Best LA camera store?

Calle Slättengren · Feb 4, 2004

Hello!

Maybe, but just maybe I´m visiting friends in LA June-July. I´m thinking of buying a Nikon 12-24, 24-120 VR and some other goodies, maybe the D200 (or whatever it will be named).

What is the best and most reliable store in LA area? Is there something similar to B&H?

Thanks!

Best regards
Calle, Sweden

JC · Feb 4, 2004

Canoga Camera. http://www.canogacamera.com
Their prices and service both are very good.

JC

Calle Slättengren said:
Hello!

Maybe, but just maybe I´m visiting friends in LA June-July. I´m
thinking of buying a Nikon 12-24, 24-120 VR and some other goodies,
maybe the D200 (or whatever it will be named).
What is the best and most reliable store in LA area? Is there
something similar to B&H?

Thanks!

Best regards
Calle, Sweden

Mark Burnham · Feb 4, 2004

Calle Slättengren said:
Hello!

Maybe, but just maybe I´m visiting friends in LA June-July. I´m
thinking of buying a Nikon 12-24, 24-120 VR and some other goodies,
maybe the D200 (or whatever it will be named).
What is the best and most reliable store in LA area? Is there
something similar to B&H?

Thanks!

Best regards
Calle, Sweden

--
-Mark

NikonBob · Feb 4, 2004

Go to Samy's..Best in and around LA...3 stories of stuff and very talented and informed ppl. You cannot go wrong here.

There's no comparison to Canoga Camera, sorry. Been to all of them.

http://www.samys.com

Regards,

Calle Slättengren said:
Hello!

Maybe, but just maybe I´m visiting friends in LA June-July. I´m
thinking of buying a Nikon 12-24, 24-120 VR and some other goodies,
maybe the D200 (or whatever it will be named).
What is the best and most reliable store in LA area? Is there
something similar to B&H?

Thanks!

Best regards
Calle, Sweden

Jonathan F. · Feb 4, 2004

I'm not a big Samy's fan at all. I think their prices aren't that great. I would try elsewhere.

RichK said:
There's no comparison to Canoga Camera, sorry. Been to all of them.

http://www.samys.com

Regards,

Calle Slättengren said:

Hello!

Maybe, but just maybe I´m visiting friends in LA June-July. I´m
thinking of buying a Nikon 12-24, 24-120 VR and some other goodies,
maybe the D200 (or whatever it will be named).
What is the best and most reliable store in LA area? Is there
something similar to B&H?

Thanks!

Best regards
Calle, Sweden

Click to expand...

--
------------------------------

More paparazzi shoot with Nikon than any other brand!

inhousephoto inc. digital / photography / media
http://www.inhousephoto.com

JoshW · Feb 4, 2004

I live close to Samy's... aren't they on the expensive side?

I don't get the feeling I'll save any $$$ from Samy's... are your experiences different?

Thanks

RichK said:
There's no comparison to Canoga Camera, sorry. Been to all of them.

http://www.samys.com

Regards,

Calle Slättengren said:

Hello!

Maybe, but just maybe I´m visiting friends in LA June-July. I´m
thinking of buying a Nikon 12-24, 24-120 VR and some other goodies,
maybe the D200 (or whatever it will be named).
What is the best and most reliable store in LA area? Is there
something similar to B&H?

Thanks!

Best regards
Calle, Sweden

Click to expand...

--
F717
http://www.pbase.com/joshua

JoshuaMB · Feb 4, 2004

yes, samys, if youve got a lot of cash to burn. They are a great big camera store, but their prices dont rival NY prices, ie. they are not equivalent to B&H. Sometimes they do have sales where they pay the tax, then its closer, but otherwise their prices aren't that low... If you want NY prices on this coast, you can check out San Jose camera, if they are still in business, they are a NY style store, no frills, crappy service, but you go in knowing what you want after youve handled it at Samys.

Harry43218 · Feb 4, 2004

http://www.belaircamera.com/

Bought my E-10 from there.

Calle Slättengren said:
Hello!

Maybe, but just maybe I´m visiting friends in LA June-July. I´m
thinking of buying a Nikon 12-24, 24-120 VR and some other goodies,
maybe the D200 (or whatever it will be named).
What is the best and most reliable store in LA area? Is there
something similar to B&H?

