Store in L.A

Hi Folks,

Ill be in L.A the next week and i was wondering which camera store is one you can recommend?, I live in Europe and I want to take the advantange of the cheaper prices you have in the US compared to here!. I want to buy an
SU-800
Nikon 85 mm 1.4
Macro Flash System...

do you know a good place that I can trust?
thanks!

--
Gonzalo

Apparently there is a Samy's and a Calumet:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=active&q=los+angeles+pro+camera+stores

--
Chris, Broussard, LA

The best all around camera store is Samy's. Multiple locations, the flagship store is on Fairfax Blvd in the "midtown area" which is east of Beverly HIlls and West of Downtown.

Simon's Camera in Hollywood is excellent as well.

--
Lawrence Solum
http://www.pbase.com/lsolum/galleries

+1 for Samy's Camera... There is also one on Venice in Santa Monica. As a bonus Samy's also has a rental dept -

he said he wanted to take advantage of our LOWER prices- why are you referring him to Samy's???

Samy's is going to be the priciest place in town. I never buy there unless I need something right away, or they are having that Tax Free sale where they pay the sales tax, then its almost worth it.

If you are in and out of town, check Simon's camera first- he will often give you better pricing and is in the same general area.

If you want even better pricing, check Craigslist.com and buy the stuff used from someone- seems like a lot of people are dumping used Nikon equipment these days- in fact, I just saw a used 85 1.4 for $900 on craigslist...

or order from NY if you have the time.

Paul's Photo in Torrance is a small independent camera store, but the service and knowledge is excellent.

The Samy's on Fairfax is huge, but I MUCH prefer Calumet on Highland. Samy's is always a zoo and the salespeople reflect that (it's not their fault, but why fight for attention?). Calumet simply has more time to help and they don't usually mind doing it.

The availability of certain items can be an issue. You might want to call ahead and if need be, have them transfer items from other stores and hold them - this can take anywhere from a few days to a week, depending on which store it's coming from.

Calumet internet has better prices than the brick and mortar store FWIW. Also, sales tax in California is higher than most other states.

http://www.calumetphoto.com/

Craigslist can be... interesting. A friend of mine selling some artwork was contacted by a knowledgeable, well mannered gentleman, who then proceeded to club him over the back of the head and relieve him of his artwork. I've sold on craigslist with no problems, but be very cautious, maybe meet somewhere neutral/public?

Also Bel-Air camera in Westwood - it's just okay,

Freestyle on Sunset isn't what it used to be.

I hope you are going to have a rental car, you're going to need it.

I always liked BelAir Camera in Westwood Village (I left quite some money with them while I lived in L.A.). http://www.belaircamera.com/

As far as I know it is owned by the same guy who also owns Samy's, but I always like BelAir Camera much better. If you go there find Victor (a big guy with a black beard), my favorite sales person in that store.

Cheers,

Peter

Bel Air is a much better experience than Samy's. The reason I say 'just okay' is that I had a series of really bad customer service experiences with their print dept. This doesn't have anything to do with the camera sales staff (I still buy from them occasionally), but it did leave a bad taste in my mouth.

It's not that Calumet is outrageously different than the other places, it's just that they've never burned me, ever. I never have to wait for some guy with $10k + worth of gear who doesn't know how to turn on his camera. Parking. The rental people are terrific, very helpful - even if you aren't renting. The store is clean and well organized. California Chicken Cafe is 3 minutes away.

Truth is, if you like hanging out in camera shops, Samy's is worth wandering around. If shopping is your only goal, I would go elsewhere. Samy's on Fairfax is just down the street from LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) and the Third and Fairfax Farmer's Market, so it can also be bundled with other activities - don't know if you are coming as a tourist or on business or what part of town you are staying in.

it seems Samys is the equivalent to the B&H Photo of NY?

--
Gonzalo

gonzalikus said:

it seems Samys is the equivalent to the B&H Photo of NY?

--
Gonzalo

Click to expand...

I suspect NOTHING is quite the equivalent of B&H. If I ever get to New York City, I must go there. But, Samy's will be the biggest on the left coast. I go to the Santa Ana store. I keep trying to give business to the Santa Ana Calumet, but they never quite have what I'm looking for. Good people though. When I go to Samy's, I try to wear teflon, so all the B-S slides off.
--
Cheers,
Eric

If NYC prices are cheaper you could order from Adorama or B&H from California. Often shipping is free or less than local sales tax!

I had a bad experience at Paul's. I went to purchase some B&W photo paper and film for my photo class and the sales people were the least friendly. Pretty much giving me the attitude that I should know exactly what I want and that they didn't want to help me, but help the lady near by who was trying to purchase some POS camera.

Maybe I hit an off day? But that was the worst customer service I have ever had at a photo store.

My vote is for Freestyle Photo (www.freestylephoto.biz)
Good prices, 5% off student discount too.

stillsman said:

If NYC prices are cheaper you could order from Adorama or B&H from
California. Often shipping is free or less than local sales tax!

Click to expand...

If I don't need it right away, that's what I do. However, I generally buy bodies / lenses locally, because I refuse to use a local retailer for my personal lens test station, then fail to support their survival by buying online.
--
Cheers,
Eric

Sadly, I'll have to retract my endorsement for our local Calumet. My wife was there the other day and she was informed that "we're a Canon shop". Nikon would be surprised to hear this I'm sure, as there are some Nikon products for sale, side by side with the Canons. In fact she purchased her D2x at that same store. Her usual sales guy wasn't there and she was chatting with a manager. She made an innocuous comment along the lines of "did you see the new Nikon body announcement?". He basically responded with an ad hominem tirade about Nikon. She was pretty taken aback. Regarding the "Canon shop" I don't know if this is an official Calumet position or a overzealous rogue employee, but since he's always there, I doubt we'll feel comfortable there again.

The thing is, we're completely aware of the shortcomings with our brand of choice and perfectly willing to discuss them with other brand shooters. We're not bleeding edgers and for us, it's just equipment. The public nature of this exchange and the presence of other self described Canon photogs that were also men gave my wife the sense that this could have been a "know your place" as much as a brand supremacy beat down. At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter.

It's a shame really, her regular salesman, a very sweet guy and a knowledgeable Canon shooter has never behaved like that. We even had a "considering switching" discussion with him last year and he was very neutral about it, more technology than brand focused. As Mac users, we get this treatment all the time from Mac-haters, but never in a "professional" environment that has happily taken our money.

I guess B&H internet will be selling us the new bodies and Calumet HQ will be getting a nice letter from the wife.

Peter Mueller said:

I always liked BelAir Camera in Westwood Village (I left quite some
money with them while I lived in L.A.). http://www.belaircamera.com/

As far as I know it is owned by the same guy who also owns Samy's,
but I always like BelAir Camera much better. If you go there find
Victor (a big guy with a black beard), my favorite sales person in
that store.

Cheers,

Peter

Click to expand...

BelAir by a mile.

Samy's is evil. You wouldn't believe the stuff sales drones tell customers.

But if you are just interested in the best price, mail-order to a local address with overnight shipping, and it will be cheaper than any of the stores.