Shoot film: Olympus XA2

Thanks to Fran Meneses (Frannerd) for helping me out and filming this video!
As always, the drums are by the amazing Rodrigo Recabarren... and if you want to, you can DOWNLOAD THE MUSIC (and use it!):
rodrigorecabarren.com/music-fo...
AND NOW, SOME TECHNICAL DETAILS
All my videos are recorded with a Canon EOS M. Nothing fancy.
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Thank you for watching! If you can leave a like and share, it would help me a lot! :D

[@niallthestyle]

I love the XA2. One thing you could do for backlit subjects is lower the ISO to trick the camera into exposing properly. It's not very exact but it can be a handy workaround.

[@edpavez]

That is actually really clever. I didn't think about that. Nice one! I'm pinning this idea. :)

[@davidrothschild8913]

Very true. I do that all time. I find the meter inside, particularly for landscape does a phenomenal job at reading high contrast scenes considering it's just a point and shoot

[@niallthestyle]

No probs...nice video by the way, always good to see your stuff!

[@niallthestyle]

Yeah it's surprisingly good sometimes. Great little camera!

[@LasstUnsSpielen]

Thats the reason why I like the XA3 more. Even more as the original XA. I can focus much quicker and I can push the film as high as 1600. The XA2 only goes up to 800.

[@dangerpowers123]

I really enjoy your channel, it's great getting to watch the process of you taking photos interspersed with the images themselves. Plus all the varied film and camera types. Thank you

[@DANVIIL]

The Zone Focusing system on the XA2 always resets to the middle distance zone. There is a close zone, a mid-zone and the long distance zone. So knowing that the when you open the camera shell, you are always at the mid point. Move it one up or one down and you have close up or long distance. I'm not sure what you find difficult about that, but everyone is different.

[@TonTon.2142]

I need to come out of my shell more. I'm in awe at your ability to shoot these candid photos of people, often right in their faces, without it being an issue. I'd be so afraid of weirding someone out and/or offending them. Though, it's for the art, the fun of it. I need to just embrace the experience and do more of this type of shooting, because I want people to be my main focus, honestly. Anyway, super video. You're an inspiration.

[@samdavis519]

Saaaaame.

[@r.a.8590]

Are you from Canada? People here would get super weirded out, call you creepy and maybe even chase you here.

[@SuperSantoloco]

Same in Germany.

[@whatnowbenow]

Ditto

[@maddiecalderon169]

@@samdavis519 im in america and I personally think thats super rude

[@LindaEnfield]

The XA2 is the first camera I bought myself many moons ago and I still have it! Such a fun camera that fits neatly in the pocket 📸❤️

[@Dream331]

You are amazing the way you frame and capture your shots! Wow! I had fun watching you! 😃

[@jameselliottphoto6424]

Love the review! My favourite compact by far! mostly because I wear glasses too and it's really comfortable to use! Also I love the zone focus because once you get used to it, you don't even realise you are doing it! :D

[@mattypaxton]

I always love your videos PVG. I am a regular 'patron' and I'd like to say that you made/make me very excited about photography. Keep up your photos. I think they are art. Thank you for your energy and output.

[@mattypaxton]

*EPG

[@edpavez]

thanks a lot Matty...! for both your kind message and your support on Patreon. it means a lot!

[@josehurtado3981]

Siempre de vuelta en tus vídeos puedo ver cómo fluyes haciendo fotografías y cuando me siento un poco bloqueado es muy inspirador. Un saludo desde Bogotá, Colombia.

I have a LCA and a XA2, and I must say, you are REALY good with the zone focus system!

[@studiosherlen]

gosh ed teach me how to street photography 😭 i want to bury my face every time i shot someone candidly on the street and they stare back at me

[@prometeusal]

For using same finger for focusing and shutter part, I use my right middle finger to change aperture speed on XA and use my index finger for pressing the shutter and I find it quite comfortable. Great videos by the way keep it up!

[@detectivejonesw]

I love this style of photography. Very happy to have discovered your channel. Great work!

[@thevalleyofdisappointment]

love it! of course i want the XA but I'm open to one of the other four too as zone focus might be more appropriate for this style of snapper

[@tropicaltakedown]

Just picked up an XA2. Your videos are really good and you are clearly a great photographer!

[@junobullish]

Really like how you bravely approach people! Nice photos

[@lisafangmann1261]

You’re really talented man!!! The pictures turned out really great!

[@theclovercross]

some cracking shots in this vid! I think the setting lended a good depth to many

[@dietcock809]

amazing, I thing this roll came out pretty sweet!

