Olympus XA (1979) and the Contax T (1984), they both hold the title for smallest rangefinder on the planet. There's a couple key differences though, one being the price and the other being design. The XA goes with the clamshell design which was designed by Yoshihisa Maitani and remained throughout the XA's designs from the XA to XA4. While the T used a folding design that protruded the lens from the body, this allowed the Contax T to incorporate 7 aperture blades which gave smooth circular out of focus areas while the XA went with a very simple two bladed rectangular design. When it came to ergonomics I personally think this gives the XA an edge as it allows you to focus much quicker and easier than the T, making it a snapshot king. Carrying the XA in my pocket and seeing a scene to shooting it, it would only take me around two seconds to pull my camera out, compose, focus and shoot while the T would take around 8-10 seconds, which in the moment feels like a lifetime.
The T has the world renowned Carl Zeiss T* glass which made this a vastly more expensive camera than the XA. Starting at $560 in 1984, which inflated to todays market equates to $1400, the T was a very premium camera made for the enthusiast market. The XA was aimed at a different demographic when it launched in 1979, starting at $233 which with inflation would be $834 today, it came to a much wider market. Aiming to a professional photographers second camera, for when they were on holiday or a family's main holiday snapper. With all that out the way, sit back, see what camera suits you most and enjoy.
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The XA can shoot amazing color positive. I shot slides throughout Asia in the mid 80's. I loved the aperture priority and focusing as I shot many landscapes. I never felt I had inferior camera. It was my everyday camera carried with me at all times. I caught many, many photos that I would have missed with my Canon T90 (which was also an exceptional camera). Sad to lose it in the Camp Fire that destroyed 19,000 structures in my home town of Paradise. But we got most of the slides out before the fire hit our home. Just did not have time to grab my entire inventory of cameras from the previous 20 years. The XA will always have a warm spot in my heart.
Damn i’m really sorry to hear this, i’m living in Australia now so that feels incredibly close to home now - i wouldn’t know how to feel or react if i lost my slides or cameras to a fire! The XA is a special camera, i genuinely believe it shines with slide film - need to get my XA over to Aus and give it another shot
I'm in serria leone rn living so it's so good to see you shooting film in and around Glasgow nostalgic 🤙🏻❤️
Another excellent video. It just seems weird seeing my own back yard in a film photography video and not Chillicothe or New York ! Keep them coming.
Thanks! Yeah always strange seeing Glasgow or Edinburgh in videos on CZcams, there's such a little amount of content filmed there. Definitely gonna be doing more street photography around Glasgow once everything calms down again
Thank you, this was so informative & helpful in understanding which system to go for
A lot of shots, I seem to prefer the XA more. Image quality wise, both are very good.
try rollei 35!!
Nice video 👍
Just found a T in an old shop while touring Stockholm so I grabbed it up so I don’t always have to lug around my big expensive Sony everywhere. Plus film will be a cool challenge.
Funny that today I walked by a similar shop in Bergen and they had an XA in the window.
Finally someone did this comparison, well done! I knew from the beginning the Contax would have the better image quality. It’s just physics, the XA lens isn’t moving out of the housing with its complicated reversed telephoto construction. I enjoy my XA immensely and the handling is truly great. Another interesting comparison would be a Rollei 35S! Since I suspect it’s almost the same lens as the T and therefore I suspect same outcome. However the Rollei is completely manual.
Yeah I realised a few months ago that no one had cover it on CZcams, then lockdown got in the way of us shooting them head to head. Crazy to think it took until 2020 for someone to even compare these against each other, it seems too obvious. But yeah the XA definitely has the disadvantage with the way it's constructed, but for 90% of people I think it would be perfect for. The T is such a fiddly little camera to use, plus the 1m minimum focus for me might be a deal breaker, I'm still deciding! But appreciate the feedback and I'll look into the Rollei
Always nice to see my home city featured in a video, when shooting with film I'm using an OM2, however I do have a couple of Olympus compact cameras in the loft. So I think I might bring them down and see if they work. Excellent film .
