Working with Olympus XA Disassemble and clean the shutter button

[@hieuvo6963]

Thank you so so much for your videos. I got a stuck shutter on my XA and I followed exactly what you were doing and my camera works again. You saved my favorite camera, I can't thank you enough. Hopefully there are people out there who can get help from you. Cheers! and shoot more film!!!! ❤️❤️

[@mikeno62]

Thanks :-)

[@LucAga92]

Today I accidentaly dropped my Olympus XA3 and thanks to your video i was able to make it work again! You're a hero!!!!! You saved me from a mental breakdown

[@aljoschafa8885]

Hey :) Thanks a lot . Your video was very helpful..my film advance was stuck and so shutter not working..battery was ok and I could manually fire the camera but the film advance was still stuck and the shutter not working. After disassembling and cleaning everything a bit it finally worked:)).. thank you:)!

[@df9999999999]

Thanks to your Olympus XA videos, I just finished the repair of my latest EBay gamble...an Olympus XA rangefinder camera. The camera had a jammed focus lever. Electronics were completely dead. The rewind button was stuck down and the winding mechanism jammed. I removed the bottom cover and could see some old battery leakage had corroded the ground wire and snapped it off. I managed to strip the wire and re-solder. I broke the lens coupling lever trying to free it, but managed to repair with some aluminum tubing while maintaining rangefinder calibration. I removed and cleaned the shutter button assembly and adjusted the spring for slightly stiffer action. Getting the stack of shutter components stacked and aligned correctly, then placing the grey retainer and screw in place was incredibly difficult, but the improved shutter action (less sensitive) was well worth it. The optics were very clean, with a nice bright yellow rangefinder patch. After reassembly, works perfectly! On to replacing light seals.

[@mikeno62]

WOW wow, what a fantastic journey you have done in getting your Olympus XA back to a working camera, it was my intension, when I started this KZbin channal, that my videos could help other people to maybe repair there cameras and lenses, and you are a good example that It, with some patience make it works again. GOOD JOB done :-) Cheers Kenneth

[@df9999999999]

@@mikeno62 Thanks again! I finished up the light seals a few days ago and ran a test roll of Fuji 400 through. I develop my own C41 color film. I made some rangefinder focus test shots at various apertures to be sure I didn’t screw up the focus calibration when I repaired the lens focus coupling arm, but the images all had the expected depth of field from 2.8 feet to infinity. The images are all sharp and clear, and well-exposed! I just repaired the flash unit as well. Any thoughts on the need for silver oxide cells versus alkaline for this camera? The manual specifies silver oxide, but many claim alkalines or lithium cells are sufficient.

[@mikeno62]

Fantastic, you got a "new" camera, congratulation!. About the battery, I think SR44 or LR44 or Lithium cells will work fine, but of course the SR44 will last longer than the LR44, and on the other hand I think the Lithium will last loooonger but maybe more expensive than SR44 and LR44. Good luck with your "new" camera :-) Cheers Kenneth

[@df9999999999]

mikeno62 I received and installed two SR44 silver oxide cells, replacing the single double-height lithium cell I had installed. The voltage of the lithium cell was 3.0 volts. The 2 SR44 cells produced 3.3 volts. Both voltages are unloaded. In moderate light, I saw a 1 stop decrease in exposure time on the meter needle using the SR44s, compared to the lithium. The actual exposure is made using another CdS sensor and circuit in the XA, but I imagine using the lithium cell was producing a 1 stop overexposure.

[@leehimelfarb7117]

Your videos are the best! Thank you so much for taking the time to do these.

[@mikeno62]

Thanks Lee, I'm happy to know that, and there will be more videos from me sooner.

[@TheoDahlemPickups]

This is an important camera for me since I have shot thousands of cool slides during the 80ies and 90ies. My daughter grabbed it now, but I got me an other one that need to be cleaned up. Thank you so much for this extremely useful instruction.

