Camera stores in Chicago

[mrtoml]

Hi

I'm in Chicago for a couple of days and want to check out the Sony a7.

Any good stores to look at?

Preferably downtown or on the L.

Thanks.

 

[yossarian123]

Central Camera. The pickings are slim.

 

[Timmyjoe]

That would be about it. Helix closed a year or so ago, and Calumet closed within the last year. Wolf Camera and Ritz Camera are gone as far as I know. So Central is about all that is left.

Really embarrassing.

Best,
-Tim

 

[zuiko85]

So sad. I lived in Chicago from 1969 to 1978 and there were 5 or 6 camera stores within or close to the loop. In 1970 Wolk's Camera had 3 locations alone. Wolk's was still open (right next door on Wabash st.) in May 1975 when Ralph Altman sold of his store assets and closed. Now there is no information at all as to what happen to them or when. The other stores, Bass Camera, Shutan's, Camera Exchange, and a couple of others whose names escape me, are all gone without a trace. Even the all seeing internet has no trace of their fates.

 

[mdarnton]

Do us all a favor: go the Central and buy something. The photo business everywhere is running on fumes and I'm sure they need the money more than Amazon does. When I've bought equipment there (my shop is a half block away and I'm in once a week or so), their prices have been right in line with internet prices. Sales tax is a small price to pay to keep the last camera store open.

 

[Rob-F]

Another vote for Central camera. I've bought from them twice--Leica and Zeiss gear--and was satisfied both times. It's on Wabash, behind Orchestra Hall. Easy to find.

 

[tonyramos]

Please do visit Central Camera. You may end up seeing camera stuff that you have been looking for. Don, who owns the store and the staff are more very helpful. Had my rangefinders serviced by Joe who has since retired.
Good to buy film there. Priced right.

 

[Sustich]

Calumet has reopened their suburban Chicago store in Oak Brook and a former Wolf store in Northbrook. Their website indicates their Chicago flagship on the near north side will be reopening soon. Here is a link to their website: http://www.calumetphoto.com/

 

[yossarian123]

Do us all a favor: go the Central and buy something. The photo business everywhere is running on fumes and I'm sure they need the money more than Amazon does. When I've bought equipment there (my shop is a half block away and I'm in once a week or so), their prices have been right in line with internet prices. Sales tax is a small price to pay to keep the last camera store open.

Where's the shop at? If it's open to the public, I'd like to stop by some time when I'm prowling around the loop.

 

[mdarnton]

Wabash, between Jackson and Adams. Go one block in, west, from the front steps of the Art Institute, turn left, and it's about 3/4 of a block down, on the west side of the street. Can't miss the 1940s vintage neon sign.

I can't believe you haven't been there! If you like old hardware stores, where the owner is the only one who knows where in the infinite piles of stuff up to the ceiling that bolt you need is located, but it is always in stock somewhere, this is the camera store equivalent.

Take a look and walk around inside, thanks to Google streetview: http://goo.gl/maps/XEOyq
Street view sets you up standing in the center facing the back. Turn around and walk to the front--that's where the good stuff is.

 

[mrtoml]

So apart from Central there is nowhere to buy cameras in a city the size of Chicago? That's really odd.

 

[mdarnton]

You can go to Best Buy, Sears, Walmart, Target. They all sell cameras, if that's all you need. 🙂 There's also a specialist Leica store, Tamarkin Camera, and a rental place, mostly for video people, Dodd's. That's about it, I think. In recent years the small neighborhood Calumet stores had drifted into being like the minor hobby camera stores, Ritz, etc. They weren't really serious camera places that I would go to if I didn't want an extended range of the same most popular stuff that Best Buy sells.

 

[mrtoml]

Went to Central yesterday. It is a real Alladin's cave. Difficult to find anything without asking someone. If you are into film photography this is definitely worth a visit.

 

[zuiko85]

When Ralph Altman closed his store the photo world stopped spinning. Yeah there was always Central, but to paraphrase Yogi Berra "no one went there" until Altman's closed.

But Central is truly the last real camera store left in the US. You have to go there to see it -- and then you will understand why I say that.

I was working at Altman's when it closed. I was just married in March 1975 and Ralph announced in April that he was closing up in May. As they said then, 'a real bummer'. You are right, there was nothing like Altman's. That store had everything including a good used selection. That is where I bought my first Olympus Pen half frame and I have not been without one since then. Although I had only worked there 2 years Ralph was very generous and I received $500 in severance, a small fortune at the time.

 

[CliveC]

Went to Central yesterday. It is a real Alladin's cave. Difficult to find anything without asking someone. If you are into film photography this is definitely worth a visit.

That was kinda my problem with the place (I've been twice while on business trips). I like browsing, but their used wares are behind the counter, on a shelf behind glass.

I made a token purchase last time I was there though, just a roll of Fuji Neopan Acros 400.

 

[FA Limited]

When I was there, I visited the store for a bit, bought a roll of film. The guy was friendly. Then I remember asking about someone else about hasselblad lens caps. They had a huge bag of lens caps and they wanted $20 each, ridiculous.

 

[yossarian123]

When I was there, I visited the store for a bit, bought a roll of film. The guy was friendly. Then I remember asking about someone else about hasselblad lens caps. They had a huge bag of lens caps and they wanted $20 each, ridiculous.

Quick CC tip: don't take the asking price as gospel. Make a counteroffer.

 

[NY_Dan]

Central is not the only real camera store in USA -- one of my favorites is Fotocare in NYC. I went to Central -- the store IMHO was messy, and not organized well. They need to order nicer items -- better camera bags. And the used prices are too high -- like they don't want to sell the stuff. The window display is goofy. Love the neon sign. I bought 10 rolls of film while I was there and a used anamorphic lens -- the young guy who sold me the film was very nice -- gave me a professional discount -- a few bucks. You can do a Google street view that allows you to enter the store and "look" around -- which is cool. They also have some vintage flashbulbs -- which are priced crazy -- just go on eBay and get what you want for bulbs.

 

[marcr1230]

I for one am not enchanted with Central - it's like a dusty garage sale - all sorts of boxes of used filters and lens caps and such that will never sell, used camera prices very high, and usually no stock of whatever camera of the moment I'm interested in.
Last time I checked, no Fuji X, no Olympus 4/3, no stock on whatever Nikon DSLR I was interested in...

 

[SolaresLarrave]

The staff at Central knows how to handle every request... and yes, it's like a candy store. And luck has a lot to do with the used gear offerings; sometimes they're slim, then, they have plenty of interesting stuff. Often, I've seen cameras or lenses there that I never had seen elsewhere other than eBay. Then, there's the find, like a Konica Hexar with fixed lens they had for sale once... Or some nice Nikon RF cameras...

They go nuts on some items, both ways high and low. I saw once or twice neat Leica M2 selling for just $600, with a nice warranty for used equipment (either 6 months or 1 year). There was once a 135mm Nikon RF lens for $400 too! I never tried bargaining there, though... they made offers on my cameras, but I know they were joking (I had a Leica M5 once; they offered a deal for it if I got an M4).

Definitely go, buy film from them, something... I usually do that: film, camera straps, something. They do have the tourism trade: visitors that come and buy digital P&S too.