Buying a rangefinder in Paris

[tennisozzy]

I'm going to Paris in June, and I want to go looking for a used RF. Do you have shops to recommend in the city, please do so.

 

[Khaled]

Boulevard Beaumarchais is filled with camera stores, they sell new and used.
I can recomend La maison du Leica on that same street, right outside the metro chemin vert. Check their website beforehand: www.lemoyenformat.com and click on planete occasions.

Bon Courage!

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I wish I had never known this... B. Beaumarchais pour le bon marche? I hope so!! ::sigh:: First the money for a ticket...

 

[pstevenin]

La Maison du Leica is the biggest retailer here in France, but the service is not that good (to big to be accurate for me).

You can go to little shops like Photo Suffren http://www.photosuffren.com/ with real support or Objectif Boetie http://www.objectif-boetie.fr/.

But the prices here are quite high...

 

[dll927]

After what the French did to Leica prices, I'm not so sure I'd do it. Reportedly, some Fr. outfit now owns a large block of Leitz stock, and you know what that means. I've never been in Paris, but I've heard it's an expensive city.

Just put it to jealousy because the French aren't the axis the world turns on any more.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I've never been in Paris, but I've heard it's an expensive city.

Just put it to jealousy because the French aren't the axis the world turns on any more.

You heard well. It's cheaper than most cities in California, though. I know, I used to live there.

 

[sooner]

I was just in Paris for spring break but didn't ever get around to visiting the shops on Beaumarche. I did go to a flea market on a Saturday morning, one of the southern metro stops, forget the name, and there were some cameras, mostly folders, but the prices were high. The only good deal I found was a black Yashica Electro 35 that I got for 20 euros, but after loading fresh batteries it doesn't work. Hate to say it but Eb*y is surely cheaper, given that a can of coke can cost you 3 bucks. Great city, though, and who knows you may get lucky. Happy hunting.

 

[ERV]

I don't know.. looking at the prices on the Paris sites and calculating euro to dollar, things look expensive to me.
I think better deals are available in the US, if that is where you are..
Why not take a rangefinder to Paris and buy film at FINAC instead?

 

[DaveL]

Paris is expensive mainly because of the poor dollar/euro exchange rate. With the French tradition of street photography the Leica name has a near mythical status in France and unfortunately this translates to high prices for all equipment, used or new. Photo Beaumarchais is one of the better stores on the blvd. There was another small store behind the Opera Bastille ( I can't remember the name) that has better prices.

 

[dll927]

You heard well. It's cheaper than most cities in California, though. I know, I used to live there.

I still do (I'm native-born!). True enough, some cities, especially in the Bay Area, Santa Barbara, Santa Monica, Pasadena, etc. etc. are known for being expensive cities to dwell in. I long ago learned not to need gas in Santa Barbara when traversing Rte. 101. And when I lived in the L.A. area, I used to hear people say they would like to retire around S. Barbara, but would never be able to afford it.

 

[dll927]

PS: You'll notice I left out Silicon Valley, at least as far south as Gilroy. NOBODY can afford housing around there. I have relatives in that area, and they are all sitting on gold mines.

 

[Alec]

There was another small store behind the Opera Bastille ( I can't remember the name) that has better prices.

Must be Objectif Bastille.
They are geared to the pros, but very nice to the amateurs.

But please tennisozzy buy a rangefinder in Oz or from the 'Bay and get acquainted with it before coming over here.

Paris is a much better place for taking photographs than for buying photo equipment. Either prices are delirious (second-hand Voigtländer stuff costs more than new from Cameraquest) or choice is non-existant. The only piece I purchased new with a warranty in Paris in the last 15 years is my Dynax [Maxxum] 7D - and it was a factory demo!

You'll enjoy June in Paris one way or the other. Welcome!