Any Good Used Camera Shops In Boston?

[jyl]

I'm going to be in Boston for a couple of days. Are there any good used camera shops? Not that I need to buy anything, but I find that finding and browsing used camera shops gets me exploring areas of a town that I wouldn't necessarily see otherwise. And you never know what you might find.

 

[ddimaria]

Be VERY careful at the used shops downtown. Not to talk bad about anyone in particular, but there are two used shops right next to each other on Bromfield St in Downtown crossing. One is decent, the other shop employs a few swindlers. The biggest used selection is at EP Levines. Their prices are weird, sometimes a steal, sometimes a laugh. It's not downtown though. You would have to take a bus or taxi to 23 Drydock Avenue from South Station, or walk a mile or two down Summer St, across a bridge, into what I believe is technically South Boston. EP Levines is one of the places with A LOT of used stuff behind glass cases, and a lot more in the back. The also have a rack of used enlargers, lights, etc. If you have time you should check it out.

 

[ScottS]

There's also New England photo in Arlington. They've got a fair amount of Leica gear. Not a whole lot of non-Leica RF gear, but they did have at least a couple Canon RF bodies when I was there last. Last I was there, prices seemed a bit high, but probably not too far out of line for a walk-in camera store. Best way to get there is by car, but if you won't have one, you can also take a bus from Harvard Square (77 I think? It's been several years since I've taken public transport in Boston regularly -- I'm losing my memory of the route #s, etc.).

Scott

 

[cbass]

Second the caution on the Bromfiled Street shop (hint: the one bearing the initials B.I.C.). If you know what you're doing you can probably do okay in there. The merch they have usually looks fairly solid but they tend to price their gear too high. The salespersons can be kind of aggressive, too.

However, I bought a near-mint Minolta Rokkor lens from there and the salesman threw in a step-up ring, lens case and teleconverter (which I promptly broke) for free. Go figure.

The OTHER Bromfield Street store, Bromfield Camera, deals primarilyin new gear. There is a small used gear assortment near the back, mostly SLRs, but they did have a good-looking Yashica GSN and a Minolta Hi-Matic G in the case the last time I went there (May, 2005).

 

[jyl]

I visited EP Levine, had a nice time browsing, bought some film. Good place, kind of out of the way but the bus does stop right in front. I then went by the Bromfield shops. The one closer to the corner had more interesting stuff, to me. Had a nice chat with the guy about old Nikons, he owns a Canon 7 too. The other one had less interesting stuff. I didn't see anything I wanted at either place, but the visit did take me to the Littlest Bar for a peaceful beer. Thanks for the suggestions, everyone.

 

[MJFerron]

You can actually park at EP Levine's too!!

 

[ddimaria]

Any fellow RFF members living in Dorchester?

 

[cbass]

Glad you enjoyed Boston. I used to work three blocks from The Littlest Bar. Downtown Crossing can be a fun place to shoot.

Sorry, DD...not Dorchester. Further south for this RFFer, near Brockton. Well, off to the Cape for the weekend. I'm bringing the Bessa, loaded with C-41 B&W. Hope to get some good pix.

Peace!

 

[MJFerron]

I was from the Brockton/Taunton area. Spent 9 years on the Cape then dumped the whole scene and moved to Maine. Did you know it's a slower pace up here? 🙂

 

[ddimaria]

Brockton, I like to call it the "Boogie Down". Home of Rocky Marciano and Marvin Hagler. The city of champions. But wait, you said near Brockton, are you from Avon, or Holbrook.

 

[peter_n]

The two best stores in Boston are EP Levine & Newtonville Camera. EP Levine is at 23 Drydock Ave., Boston, MA 02210: 617-951-1499. Newtonville Camera & Video is at 249 Walnut St., Newton, MA 02460: 617-965-1240. You can also call the Newtonville manager Mike Bard at 1-800-734-9992. He's a geat guy, will cut a deal on a Leica any day of the week except Mondays when he's not in the store.

 

[cbass]

In the interests of on-line privacy, let's just say I'm "near Brockton". Been here for 1 year, formerly a Jersey Guy. If anyone wants to know precisely where I live just PM me off-thread. I'd like to try to organize a Boston area RFF shoot-around for one weekend this fall if anyone else is interested.

On the Cape we stay in Chatham - lovely place, especially off season. Gotta try out Maine, though..I hear it's great. It's where Cape Codders take vacations! 😀

Okay, fellow New Englanders...I'll catch up with you all next week. Adios!