Thanks!

Best regards
Calle, Sweden

--
http://www.harrylangphotography.com

karl Jacobs · Feb 4, 2004

Calle Slättengren said:
Hello!

Maybe, but just maybe I´m visiting friends in LA June-July. I´m
thinking of buying a Nikon 12-24, 24-120 VR and some other goodies,
maybe the D200 (or whatever it will be named).
What is the best and most reliable store in LA area? Is there
something similar to B&H?

Thanks!

Best regards
Calle, Sweden

Bel-Aire Camera on the westside is by far the best. Samy's is bigger, but the sales staff are rude and surly. (they should be working at a NY store).

For prices, you may want to mail-order from a NY store while you are here.

BishopVC · Feb 4, 2004

Here's a post of mine from a few months ago. See the other messages in the thread as well.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1020&message=6049100

Regards,

Bishop

Calle Slättengren · Feb 4, 2004

Fantastic response!
Thanks guys!

Best regards
Calle, Sweden

NikonBob · Feb 4, 2004

where would you go in LA then? That was the question.

Also, let me know when you try returning something. Sure I can buy camera's cheap in NY or online, but try returning something. Quality retailers have better policies overall. Would you agree?

Price wasn't the question here and I was not stating they had NY prices. That's why you pay a little more. It's called risk mitigation. Having been in this situation, all I can state is that Samy's came through for me BIG TIME!

Regards,

Jonathan F. said:
RichK said:

There's no comparison to Canoga Camera, sorry. Been to all of them.

http://www.samys.com

Regards,

Calle Slättengren said:

Hello!

Maybe, but just maybe I´m visiting friends in LA June-July. I´m
thinking of buying a Nikon 12-24, 24-120 VR and some other goodies,
maybe the D200 (or whatever it will be named).
What is the best and most reliable store in LA area? Is there
something similar to B&H?

Thanks!

Best regards
Calle, Sweden

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
------------------------------

More paparazzi shoot with Nikon than any other brand!

inhousephoto inc. digital / photography / media
http://www.inhousephoto.com

Jonathan F. · Feb 4, 2004

Returning stuff to B&H is easy. No CA sales tax and their prices are very reasonable. At the Venice Samy's, I've received less than spectacular treatment.

RichK said:
Also, let me know when you try returning something. Sure I can buy
camera's cheap in NY or online, but try returning something.
Quality retailers have better policies overall. Would you agree?

Price wasn't the question here and I was not stating they had NY
prices. That's why you pay a little more. It's called risk
mitigation. Having been in this situation, all I can state is that
Samy's came through for me BIG TIME!

Regards,

Jonathan F. said:

RichK said:

There's no comparison to Canoga Camera, sorry. Been to all of them.

http://www.samys.com

Regards,

Calle Slättengren said:

Hello!

Maybe, but just maybe I´m visiting friends in LA June-July. I´m
thinking of buying a Nikon 12-24, 24-120 VR and some other goodies,
maybe the D200 (or whatever it will be named).
What is the best and most reliable store in LA area? Is there
something similar to B&H?

Thanks!

Best regards
Calle, Sweden

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
------------------------------

inhousephoto inc. digital / photography / media
http://www.inhousephoto.com

Click to expand...

NikonBob · Feb 4, 2004

Yes, see my thread above and my comments on pricing relating to the original poster's question.

Regards,

JoshW said:
I don't get the feeling I'll save any $$$ from Samy's... are your
experiences different?

Thanks

RichK said:

There's no comparison to Canoga Camera, sorry. Been to all of them.

http://www.samys.com

Regards,

Calle Slättengren said:

Hello!

Maybe, but just maybe I´m visiting friends in LA June-July. I´m
thinking of buying a Nikon 12-24, 24-120 VR and some other goodies,
maybe the D200 (or whatever it will be named).
What is the best and most reliable store in LA area? Is there
something similar to B&H?

Thanks!

Best regards
Calle, Sweden

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
F717
http://www.pbase.com/joshua

James Jeter · Feb 4, 2004

RichK said:
Also, let me know when you try returning something. Sure I can buy
camera's cheap in NY or online, but try returning something.
Quality retailers have better policies overall. Would you agree?