[@luc5798]

I wish we still had Kodachrome!!! And even normal slides, who buys them anymore given their exorbitant price? 😢 Such a shame... I only do b&w with Fomapan films now. At least I still make prints with the enlarger...

[@colliedogjoy]

Incredible! I bought an XA for my nephew and it arrived within a couple of hours of you posting this. I have cleaned it, got the rangefinder blind moving freely, cleaned the battery contacts and all lenses - it's like new! I read somewhere that it's possible to just pry the red button off the top of the camera and avoid having to open the whole camera up to clean the contacts. Would you agree? I would rather not open it all up and risk damaging a part that isn't broken yet! Still can't believe that someone has uploaded a video on a 40 yr old camera on the day I got one with the same problem! Thanks.

[@mikeno62]

Oh that's great to hear, and you are right, it's possible to pry off the orange button and disassemble the shutter button, without disassemble the camera. Cheers Kenneth

[@colliedogjoy]

@@mikeno62 Well, that was an experience! All back together now - I snapped the soldered joint on the pressure plate and had to take the top plate off and re-solder it with a hot knife. Also, my range finder blind is a different design to yours, it must have been modified. I needed to re-hook a spring into it with a piece of dental floss. My blind had been gummed up and needed cleaning. All that remains is a film test - I fear there may be light leaks but we'll see. Twice I thought I'd wrecked it but fingers crossed it'll all work. Many thanks.

[@df9999999999]

@@mikeno62 ...but lots easier with the top off. I broke the red wire to the little piezo speaker when I removed my top cover, but managed to solder it back to the disc with the aid of a flux pen. Those wires are delicate, so take care! Mike makes it look easy!

[@df9999999999]

@@colliedogjoy Wasn't it fun getting that little spring rewound and in the right place?!!! I thought I lost mine, but it was right there on the spindle. Works great after reassembly, though. I think that style was used on the earlier models with the perforated holes in the CdS cell mask instead of the variable density film. The colors on the f/stop scale are a clue to the older ones, I think.

[@PeteMP3]

Thanks so much for this, Mike. Somehow, I managed to fix my XA's shutter release today!

[@df9999999999]

Gluing the shutter spacer washer in place was brilliant! I used a toothpick to apply contact cement only to the grey plastic shutter contact retainer after screwing in place, being careful not to get glue on the cover screw or sides of the button recess. I also added a bit of glue on the button to the mating surfaces only, using the old glue marks as a guide.

[@arco1127]

Thanks so much for making these videos! Its extremely helpful and I really apricate you. Cheers!

[@stalman]

Mine works perfectly except for a stuck shutter, hopefully I can get it working!

[@kriXoff75]

thank you, i worked. i bought xa2 for 10€. It had shutter stucked and followed your tutorial. But the flash a11 had corroded battery inside. i cleant but still not working. Have to disassembly it.

[@kvrma2572]

You helped me a lot, thanks grandpa

[@GoZipper]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

[@DaFranchize13]

Thanks for this video! I just followed and fixed my shutter issue. The shutter button seems to be working well now. Once I put the camera back together I see the viewfinder shutter speed indicator arm no longer seems to be working. It does sound like the shutter speed is changing as I change the aperture- I can hear it slowing down as I stop down. Haven't fired a test roll yet, but wanted to see if you knew about fixing that. Cheers-

[@actudrive1406]

it sounds like you gave my camera a rebirth...thanks a lot !

[@H.E.J.S.A.N]

Now I can fix my camera. Thanks for the movie.

[@blazingstar4]

Hello Kenneth I've watched a lot of camera repair videos. These you have made on the XA are the best. Clear, concise and well paced. Thank you very much. Sadly, cleaning the shutter release mechanism with rubbing alcohol (not 99%) did not solve my XA's stuck wind wheel/inoperable shutter release problem. I tried it a couple of times. It seemed to work for the first click, and then back to the same problem. Is there another solution you can offer, or was rubbing alcohol the wrong choice? Regardless, well done on your videos!

