Olympus XA vs Contax T - Which is Better?

If you're wanting a pocket rangefinder the only two options you have are the Olympus XA (1979) and the Contax T (1984), they both hold the title for smallest rangefinder on the planet. There's a couple key differences though, one being the price and the other being design. The XA goes with the clamshell design which was designed by Yoshihisa Maitani and remained throughout the XA's designs from the XA to XA4. While the T used a folding design that protruded the lens from the body, this allowed the Contax T to incorporate 7 aperture blades which gave smooth circular out of focus areas while the XA went with a very simple two bladed rectangular design. When it came to ergonomics I personally think this gives the XA an edge as it allows you to focus much quicker and easier than the T, making it a snapshot king. Carrying the XA in my pocket and seeing a scene to shooting it, it would only take me around two seconds to pull my camera out, compose, focus and shoot while the T would take around 8-10 seconds, which in the moment feels like a lifetime.

The T has the world renowned Carl Zeiss T* glass which made this a vastly more expensive camera than the XA. Starting at $560 in 1984, which inflated to todays market equates to $1400, the T was a very premium camera made for the enthusiast market. The XA was aimed at a different demographic when it launched in 1979, starting at $233 which with inflation would be $834 today, it came to a much wider market. Aiming to a professional photographers second camera, for when they were on holiday or a family's main holiday snapper. With all that out the way, sit back, see what camera suits you most and enjoy.

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