Not related to the cameras but that BMW at 4:45 is gorgeous!
I own an XA and XA2 and unfortunately the XA2 is stuck in self timer mode due to the IC randomly going bad. If my XA bites the dust on me, I’m for sure going after a Contax T. Thanks for this great comparison!
I never liked the T's flip down flippitty thingy so I went for the XA. Is it the best? Probably not. But it's pocketable, non threatening, and it does a decent job at capturing images. Although I do wish the lens was faster.
Love this video I lusted over the Xa for a while due to the pocketability but I got the minonlta CLE instead as it's definately pocketable depending on your pocket. Glad I didn't get it, I like prinitng!
I've really been eyeing up the CLE so it's interesting that you say that! How has it been for you shooting? I just want an ergonomic, easy to use and fun camera to shoot with, and yeah obviously the quality is a bonus, which I know for sure the CLE would have
@@nakedexposure964 the CLE has quickly become my everyday camera due to its size, ease of use and light weight. Using it is a breeze, it definately has its quirks but not much. It takes lecia glass, it’s really light weight, sttill pretty cheap and the 40mm focal lens is amazing, plus you can use a lot of lecia M glass on it. Not all but a lot. My leica m6 lust is definatly gone for now. I’ll probably still get one eventually just due it it being fully mechanical but the CLE is so underratted and truely delivers a specal shooting experience. Theres only 2 things about the camera that would make it better: AE lock and not needing to be run on batteries. But the lightmetre which only works on A mode is really accurate and batteries are cheap and easy to find. Hope that was helpful. Get one before the price gets to high!
Nice video！
Just bought an XA with a worn down rangefinder patch. Good to know that they aren't all like that and I just need to find a good one. Still saving up for a T! Such a beautiful camera.
Put a black dot on the viewfinder it helps a lot
I have both and I love the zeiss lens but the XA is more comfortable to use. On the T, the lens cover door that folds down is in the way of the focus ring and aperture ring. The XA uses a focus tab and a aperture slider and it's much nicer in the hands imo
Great video and shots :
Maybe you could try to do the same video, for same size cameras that are underrated like the AGFA compact ;)
The only thing I would be jealous of Contax T would be the wind up mechanism. It seems to be a lot easier, less pain for my thumb, and less error where I thought I wind all the way but turns out I couldn't fire the shoot when I want to.
Other than that, I am very happy with my XA, especially the faster focusing mechanism comparing to Contax T.
They both seem to overexpose by half a stop to two-thirds of a stop based on the delta with the video exposure.
I have to admit that I was somewhat surprised when I saw that they had chosen Portra 400 to compare the XA and T. Is that film suitable for distinguishing small details and fine nuances between the cameras? What would have happened if they had used Ektar 100? (not to mention Adox CMS 20 II...)
I am calling it for the XA
Nice comparison! As a fan of olympus i have to go with the XA ✨
Cool video. What about the xa4 and it's 28mm 3.5 for Street photography ?
I have a couple of Contax T’s (one silver , one black, the black is totally mint, the silver much more of a used condition ) the build quality is really good , I think they were designed by Porsche ? . The problem is that you tend to baby them and handle them with kid gloves for fear of marking them or marking them in some way . As you say , the lens is super sharp. I’m currently running a roll of Fuji Acros through a Contax T3 I’ve had for ages but not used. Obviously that’s totally different being auto focus etc etc , but it will be good to see how it compares . Who do you use for processing ? Nostalgic to see film being used. The difference is that you think with every shot, as each is money. I’m sure you’re aware, but if you fancy something sort of similar , but with zone focusing , although keeping aperture priority and very much in the style of the Contax T , have a look at the Minox GT .
nice
Nice comparisons man. The difference with that Zeiss lens is really much greater than I expected. However, as an owner of a XA for 10+ years I definitely gained a better appreciation of the capabilities of that zuiko lens when I had the chance to make some darkroom prints, after many years of flatbed film scanning. They were small (full frame on a 8x10 sheet) but had a really nice quality. As you said, can't go wrong with either camera. I'm curious, what scanner were you using here? It looks to do a really nice job.