[@3281997]

Thank you for all you great vids , I have serviced many a lens from your info. Have you any info on the olympus xa REWIND BUTTON sticking in ? I have seen its a known common issue on the XA . Again , Thank you so much . Mark

[@johnterjepedersen3409]

Hi Kenneth. Thank`s for a great and useful video. I have a small problem with the screw underneath the red shutter release button. The screw will not stick. It seems to be broken. I have searched online for this screw, without success. On the Olympus XA part diagram this is called PUK2 x 3 SN Do you have any thoughts on where to order this? Regards John

[@hukumongdu]

thank you! you saved my camera ♥️

[@df9999999999]

Great detailed videos.

[@sapienstudio]

Love this little quirky camera. Any idea how to adjust the light meter? Needle is over exposing by 3 stops and shutter by 2 😱

[@UncleMMM]

So for the shutter button connection is only all about the red and blue wires? When they connect the shutter fires?

[@urknabe89]

Very good video! Repaired one XA! I have an another one, there the exposure time is always the same, 3-4 sec. Mechanic for aperture setting and ISO value works. I think the brightness sensor is damaged. Any other ideas?

[@thomasjosiger5789]

Thanks for the video! Is there a solution to the problem that the exposure time is far too low in the viewfinder, but the exposure is working correctly? Can the shutter speed display in the viewfinder be recalibrated or repaired?

[@CwWong-q7b]

hi here, thanks a lot for the effort! I wonder if you have repair the Sprocket? Mine is broken and is now stuck after last film advance. I have not seen many topic about this. thanks!

[@viniliz]

Is this a fix for a shutter that works randomly? It gradually stopped working until it faded away. Also, does it need to be completely disassembled or can it be fixed through the shutter only? Thank you for the video and for reading this!

[@somedudecalledben]

Great video, took the camera apart, tried to figure out what the issue was, found nothing that looked bad, put it all back together- it worked for 2 shots then died again. Bit gutted to be honest. Do you have any suggestions why it might not fire at all?

[@mikeno62]

It could be a bad battery contact or a bad wire from the battery chamber, it could also be the shutter button.

[@somedudecalledben]

@@mikeno62 gonna send it for a repair I think, out of my depth to be honest

[@중독-f5f]

Thank you so much~! I love this vedio :)

[@manuelodabashian]

Can you also do a video on the flashes?

[@Martin_Siegel]

Great video. Just a quick qestion - how do you remove the rewind spindle once the crank is screwerd off? On my XA 4 it would get out but I don't like to apply to much pressure. So does one get it out through the top or the bottom and need other parts to me removed, too? Thanks in advance, Martin

[@Martin_Siegel]

Worked it out, don't bother.

[@danielgau4810]

hey as i can see you know a lot bout this camera i have a problem with the aperture lver and it wont move to flash when i have the a11 flash on it do you know how to repair that problem or how o fix it ?

[@solvrev]

Thanks!!!

[@zz-kn3nj]

Sir I need help, I picked my first xa and it seems the shutter speed only works on 1/125, and the aperture stucks on 2,8 only, is there anything I can do to fix it? Please help

[@manuelodabashian]

If it's stuck on self timer can it be repaired?

[@markoconcepcion5085]

i have a question! my olympus xa was recently dropped and eveything seems to be in working order and focusing correctly and the light meter is accurate but the focusing lever is much less smooth and harder to move! is there a way to fix that !?

[@rfrlyeah]

I have the same problem. Have you fixed it?

[@Hipbydesign]

Curious though how to remove the film door? I want to swap one to another as one has the nicer door

[@mikeno62]

Well, it's not that hard, I have just made this new video where I show how to take off the film door, and many, many other details. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKirk6qarsykeaM

[@Hipbydesign]

@@mikeno62 thanks! I ended up figuring it out as well. Although I missed unscrewing the screw underneath the battery check lever, and inadvertently ended up breaking that screw joint, it still doesn’t affect the body at all and I managed to swap out the doors. Thank you for your thoroughness.