[@WaywardAce]

I'm thinking to myself that these are my favorite set of images ever. I wish I was half as good. Then he says he's just screwing around. Then I hang my head in shame ..... haha ..... cool vid as always.

[@thekidneedsjuice3785]

Its Friday and we have a new Ed G. video life is great!

[@hilldweller8605]

Awesome video, I really liked the photos.

[@Purpleheartskee]

That film really shines under the right conditions

[@pritush]

Seriously love ur style that's what I do when I'm home n comfortable

[@bwc1976]

Great to see you compare the XA2 against the Lomo. Sounds to me like (a) as a glasses wearer, and (b) someone who's already experienced using the original XA, the XA2 (or better yet, the XA3 because the ISO setting goes up to 1600) has the edge. Definitely looking forward to getting one sometime.

[@linjianglongyi]

actually XA1 does not have the focusing patch, that is XA, XA and XA1 are different , XA1 is similar to XA2

[@davidrothschild8913]

Possibly my favorite camera and here is one of my favorite shots I made with it(if interested): instagram.com/p/BOHtfgdD4BE/?taken-by=dave_rothschild&hl=en

[@niallthestyle]

That's awesome. I love how you push Ektar in misty/foggy/dark conditions. It looks great.

[@OldCameras]

Hunting shot mate. Nice.

[@jehandelange6266]

Great Eduardo! Have a good one!

[@mdlassel]

i think the speed of zone focusing is the sole reason im gonna get this over the XA. if i wanted a more manual experience i could use of my SLRs with a bigger viewfinder and easier controls. The XA2 seems to offer faster “in and out” street shooting, and thats great.

[@Finchley]

I shoot primarily with the XA2 and love it. So easy to pick up and shoot.

[@Finchley]

if you want to seem some examples of the XA2 with flash check out my Instagram: instagram.com/mattgabriel21/

[@martinrobaldo9573]

beautiful soundtrack

[@mjfalcon007]

Excellent video man. Even though you were not trying to achieve “Street typical” photos, I think you took some fantastic images. I am definitely interested in picking up an XA2 at some point as I would like a good quality pocketable camera.

[@DecaffeinatedPhotography]

Ahh... you beat me to it! We also did a review on this camera, love it, has some excellent colours, love that last shot 😀

[@justcallmesando]

You can use the ISO setting as an exposure compensation solution.

[@sergeantcrow]

I love this style of taking shots.. Spontaneous, up close and fast.. Now that's 'Art'. I am lucky I have this little camera too ! Have not used it yet though...

[@ClashwithPresto]

YES! My favorite camera! So glad to see you reviewing it 😁 keep up the great work

[@robertcrumley007]

The XA3 has the same +1.5 stop exposure compensation lever ass the original XA has if you expect to shoot backlit subjects often. Also goes up to ISO 1600. Of course, if you have time, you can always lower the ISO setting to overexpose a backlit shot.

[@barnacklucas6633]

it's already Friday night now in China and I really love those little ps cameras. I can shoot on the street without noticing.

[@harrystevens3885]

The AX 2 picks the perfect focusing zone for street photography it automatically defaults the switch when you open or close the clam shell, just use a fast film and go with it. They also have a nice add on flash which can be useful. If you want a great point and shoot for street get a Canon Spite they are cheap AF switchable flash very good lens and easily rival the Olympus AX range.:)

[@semaca]

Nice work! I have a XA2 but I need some help :) Without the film I see that everything works fine, but after I insert a roll I only get 2 second exposure, no matter what. Any advice?

[@TrapPhoneLoveMelodiesss]

Aye bro these are incredible

[@juliamagdalena5327]

Hi! its amazing film, thank you! could you tell me, how plates i have to buy to this camera? tkank you or the answer, and have a nice day!

[@chrisxu6521]

When I shoot vertically with the XA2, I often get a corner blocked by my fingers. But it doesn't show up in the viewfinder, so it's a little bit annoying.

[@Teaffer]

Que buen video, viejo. Hace rato que esperaba ver un review tuyo sobre esta cámara. Y la percusión fue muy buena, muy chilena, jajaja. Saludos.

[@rafaelo9769]

Ed: "Not street photography art" Meanwhile I can only get one decent shot out of an entire 36 roll. And it'll probably be out of focus too.

[@OldCameras]

Hahahahah.

[@mynewcolour]

I found nailing focus when indoors is a nightmare.

[@Georgiaboy_]

@@mynewcolour really? lord do you have any tips?

[@andiikohring1064]

@@Georgiaboy_ try zone focusing

[@julianongpin7181]

i'm 2 minutes in, excellent shots man!!

