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Favorite Camera Shop(S)

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greg kozlik

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As an amateur photgrapher for more than 30 years, my enjoyment of creating images is closely followed by my enjoyment of hanging around camera shops.

I spent many enjoyable Saturday mornings oogling Leica stuff and talking with other photogs at the local camera shop. Most of my favorites are long gone now .... merely a distant memory. Two of my favs were:

Fair Haven Camera in New Haven CT - closed 1980?

Altman's Camera (129 N. Wabash St. Chicago, IL) - closed 1975?

Any one else know these? How about your favorite - now gone?
 
greg kozlik said:
As an amateur photgrapher for more than 30 years, my enjoyment of creating images is closely followed by my enjoyment of hanging around camera shops.

I spent many enjoyable Saturday mornings oogling Leica stuff and talking with other photogs at the local camera shop. Most of my favorites are long gone now .... merely a distant memory. Two of my favs were:

Fair Haven Camera in New Haven CT - closed 1980?

Altman's Camera (129 N. Wabash St. Chicago, IL) - closed 1975?

Any one else know these? How about your favorite - now gone?
Click to expand...
Anyone interested in talking about their fav camera store? Pics?
 
Since you resurrected your own old thread I guess it is ok to respond!

I remember Camera Casino in Oshkosh, WI during my high school and college days in the early 1970's. It was a small store, but had a great selection. I could browse the Nikon, Canon, Minolta, Mamiya, Contax, Yashica, Pentax, Ricoh, Kodak, Olympus, film developing equipment, projectors,......Panasonic and Sony, oh wait, those were audio cassette recorders at KMart.

No idea if it is still around having left the area in 1979.

D
 
Wouldn't it be great if it is still around. Unfortunately, very few are left. A really cool camera store that's still here after more than 100 years is Central Camera in Chicago. I get chills every time I go into the store. Shelves just chock full of neat stuff. And the window displays are for the ages. I hope they stay around.

Vivian Meier used to go in there to buy film. The owner, Don Fleisch, told me they felt sorry for her and used to give her some rolls of 120 film free. Now that's really cool.

If you're ever in Chicago - visit it on Wabash Ave
 
There aren't that many around. It's 2017 so my favorite camera shop is Amazon.
 
I remember towns near me had 5+ stores, quite a few have no shops now, sign of the times.
 
greg kozlik said:
As an amateur photgrapher for more than 30 years, my enjoyment of creating images is closely followed by my enjoyment of hanging around camera shops.

I spent many enjoyable Saturday mornings oogling Leica stuff and talking with other photogs at the local camera shop. Most of my favorites are long gone now .... merely a distant memory. Two of my favs were:

Fair Haven Camera in New Haven CT - closed 1980?

Altman's Camera (129 N. Wabash St. Chicago, IL) - closed 1975?

Any one else know these? How about your favorite - now gone?
Click to expand...
Internet:

B&H - always got exactly what I ordered, no issues ever.

Amazon - only use them for accessories, no cameras or lenses.

Local:

Inkley's Camera - Large selection, have every major brand except Leica and MF (exception being Pentax). They let you handle all the gear try on many lenses. Sales staff is knowledgeable. (Everyone has their favorites - usually Pentax, NIkon, Olympus). Go in knowing what you want to compare.

Pictureline - Great selection of high end gear, most of the sales staff is extremely knowledgeable, some are more friendly than others, the ones with a bit less knowledge are friendlier, IMO. Last time I was there their return policy was not that great, but when I got a bummed memory card once they swapped it for another even though it had been a few weeks since I bought it.

These are where I refer people to go to who are in my local area.
 
Internet, B&H. Love visiting when in NY.

At home, National Camera Exchange in Golden Valley MN, although I have used all 4 of their stores.
 
Now that is cool ............
 
Ok - where is this?

You're lucky
 
greg kozlik said:
As an amateur photgrapher for more than 30 years, my enjoyment of creating images is closely followed by my enjoyment of hanging around camera shops.

I spent many enjoyable Saturday mornings oogling Leica stuff and talking with other photogs at the local camera shop...
Click to expand...
A bit off-topic, but I really dislike visiting shops where the employees are busy socializing with their friends or crowd of regulars. Or shops that are full of 'customers' standing around BSing.

It's one of several reasons I prefer shopping online. ;)
 
Bobthearch said:
greg kozlik said:
As an amateur photgrapher for more than 30 years, my enjoyment of creating images is closely followed by my enjoyment of hanging around camera shops.

I spent many enjoyable Saturday mornings oogling Leica stuff and talking with other photogs at the local camera shop...
Click to expand...
A bit off-topic, but I really dislike visiting shops where the employees are busy socializing with their friends or crowd of regulars. Or shops that are full of 'customers' standing around BSing.

It's one of several reasons I prefer shopping online. ;)
Click to expand...
 
Mackiesback said:
Bobthearch said:
greg kozlik said:
As an amateur photgrapher for more than 30 years, my enjoyment of creating images is closely followed by my enjoyment of hanging around camera shops.

I spent many enjoyable Saturday mornings oogling Leica stuff and talking with other photogs at the local camera shop...
Click to expand...
A bit off-topic, but I really dislike visiting shops where the employees are busy socializing with their friends or crowd of regulars. Or shops that are full of 'customers' standing around BSing.

It's one of several reasons I prefer shopping online. ;)
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Bobthearch said:
greg kozlik said:
As an amateur photgrapher for more than 30 years, my enjoyment of creating images is closely followed by my enjoyment of hanging around camera shops.

I spent many enjoyable Saturday mornings oogling Leica stuff and talking with other photogs at the local camera shop...
Click to expand...
A bit off-topic, but I really dislike visiting shops where the employees are busy socializing with their friends or crowd of regulars. Or shops that are full of 'customers' standing around BSing.

It's one of several reasons I prefer shopping online. ;)
Click to expand...
 
+1 on that. If you have Nikon equipment, don't go there. You will come home very happy but broke. LOL!! If it is Nikon, they have it. They also have a great used equipment selection.
 
donaldsc said:
+1 on that. If you have Nikon equipment, don't go there. You will come home very happy but broke. LOL!! If it is Nikon, they have it. They also have a great used equipment selection.
Click to expand...
 
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