Price wasn't the question here and I was not stating they had NY
prices. That's why you pay a little more. It's called risk
mitigation. Having been in this situation, all I can state is that
Samy's came through for me BIG TIME!

Regards,

Jonathan F. said:

RichK said:

There's no comparison to Canoga Camera, sorry. Been to all of them.

http://www.samys.com

Regards,

Calle Slättengren said:

Hello!

Maybe, but just maybe I´m visiting friends in LA June-July. I´m
thinking of buying a Nikon 12-24, 24-120 VR and some other goodies,
maybe the D200 (or whatever it will be named).
What is the best and most reliable store in LA area? Is there
something similar to B&H?

Thanks!

Best regards
Calle, Sweden

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
------------------------------

More paparazzi shoot with Nikon than any other brand!

inhousephoto inc. digital / photography / media
http://www.inhousephoto.com

Click to expand...

--

I've been to them all and would recommend Samy's as well. Prices are very good and people are knowledgable.

Jim Jeter
Aliso Viejo, CA
http://www.pbase.com/jim_jeter/root

Phil Flash · Feb 4, 2004

You're better off ordering from Norman or somewhere like B&H once you're here.

Calle Slättengren said:
Hello!

Maybe, but just maybe I´m visiting friends in LA June-July. I´m
thinking of buying a Nikon 12-24, 24-120 VR and some other goodies,
maybe the D200 (or whatever it will be named).
What is the best and most reliable store in LA area? Is there
something similar to B&H?

Thanks!

Best regards
Calle, Sweden

--
Phil Flash
SF, CA USA
'Trust the 'kon!'

Stuff I own in my profile.

Calle Slättengren · Feb 4, 2004

True, but even with 8.5 sales tax it´s very, very cheap for me. The 12-24 is 1874 USD incl tax in Sweden.
So if I buy the 12-24 in L.A I basically get the 24-120 VR for free.
But you´re right, I can order from B&H while in L.A.

Best regards
Calle, Sweden

Phil Flash said:
Calle Slättengren said:

Hello!

Maybe, but just maybe I´m visiting friends in LA June-July. I´m
thinking of buying a Nikon 12-24, 24-120 VR and some other goodies,
maybe the D200 (or whatever it will be named).
What is the best and most reliable store in LA area? Is there
something similar to B&H?

Thanks!

Best regards
Calle, Sweden

Click to expand...

--
Phil Flash
SF, CA USA
'Trust the 'kon!'

Stuff I own in my profile.

yoshi · Feb 4, 2004

1135 N. Highland Ave.
Hollywood, CA 90038
Phone: 323-466-1238
Hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
http://www.calumetphoto.com/

yoshi - who lives close to samys and calumet

Calle Slättengren · Feb 4, 2004

Thanks, but on the 12-24 and 24-120 VR it says:

"We cannot publish our current price for this item because it's lower than the official "advertised price." But we will gladly provide a quote for you."

Best regards
Calle, Sweden

yoshi234 said:
1135 N. Highland Ave.
Hollywood, CA 90038
Phone: 323-466-1238
Hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
http://www.calumetphoto.com/

yoshi - who lives close to samys and calumet

NikonBob · Feb 4, 2004

He coming to LA, not NY my friend.

Samy's Venice sucks...Agree with you 100%, which is why I said Fairfax, their main and very large-inventoried store.

Regards,

Jonathan F. said:
RichK said:

Also, let me know when you try returning something. Sure I can buy
camera's cheap in NY or online, but try returning something.
Quality retailers have better policies overall. Would you agree?

Price wasn't the question here and I was not stating they had NY
prices. That's why you pay a little more. It's called risk
mitigation. Having been in this situation, all I can state is that
Samy's came through for me BIG TIME!

Regards,

Jonathan F. said:

RichK said:

There's no comparison to Canoga Camera, sorry. Been to all of them.

http://www.samys.com

Regards,

Calle Slättengren said:

Hello!

Maybe, but just maybe I´m visiting friends in LA June-July. I´m
thinking of buying a Nikon 12-24, 24-120 VR and some other goodies,
maybe the D200 (or whatever it will be named).
What is the best and most reliable store in LA area? Is there
something similar to B&H?

Thanks!

Best regards
Calle, Sweden

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
------------------------------

inhousephoto inc. digital / photography / media
http://www.inhousephoto.com

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

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