Anyone familar with XA2 or XA3

[Alan Gage]

Hey evderyone,

I recently got an Olympus XA2 to replace my XA with a bad meter. I'll be shooting a test roll this weekend to see how it works, but I guess I wanted to ask some questions from anyone who might be familiar with them first.

Since the cameras have automatic exposure and don't tell you what they chose I'm wondering what the cameras seem to prefer. I assume they try to keep the shutter speed high by opening the aperture (which is what I prefer). Is this correct?

I also notice an annoying green light in the viewfinder in dim light. I assume this is to warn you the shutter speed is too slow. If this light is on can I assume the aperture is wide open? Does it only come on at full aperture or will it come on even when the aperture is stopped down a little?

One last thing. While taking some dry test shots the other day I was trying to get a look at the aperture blades (with the back open) while shooting to make sure they were opening/closing. It didn't look like the opening was very concentric, almost like it was shaped more like an arrow (with the point extending over to the far left side of the lens. Of course the shutter speed was pretty fast so I couldn't get a good look. Just wondering if that's how they typically look when looking at them with the back open. Maybe my eyes are just playing tricks on me.

Any other words of wisdom?

Thanks,

Alan

[edthened]

Alan,  The green light signifies shutter speed of 1/30 or slower.

Edwin    

[Dean Williams]

What Edwin said about the shutter.

The apeture is an odd thing, compaired to the kind you will find in an SLR lens.  Stopped down just one or two stops it looks like a diamond, (or arrowhead) shape.  The more it stops down the more it starts to look like a square.  It's normal.  Fire away!

[Alan Gage]

Yes, I'm aware how the aperture looks like a diamond (from my XA), I thought this one looked odd though. I guess I'll find out when I finish my test roll by the results and by taking a closer look at it again.

Thanks,

Alan