My Rollei 35S. Hook the film leader first, advance, fire, advance, place the cassette and then close the back. You will not have any failure to loads.
Thanks for the video! Have you tried any of the Minox 35mm cameras? The newer ones use modern batteries, and being scale focus cameras they're not too expensive.
Glad you enjoyed it! I've actually got a Minox 35 GT in its box in the cupboard, just never got round to buying an expensive battery for it to see if it's working, heard it's great though! I don't know how to feel about zone focusing for an everyday shooter, but yeah it's tiny the smallest 35mm I own
@@nakedexposure964 Oh awesome! Yeah I'm apprehensive about zone focussing too, but I guess at narrow apertures the guides on top of the lens could work.
There are adaptors (V27PX or cheaper non-voltage reducing ones) so you can run it with 4xSR43 batteries instead, or people have wrapped the batteries in tape and not bothered with an adaptor too. If you tried this I'd compare the metering to a camera you trust and adjust the ISO to compensate for any difference. I hope that's helpful!
@@nakedexposure964 hey man, you could easily use 4 common LR44/SR44 simply taped together to prevent them touching sideways.
I've owned sevaral minox35 and this always worked out great for me, perfect metering, perfect exposure!
To use Contax [Minox] as a zone focus: select f/8 […f/32] and set the distance to the green dot [about 4m - the « sweet » spot]. Everything from 2m to infinity will be in focus. « f/8 and be there » PX27 [5,6v] battery for the Minox - tape two lithium 3v Duracell DL1/3N batteries together. Lithium batteries don't lose their voltage. The Minox steps down the voltage.
Current (2/21) ebay has the Contax T at $500 - 750. XA, $75-150. The finders of both cameras are fairly small and "squinty", making the manual rangefinder marginal to useless, depending on condition. Both can be zone focused easily. In both cameras, exposure is automatic with no practical user control (user selects aperture; camera selects speed). The lens in the T is the same as in the later T2; it's quite good for a small, casual use camera. The lens in the XA was designed primarily to lie flat and recessed into the body. It's optical performance was at best a secondary consideration. It's average sharp in the image center, but poor to terrible in the edges and corners. Both lenses vignette wide open. the XA more so. But the XA does so to significant degree at all apertures, whereas the T does not. The XA is a snapshot camera; okay to scan for social media and small prints. The T will withstand significant enlargement. Finally, the critical electronics in the XA are showing their age, with numbers reported to have failed. No repair is economically available, if at all.. The T is years newer, but presents the same issues in the future. For the curious purchaser, an XA in good superficial condition may be the way to go, for $1000 or less. It's hard to justify current used prices for a Contax T which could become a bookend at ant time. There are many small rangefinder cameras, and some SLRs, with more flexible exposure systems and much better lenses than the XA, at the price of an XA or less.
On that note about repairs for anyone reading...Repairs are still available for the XA at Zuiko dot com (retired Olympus service tech). Approximately $100 for an overhaul. Yes, this is about the price you can buy a used one for but if yours breaks and you don't want to wing it on a used one, service is a good option. I sent mine in a few years ago and for that price he did light seal replacement, calibrated focus, meter and I believe shutter speeds as well as cleaned out the viewfinder. The last bit made a huge difference in viewfinder brightness and focusing ease after so many years of storing it in my pocket and getting the internal optics of the finder super dusty. Keeping the camera in a plastic bag in your pocket goes a long way in preventing that.
Thank you for this. Must say, I could see little difference in the shots. If anything I preferred those from the XA. In terms of printing, when you reckoned those of the Contax , particularly on A3, would reveal themselves as better than the XA..., I would ask..., who would actually want to be printing on A3 from either of these cameras, on a regular enough basis to make buying the Contax T over the XA... a worthwhile purchase ? I've just bought an XA2, waiting for it to arrive.
