OLYMPUS XA3

The Olympus XA3 is a compact 35mm film camera in the Olympus XA series, featuring automatic exposure and zone (scale) focusing with a three-position distance selector. Like the XA2, it is equipped with a 35mm f/3.5 Zuiko lens and a clamshell sliding cover design for portability and lens protection. The XA3’s key distinction is its DX code film speed detection, which automatically sets ISO from 25 to 1600 based on the film canister's barcode, while still allowing manual ISO override. It uses a thumb-wheel for film advance and requires two LR44 batteries for operation. The camera supports optional clip-on flash units like the A11 or A16 and includes a backlight compensation switch that adds 1.5 stops to the exposure. Slightly larger than earlier models, the XA3 remains pocketable and easy to use, balancing automatic features with manual focus control.