Chicago Central Camera - Happiness is a wall of film...

[marcr1230]

and cameras and accessories...

I was in Central Camera today, within minutes 2 people came in looking for a Nikon FE - the place was reasonably busy and 4-5 clerks asked if I needed any help. They do know their stuff here.
I walked out with fresh chemistry and a smile

 

[jsrockit]

Happiness is that store front...

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Lovely place!

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I've shopped there in person numerous times. I always make sure to stop at Central when I visit Chicago. Neat old place.

 

[Huss]

Looks like my fridge. Except I see they have space between some of the film

 

[barnwulf]

Back in the 1960s I saw their ad in a Popular Photography magazine and I decided that I wanted to upgrade a film camera that I had. I described the camera that I wanted to trade in and they gave me a quote over the phone since I lived over 300 miles from their store. I decided to go through with the deal and sent my camera off to them. I received my new camera and a nice redund of some money and a note saying the my trade in was in very good condition so they were allowing more money on my trade in. That really impressed me.

A couple of years later I was in Chicage I stopped by their store. I parked a couple doors down from their door and I was in their store for about fifteen munites. When I came out someone had broken into my car and taken three cameras that I thought were well hidden. They called the police and I reported the description and SNs of the cameras. Inside a year later the police recovered two of stolen cameras. The only camera that I didn't get back yams insured so all finally came out OK in the end. - jim

 

[zuiko85]

I see they moved the front door out to the street.
I worked for Altman's right up to the time Ralph sold out the inventory and closed the store in May of 1975. It was a nerve racking experience especially since I was newly wed to my first wife. It wasn't till October that I found work at a little hole in the wall on Dearborn st called Camera Exchange. That lasted till I moved out west to Washington state in 1978 and got too poor to ever move anywhere else.

So here I is.

 

[Trius]

I mostly dealt with Helix ( both Chicago and Urbana) but I really loved going into Central. Next time I'm near I will go in and spend some coin.

Anyone know if they regularly have any OM-4 bodies?

 

[marcr1230]

it's hit or miss - I think the had 2 OM-1's on the shelf yesterday

I mostly dealt with Helix ( both Chicago and Urbana) but I really loved going into Central. Next time I'm near I will go in and spend some coin.

Anyone know if they regularly have any OM-4 bodies?

 

[Ken Ford]

I used to shop there regularly when I was shooting for a living, and then when I was working downtown. It's time for a trip!

 

[bluesun267]

Even movie film! Now that is a true rarity. I love Central Camera!

 

[Rob-F]

I usually wind up buying something expensive when I walk in there. Good store with good people!

 

[lxmike]

shops like that are a rarity these days, sadly there is not a store that cool near me

 

[Rico]

We Chicagoans should make Central our next meeting place—which needs to happen before roguedesigner (Liam) leaves town for his new job.

 

[marcr1230]

South Loop Meeting at http://plymouthgrill.com/rooftop-bar-grill/
short walk to Central Camera!

We Chicagoans should make Central our next meeting place—which needs to happen before roguedesigner (Liam) leaves town for his new job.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

I love the smell of fresh film! 🙂

Chris

 

[View Range]

A store that had really beautiful front and more recently closed was Studio City Camera Exchange in Studio City, CA.

http://www.studiocitymileofstyle.com/#!studio-city-camera-exchange/zoom/cjg9/image1c8d

I have bought a couple of items from Central Camera on E-bay in the last few years. They are great to deal with even on E-bay.

 

[pagpow]

Central Camera and Altman's bring back memories of the time I lived in Chicago and going to a camera store had supplanted watching a washing machine tumble on Saturday nights. Seems like last century. Wait... it was. Good to see one is still going.

Giorgio

 

[nlubis]

This would be a nice place to stop by next time I visit.

 

[airfrogusmc]

I bought an F-1 and an 85 1.2 aspherical from them in the late 1970s.