~~XA3 and XA4 Models~~
As you can see above, the differences in the XA, XA1 and XA2 are relatively minor. Your XA2
may or may not have seal material in the bottom film door slot (but you can add this if you wish).
The XA may have seal material running along the top side of the film door all the way to the end
of the door, or it may be like the XA1 and XA2 and this seal may stop around the film pressure
plate. If you want to duplicate the “full door seal” design used in the XA for the XA1 or XA2,
please feel free to do so. The design of the XA3 and XA4 cameras was completely different.
There is a hinge end seal on the camera body, but not on the film door. Both upper and lower
body slots are sealed, and there is no seal on the camera’s film door…except for the latch end.
Please note the latch end seal is the same for
all
XA styles.
~~What Kind Of Seal Material Should I Use?~~
The Olympus XA cameras were designed with very close and precise tolerances. It is important
to respect those tolerances when choosing a seal material. You may use 1mm self-adhesive
fabric, 1mm self-adhesive foam, but please do not exceed a thickness of 1mm with any style of
material in the XA, XA1 or XA2. In the XA3 and XA4, the hinge end seal should be 1.5mm thick.
If this is unclear to you, please contact me ([email protected]) with your questions
before you go any further. See the end of the instructions for an interesting demonstration…
~~A Special Message for XA, XA1 and XA2 Owners~~
At this point, I want you to consider removing your film pressure plate. If you have the XA3 or
XA4, please
IGNORE THIS SECTION
. But for you others, here is how to remove it: With a
thumb on the bottom edge of the pressure plate and another thumb on the film canister tab,
press upward gently until the plate clip frees itself from its retaining button. You will feel a
little “click.” Now, lift up slightly and slide the rear tab off its retaining button.
Notice the “hourglass shape” in the metal. The retaining
tab can only slide in one direction (toward the wide end),
because the other passage is too narrow. Small
indentations (dimples) in the metal hold the plate
suspended above the film door’s surface.
THE XA3 and
XA4 pressure plate should not be removed
.