[@thetrueacquaintance3851]

Well I just purchased some nice 3D printed shutter buttons and then realized from ur video that I'm missing the black plastic piece. The rubber piece. And the small tube. Do u know where I could get these pieces? Trying to fix my dad's camera.

[@mikeno62]

I have no idea where to get spare parts, but you could try to buy a not working camera and in that way get the spare parts.

[@Morbid_Tom432]

Are the screws JIS or Phillips?

[@mattdog1982]

Does anyone have any idea how to adjust the light meter. Mine is out by two stops?

[@luxdosul]

Hi, I was wondering if I can send you my Olympus XA2 for repair. The shutter is not working because I can not turn on the film wheel. What do you think it could be?

[@reyes096]

I have the same issue. were you able to fix it?

[@luxdosul]

@@reyes096 Hi there, No, not yet! I don’t dare to do all the reparation by myself. I’m not so technical😊. Therefore, still looking for someone that can do it for me. I really love this camera and it’s a pity that it is not working.

[@blazingstar4]

@@luxdosulHi. Did you find a repair facility?

[@luxdosul]

@@blazingstar4 hi! Thx for your reply. Unfortunately, I didn’t. Looks like nobody want to touch that old camera. The reason for that is: too much electrics. If you know about a good place to send it, please let me know!👍🏻

[@blazingstar4]

@@luxdosul oh, too bad. I’ve emailed a couple of places I found through a web search. Although my XA keeps teasing. I’ve opened the bottom countless times. It works for a while and stops again. I’m thinking the issue is with the battery contacts being finicky. It would e so satisfying to manage a fix myself. What have you tried?

[@abdelilahnacir7951]

I have a problem that when reaching the number S it does not press the capture button

[@svalevej1]

Det er nogle meget fine beskrivelser. Jeg hørte du sagde isopropylalkohol på dansk og jeg har svært ved at forklare mit problem på engelsk, så jeg håber det er ok med dansk. Jeg købte et XA for nylig og har skudt et par film. Det tager virkelig fine billeder. Da jeg skulle have sidste film ud, var det svært at frigøre låsen til fremføringstandhjulet som går ind i filmens kant perforering. Jeg synes ikke, at jeg brugte vold, men nu vil den ikke låse igen og trække filmen frem. Har du nogen erfaring med hvad det kan skyldes? evt. hvordan jeg kan fixe det. Jeg kan ikke rigtigt se, hvordan jeg kommer ind i bunden af kameraet ind til den lås. Det ser ud til, at det hele foregår i bunden. De små tandhjul man kan se, når man tage bundpladen af er ubeskadigede men de trækker som sagt ikke filmfremføringshjulet med sig. Lukkeren virker fint og bliver trukket op, når jeg drejer på hjulet for at føre filmen frem. Det er kun det store fremføringshjul som ikke drejer med og der er ingen modstand overhovedet i det. Det virker ikke som nogle tænder som er vredet over, da man typisk vil kunne mærke sådan noget.

[@Jhollowed25]

Anyone know what kind of glue he is using? He calls it "contact glue"?

[@horsenuts1831]

UHU

[@ConCon4444]

Can someone please direct me to a repair service or step by step guide on how to fix the shutter/film advance issue?? Camera has worked for ages, always treated well. All of a sudden the shutter does not fire even with fresh batteries, tested the clamshell and it opens correctly, and the film advance doesn’t work due to shutter not working (most common problem with the camera) please someone help haha!

[@isabellahenderson3810]

yeah I have the same issue, any updates?

[@mikeno62]

Well, one of the more common problems is actually the corroded wires on the battery contact or other soldering points, or the magnet is dirty.

[@zz-kn3nj]

@@mikeno62 what magnet did u mean sir? I'm trying to fix it soon, and does the wire between shutter and battery contact hard to replaced?

[@eeryninedesign1]

Hello Mike, I have a problem on my XA, can I contact you by message ? thanks !