[@seizan]

actually, i bought one after seeing this video, and i love it, i carry whit it every day xD thanks for your videos

[@alexandermalitsky6771]

Ed, would you consider shooting Smena 8M sometime? Really interesting to hear your opinion on that camera. And also, it's super cheap.

[@koplakisasi4132]

this vid makes me craving xa2 like crazy

[@jakeround6702]

Hey I was just wondering what film was used and at what ISO!

[@1OnionHead1]

Hi EPG, i have an xa2 and mine seems to have a strong falloff in terms of sharpeness towards the corners. I'm not expecting wonders from this lens but it seems to be a bit too much. Center is good tho. Have you experienced this as well? Maybe I received some bad scans from the lab, not sure.

[@cesaracevedo4948]

La xa1 tiene eso de la contra luz ,tiene un modo back light +1,5..se refiere a eso verdad ?!

[@pictor1999]

Do your edit your film photos on computer ? Sorry for the english i'm french :D

[@qualo99]

Is the color from the film or camera? I love the camera but not keen on that color.

[@shelbchrist]

Which ISO and focus meter were these taken on?

[@megansalt]

these cameras make me nostalgic for the Olympus XA!

[@great567]

Do the photographs come out grainier with the XA2 than the Infinity Stylus?

[@nopunintended5096]

Hi Ed, nice review! Maybe you could make a video with all the different shutter sounds of your cameras? That would be so satisfying ;)

[@themani1698]

Buen video ♟ Disculpa ... Podrías hacer uno con alguna alternativa a la xpan ? Gracias 🤠

[@jparsonsfilm]

5219 Vision3 is their current 500T stock...I was expecting a bit more blue and lot less grain. Were you correcting the temp balance in post? That might explain the graininess.

[@Agounet]

I don't for XA 2, but you have exposure correction (back light +1.5) on Olympus XA 1.

[@ComGoBoo]

So, if you ever get to Frankfurt am Main: I have a Olympus AF-1 lying around just waiting to be put to the test. ;) (And also my M6, which is favoured [by me] above the Olympus)

[@maulanasubono5553]

you should do a collab with Negative Feedback!

[@haley.canter]

is it so blue because of the film or the camera?

[@sergeantcrow]

Very important style of shooting for capturing history..

[@holdercrypto5844]

How it compare to minox 35 gl?

[@sudarminto5152]

awesome!!!! this is original photo's? or editing photo's? plz answer.

[@Garacha222]

I like your shooting style. At times, you make a contact with people, and gently move along without lingering.

[@isabelpereira8012]

What film are you using?

[@JocelynCasanova]

Eduardo eres un genio con la photographia. Me insipraste aprobar film tambien. Me puedes decir lo que piensas sobre mi ilford hp5 400 porfavor.

[@purplerookie]

Anyone knows why does my XA photos always go blurry????

[@jbbert4950]

dude this is sweet im picking one up tomorroww

[@patopito2852]

mmmm respecto del contraluz, si la camara tiene un sensor se podria "oscurecer" y "engañarla" quien sabe , cachai

[@philhodgkinson1460]

I have used a couple of LCAs.. found they broke pretty easily... Never used a XA 2.... Have got Olympus trip 35 which I like....

[@keinchu]

its not only fun, its a perfect roll sir (y) but i wonderring, whats kind of developers you did use to develope this vision film rolls??? we cant be used C41 for that kind right???

[@KaMingMak]

I love film camera so much

[@kzed0]

cool video. if you have a strong backlight, why don't you try using a flash?

[@jimmyliu6745]

Is this the original color out of the camera?

[@emmanuelgoldstein8233]

Seems like a really fun camera

[@nicklopro]

WTF! DUDE for this being the"budget" limited version of the XA your shots DESTROY what I can accomplish on my XA. I just posted a POV photo walk vid with mine, but your stuff is amazing. Goes to show gear don't matter lol

[@wojciechsiewior3868]

Eduardo, the XA3 adds 1.5 stop backlight option (same as on the XA) and better ISO/ASA range. That might be the sweet spot for you then.

[@edpavez]

Ooh, that sounds like the camera I might be looking for!

