|
BurninFilm
|
 |
« on: March 09, 2008, 04:29:51 AM » |
|
On July 8, 2007, Boeing unveiled the 787 "Dreamliner", a revolutionary commercial passenger jet made with an extremely high percentage of composite materials (for comparison, the 737 and 747 are basically all-aluminum airframes). However, the compenents for the aircraft itself are made all over the world... it truly is an "international" plane. Here in Wichita, Spirit Aerosystems (working out of the former Boeing Wichita plant) constructs a large portion of the composite aircraft. Sadly, the plane continues to be delayed, and despite the largest number of pre-flight sales (there were several hundred ordered before the 787 was officially unveiled). So, to celebrate Spirit Aerosystems had a large company wide party. Anyway, getting back on topic about photography, here are a few frames from the fabulous little XA. I almost feel guilty everytime I post XA frames in the "Point-N-Shoot" forum! Hopefully I'll be able to show you what the Dreamliner looks like someday! Then again, maybe I should get a shot of the Dreamlifter! It's pretty cool, too... |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
When you aren't looking for it... you ALWAYS find it!!!
|
|
|
|
shadowfox
|
|
« Reply #1 on: March 12, 2008, 08:42:06 AM » |
|
Hello, nobody commented on this...?
These are wonderful shots, man!
What film was this? My XA likes 200ASA films or Kodak BW400CN rated as 200.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Tom Hildreth
|
|
« Reply #2 on: March 12, 2008, 02:12:01 PM » |
|
Nice shots indeed. Perhaps I'm not the only one here that doesn't know what an XA is....?
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Glenn Thoreson
|
|
« Reply #3 on: March 12, 2008, 02:21:41 PM » |
|
Tom, the Olympus XA is a tiny 35mm rangefinder camera. Aperture priority auto exposure. The lens is very good. Sharp and contrasty. The meter on the thing is way above average quality, in my opinion. It has a sliding clamshell type cover on the front that turns the camera on/off and keeps the dirt out. It fits nicely in the palm of my large hand and fits in just about any pocket comfortably. If you want something to carry around with you every day, it fits the bill very nicely. Thee are a number of lesser versions like the XA-1, 2, etc, that are good, too.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Glenn from Wyoming
"I reject your reallity and substitute my own"
( Adam Savage )
|
|
|
|
Nick Merritt
|
|
« Reply #4 on: March 12, 2008, 02:51:20 PM » |
|
I saw the Dreamliner last summer driving in to work here in Hartford -- I just happened to look up and there it was, low over the city on its way to land. The plane was coming here because its engines are made by Pratt & Whitney and I guess they wanted to show her off to the Pratt folks.
If the Dreamliner is as fine a design as the XA, it'll be a heck of a plane!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
lesged
|
|
« Reply #5 on: March 12, 2008, 03:44:37 PM » |
|
BurninFilm,
Those are terrific shots. Viva la XA!
I had an XA, but found it hard to use its rangefinder, because of my long fingers. I still have one XA-2 left. It has a 3 zone focusing system and is the half stop slower 3.5 lens, but is plenty sharp. Frankly, I prefer it to the XA.
|
|
|
|
« Last Edit: March 12, 2008, 06:47:37 PM by lesged »
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Tom Hildreth
|
|
« Reply #6 on: March 12, 2008, 05:30:58 PM » |
|
Thanks for the info, Glenn. I vaguely thought it might be an Olympus. Sounds like something I would like to add to my smallish but growing collection of RFs. I'll have to become more familiar with it.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ronald Bishop
|
|
« Reply #8 on: March 13, 2008, 10:34:00 AM » |
|
I carried an XA for quite a few years , either in my pocket or in a wool sock inside the fairing on my motorcycle. It finally gave up the ghost, it only worked when it wanted to. a fixable problem I have been told.
I gave it away here on site, and have had several since, which I sold here. I am sort of hooked on the Olympus Stylus Epic now. It is a little smaller and compares well with the XA. I think also the 'Clamshell' design is a plus.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Tom Hildreth
|
|
« Reply #9 on: March 13, 2008, 02:53:46 PM » |
|
Shadowfox,
Thanks for the photo. Is the lens 38mm focal length?
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Nick Merritt
|
|
« Reply #10 on: March 13, 2008, 02:55:45 PM » |
|
Tom, it's 38/2.8, I believe (mine's at home).
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Wayne
|
|
« Reply #11 on: March 13, 2008, 06:06:59 PM » |
|
Sadly, the plane continues to be delayed...  No wonder - looks like it's full of hot air to me...  Nice shots Danny. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
BurninFilm
|
|
« Reply #12 on: March 13, 2008, 11:55:46 PM » |
|
Hey guys, thanks for the comments! The lens is a 35mm f2.8 masterful work of optical engineering. It does vignette a bit at wider apertures, but the sharpness is impressive for such a relatively fast, yet compact 35mm lens. I've found I like the results it gives on color negative film, which suits the camera fairly well anyway (small, carry-everywhere camera for pics of family, friends, pets, anything interesting, etc.). For these shots, I used Kodak Portra 160NC (if I remember correctly). Nick, I don't think you saw the Dreamliner. In fact, I don't even think they've completed the first plane for flight testing. However, you could have seen the Dreamlifter. It's a huge, bulbous 747 made to pick up and deliver large 787 assemblies from the various suppliers. Sure, Wayne, that "plane" might be full of hot air. However, so far it's one of the few parts of the 787 program that have actually managed to fly. However, when the program starts working out, and the planes start being produced and orders get fulfilled, there will be a lot of nice, modern composite airliners for passengers to enjoy! For more info on Boeing's innovative and forward looking 787, check this out: The Boeing 787 Dreamliner |
|
|
|
« Last Edit: March 14, 2008, 12:00:15 AM by BurninFilm »
|
Logged
|
When you aren't looking for it... you ALWAYS find it!!!
|
|
|
|
