Ah the XA2! Much missed. My younger daughter had "borrowed" it and then lent it to a friend who was going backpacking to Australia - neither the "friend" nor the camera was ever seen again. I then sold my soul and picked up a Fuji AX 500 (something subliminal there?) 14MP with a 5X zoom which runs off of 2 AA batteries. About the size of a packet of cigarettes (if you remember what they were) it sits in the centre bin of the car and gets the batteries checked every couple of months but is always available, given that my "proper" cameras are a Yashica 635, a Fuji GS645S and a Zeiss Super Ikonta, it does get used quite a lot!

I have the XA2. Love it. Had to add a reminder on the back of the camera so I wouldn't forget to set the range. My everyday carry is my iPhone 13 Pro with a Fjorden Grip. However, I do usually have a film camera with me (I rotate my inventory). When traveling: generally my Sony a6000 and the XA2 are my image-making companions. Took those two on a recent trip to the Canadian Rockies. They each produced wonderful images. B&W for the XA2 and color shots with the a6000.

That's a nice selection of contenders. I used an Olympus XA4 as my daily carry for a while. It's basically an XA2 with a 28mm/f3.5 lens, so, like the XA2, you can often just slide back the cover and shoot. Perfect for a grab shot and then back into my pocket. I kept it loaded with ISO 400 B&W film which I developed in Diafine for some extra flexibility with exposure. The XA4 is scarcer and more expensive, unfortunately. I was lucky to get mine before the current resurgence in film.

The Minox 35's weak point was the distance ring that would fall off (I used two daily for years). My mom had the Olympus!

I recognised the sound of the XA shutter and advance in the first few seconds of the video! Great choice, I have one also. I also like the Konica z-UP 80.

My EDC, is generally a Minox subminiature (I have several), my XA or a Pentax Auto 110 with a cartridge loaded with FP4 or HP5.

If you like 40mm focal length, then I can very highly recommend the Leica Minilux, it has the best ever image quality of any analog compact cameras. I used mine a lot when I did analog photography (I cannot se any use for analog film today !!!).

The XA2 is the camera I like least in the XA series. I like the XA3 better, the XA4 has the 28mm macro lens to speak for itself the XA1 carries the Olympus Trip 35 spririt. The XA is of course in a league of its own you can't not love it, IMO. As for EDCs: You don't pick them, they pick you, I believe.

I've never owned a Minox or an XA series, but I have owned a Ricoh FF-1, which is almost a clone of the Minox. The Rikenon lens is very good. By the way - you know you will change your mind tomorrow, don't you! 🤣

I have a Chinon 35EE, it's a good camera, one issue with it, it won't fire any flash I fit on it.

Double disappointment for me, I am currently carrying the Minox EL and I'm on frame 32 with a very smooth wind on.The second disappointment was there was no Rollei 35 series camera mentioned.The Minox is in my pocket and my Rollei 35TE is waiting in my rucksack.So when the Minox finishes the Rollei will take over and by the way,there is an exposure compensation switch on the top plate of the Minox for shooting into the sun..............................................

Olympus making an all time GOAT camera in the XA go and downgrade the XA2 as a real smart move