[@theclovercross]

it's great! it comes in different colors too! who doesn't want a red camera? :D

[@alvareo92]

Better or wider? After all, it loses third-stop increments

[@junobullish]

what book did you read? :)

[@oxentielreadman]

Hola , me encantan tus videos y si no es mucha molestia tengo una pregunta: Hace un par de meses me compre una FED 5 (principalmente a que vi la 4 aquí en tu canal y me encanto) buscaba un reemplazo para mi reflex, la cual debido a un problema con el obturador paso a mejor vida :-(. y la Fed me pareció una buena opción ya que siempre había querido probar una telemétrica, sin embargo hay algo que en mi emoción y ganas de volver a tener cámara pase por alto: El error de paralelaje, mi pregunta es: ¿Cómo lo superas? ya que en tus videos de las Fed 2 y 4 las cuales no tienen lineas de corrección en el visor no parece molestarte Gracias de antemano

[@edpavez]

nunca he tenido una cámara que compense las líneas de enfoque, así que no lo necesito. creo que es cosa de disparar mucho con una cámara y aprender cómo se comporta. estamos demasiado acostumbrados a que los objetos nos entreguen toda la información, y a veces es bueno visualizar, más que corroborar. :)

[@blkshprd]

Hi there, love this video. It doesn't seem that you used a color correcting filter over the 500t film. Can you share how you rated the film and any color correction in post?

[@edpavez]

Pleass check my Kodak Vision3 500T review to see that. :)

[@EDHBlvd]

13:25 does the +1.5 EV option on the bottom of the XA2 not help with this issue? Did you not catch this feature on bottom of camera?

[@EDHBlvd]

Oh I didn't realize the XA2 didn't have this feature of the original XA and the XA3.

[@canturgan]

The colour looks off, is it out of date film?

[@IDontKnow733]

Amazing photos! I have the same camera but I struggle to use it. The shutter button has a strange shallowness/unresponsiveness so I always miss shots

[@nickmatthews4939]

I had the same problem until I used a small self adhesive bump stop a stuck on the shutter release. This transformed the camera.

[@NolanKresnak]

i love the xa2

[@oa_math]

lmaooo the random drum music is hilarious

[@ikmarsarbini3337]

Who else smile whenever he got the shot 😅

[@teekay989]

What batteries do you use in your Lomo LCA?

[@ClintEastwood74]

It takes 3 LR44 button cells.

[@tarekalakmeh4727]

Nice vid! Really brave snapping those pics of random strangers. Quick Q: Where can I get that film (couldn't find it online to buy...)?

[@recoil080]

Tarek A Cinestill 800t is the closest thing to it stock. It is vision 3 500t with the remjet layer taken off, so you will get some red halation but it is the same film stock!

[@e.sherrill8934]

My only problem when it comes to the XA2 is focusing ! My main subject always seems to get out of focus

[@shelbchrist]

Reem Lovette i have this problem too! Have you found the solution?

[@KaweeMeksongruek]

I own both cameras. XA2 is my preference. The only thing I dislike about XA2 is the shutter Botton.

[@9Gravity3]

would you recomend this w/ flash for 25 pounds (nearly 30 euro)?

[@edpavez]

9Gravity3 seems a bit too cheap, but if it's working, it's a great deal!

[@khronokraze]

another great video and thanks for sharing your shooting experience with it. If you like these sort of cameras, have you ever tried one of the Minox 35 cameras? I think they function and work very similarly. I think it's worth a try if you can get one (or a set) for not too much $$. anyways, another enjoyable video that sheds some personal insight into a film camera some of us may or may not be familiar with.

[@mynewcolour]

Wing Yip The problem with those minox 35s is keeping them alive. So fragile!

[@khronokraze]

Joseph H you could be right, I haven't used one in a long time. this video just reminded me of that kind of camera which might be another alternative to try someday for fun

[@simonshep15]

I know this video is from last year but I am enjoying it recently because I’m going to pick up an XA2 next weekend, so I thought I would do some research! I love your videos and I have been watching your channel for a while! I just have to say the pictures you get out of this film are (in my opinion) perfect. Does anyone know where I could pick up some of this film? I tried to find it online and had no luck. If I could get my hands on some I would be very happy! Thanks!

[@edpavez]

If you really want one, I can sell you some.

[@eeeeeeeeeeeeeee29]

I'm just wondering, what are the focus distances when using the 3 zones? I've search the internet about it and all I saw were inconsistent distances. BTW, love the videos Eduardo. Keep it up!

[@edpavez]

it doesn't say. instead of distances, it has drawings (face, body, mountains). I guessed face would be 0.9 meters until 1.5 meters, then body would be 1.5 meters until 3 meters, and mountains should be from 3 meters onwards.

[@eeeeeeeeeeeeeee29]

Ohh. I just noticed that you got every shot in proper focus so I thought you have an idea of the real distance zones. Good job man! Thank you for replying :)

[@recoil080]

The XA3 has backlight compensation. :)

[@leierlord]

could you do a video on how to use a flash on a camera like this

[@danc2014]

The flash has 3 settings auto 100 asa, manual full power , auto 400 asa. Full power was made for the xa with f stop lever not xa 2.

[@danc2014]

The a11 is a special flash for xa cameras only