As an aside, had a bit of a moment at 5.00 when your cameras focused on the street sign for South Park Ave and Gibson St. As a student at university in Glasgow 50 years ago, I flat-shared in South Park Ave. No 13, Top Right Flat. The 5 of us had great times playing football in the enormous hallway .
Thanks again for video. PS, Like your girlfriend.
Of course the CONTAX T is better, with it's Sonnar 38/2.8 lens. It have to be, from the asking price, it's also newer a few years, than the Olympus XA. I have both. Neither the less, both are fine rangefinders.
I have owned both camera for about 10 years , both are good . The Contax’s image quality is better than XA , especially wide open Contax is very sharp ,XA is a little bit soft .When load color film Contax also performs better. Two cameras both have nice control experience .
That’s a subjective opinion.
I've only owned the XA, but I have zero complaints about the images I've gotten from it.
Contax T is like the illegit love child from Olympus taking the rangefinder, and The Minox draw-door
I've had my XA for years and though I really have grown to like the look and style of it's lense, seeing those shots on the Contax makes me realise that there's a lot lacking in terms of quality. Not just resolution, either. I might have to save up a bit and keep my fingers crossed the price doesn't keep going up, too!
The Contax definitely ups what the XA can do optically, but in terms of ergonomics and just the fun of shooting with it, the T feels a bit more clunky. Not that it's a bad shooting experience, it's just not fast and seemless, not as well designed as the XA in my opinion. If only there was a way to get the T's glass on that XA body. I'd pay someone for that mod
@@nakedexposure964 same here, actually. I've gotten pretty used to having it in my pocket and sliding it open quickly to get a shot. Thank for the comparison, really cool to see thoughts on a camera I know so well!
I like that tripod. Do you know the name and where did you get it? Love my original XA! :)
unfortunately i don't know what it's called, it's around 40 years old and built like a tank! I think it would be hard to come by one as well built nowadays, glad to hear you're loving your XA tho :)
@@nakedexposure964 Definitely a thing worth looking out for. Thank you.
Cool compare 🙌🏻👍
I have XA I do guess or zone focus anyway love it to shoot streets so lowkey not standing on the way blending nicely, for street I set max iso800 f8 or 11 it so it will shoot on max speed above 500 needle 🪡 line
Contax funny design with flip useless door only stands on the way between you and lens uninvited
Beat camera is the one you have... so there must be a 1000 way tie because i have a lot of cameras
A great watch, looking forward to seeing more of your videos. I've been shooting a XA2 today so a bit jealous of the XA rangefinder. The zone focus messes with my head! What exactly is the depth of field of the two red men icon???? 🤔
Appreciated! The XA2 is honestly just as good as the XA, I had a chance to put a couple rolls through it last year and I'd say the optics are probably just a little sharper than the XA's, so you're not missing out! I found the XA2 basically got everything in focus most times just leaving it on the standard focus setting, which makes it a super fast shooter. But I totally understand why you'd get rangefinder envy 😅
I had both and sold the XA twice! The focussing patch is poor and the zone scale focussing of the XA2 is much better. There is an advantage in the ability to change apertures but for street the XA2 is a great buy.
I had both and sold the XA twice! The focussing patch is poor and the zone scale focussing of the XA2 is much better. There is an advantage in the ability to change apertures but for street the XA2 is a great buy.
@@nakedexposure964 Ken Rockwell, at his site, gives some reasons why he prefers the XA2 over the XA
Just got an Olympus XA 3 from Facebook Marketplace for $25 🙌
I’d say they’re the same lads. Probs go with the Olympus but could just be the composition
try rollei 35!
the T loads like a Rollei SE. and its kinda annoying lol
All that for crappy snaps
They’re not crappy snaps