back alley
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dave, i sent ya a p.m.
peterc
Heretic
Joe, I have to drop by there again on Tuesday afternoon to pick up my slides. I could ask about splitting up the set if you'd like.back alley said:
Peter
back alley
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many thanks peter, dave just offered the same.
if i had a few more bucks i might think about both, not that i need another p, but for now raid's lens test has me somewhat interested in that lens.
and it's not even a 35!
if i had a few more bucks i might think about both, not that i need another p, but for now raid's lens test has me somewhat interested in that lens.
and it's not even a 35!
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
About two summers ago, Downtown Camera had a Leica IIIf RD with a collapsable Summicron, nice shape, certainly not mint, no self timer, Wetzlar model, it was in the upper 700+ CAD price range, I checked it out , lens was clean, with the usual cleaning marks, 1/2 sec & 1 sec shutter speeds hesitated and sometime the 2nd curtain would not close at the1 sec, signs that the camera needed a CLA. I did get a very small price drop from the Non Asian salesperson and we had a deal, I was buying the Leica, he in fact was looking to find the users manual to give me with it as bonus, suddenly , the salesperson said that now he can not sell the IIIf at the price we agreed at. I was flabergasted!! we had agreed on a price, and I was buying it and now he wanted me to pay the first price he first asked! I walked out shaking my head. Thats Downtown Camera in my experiance!!
FrankS
Registered User
Do you remember the old Queen St. camera store (north side)? That was way cool.
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
My favorite was Alt Camera, where Henrys bargain store is now, I seen Canon Ps & VTs there, a mint black Nikon SP w 50mm/f1.4 ($4000.00 CAD, sold to a Japanese gent), M Leicas & Leitz glass galore ,I bought my user P & Canon 25mm & 85mm f1.9 there. too bad the store is long gone.
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
FrankS said:
I think Queen Street Camera later became Hayden Camera before it closed, they had a old sales person named John Luxton, a real character! who used to work in the smaller photo shops by Yonge & Elm street area in the late 1970s early 80s. John once showed me a non working RARE Leotax G rf camera, the last one they made in one of those small photo shops, He wanted over $450.00 CAN, alot of money in the 1980s, for a non working camera. Who knew!!
FrankS
Registered User
I think it was John who sold me a Rolleihood #2 (the hard to find size) privately when I was there at the store looking for one and the store didn't have one.
peterc
Heretic
I''l let Dave ask for you then ... if two of us inquire they'll think it's valuable and jack up the price.back alley said:
Peter
julianphotoart
No likey digital-phooey
xayraa33 said:
Yeah, poor Alt. Those guys LIKED gear. There's one guy from Alt whose still working one of the tables at what is now Henry's Discount Store. He loves Rollei 35mm stuff and was very nice about slipping me stuff for free that wasn't selling, including great old Rollei 35mm store literature that the store didn't even have on sale and is otherwise real hard to get.
As for Stan and Ken, Stan, to me, is unfortunately a big-headed blow-hard number-cruncher. Ken, on the other hand, really is nice to chat with. He knows the romance of both photography itself and the equipment.
My 2-cents worth is that it MIGHT make a difference (it can't hurt to try) to mention me to Ken. He does know me as Julian but he knows me even more as the guy with the Honda Hybrid who once bought from him a SHIT-load of Ilfochrome chemicals (aside from all manner of other RF, used and Nikon stuff over the years). I only mention myself because I've seen Ken go to work on my behalf with Stan pretty effectively when it mattered. Ken is a stealth film-lover. Hell, on the other hand, he might say "Julian who?" -- I don't know.
Aside from all the above, it's just nice to help a store that is trying to keep pace with the much-bigger Henry's.
Julian
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
Yes , John like to sell a lot of things privately, I did not buy his broken Leotax G, but I did buy a Komura enlarging lens off John He lived in a bachelor type flat surrounded by camera gear and jazz LPs. John loved Topcon Cameras and always talked about " the Ladies ".
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
julianphotoart said:
Thank you Julian, I will mention your name to Ken, The nicest sales person at DC is that older French Canadian gent, With,( pardon my crudeness) that toupee style blonde hair, whose name escapes me, any one here remember his name?
Speaking of Alt Camera, the sales person I do remember is Brian who handled medium format cameras, Who now runs Harrys Pro Shop out of his home.
peterc
Heretic
Stealth??? ... he's pretty vocal about how he prefers film these days. Says he doesn't know or care about that digital stuff.julianphotoart said:
Peter
peterc
Heretic
That's Marc. He bought a place in Quebec and is spending a lot of weekends there working to fix it up so he can move there.xayraa33 said:
Peter
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
for those interested in the Canon P, at DC... body looks nice, the shutter speeds look good, curtains are not overly wrinkled, the rf is contrasty and spot on , not too much flare in the finder, the self timer did not trip the cocked shutter, the first edition " two tone 50/2.8 "looked clean and focused smoothly.
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
Yes , his name is Marc, thank you, I bought boxes of 50 rolls of HP - 5 from Marc, he could teach some of those guys in that store, about politeness and courtesy to customers.
K
Kin Lau
Guest
xayraa33 said:
I've dealt with Brian as Harry's Pro Shop... nice enough guy. He gave such a low quote for some LF gear a friend of mine had, that she simply gave it all to me instead.
This thread on Downtown Camera is very informative. I was also rather turned off by the sales staff, so it's good to know I wasn't the only one...walking in with a Kiev probably didn't help.
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
Kin Lau said:
A Kiev is a fantatic camera!! do not feel 2nd class because you own a Kiev, I love them, I got Leicas, Canon Ps VTs Niccas, beleive me , Kiev rfs are great!! .. by the way Stanley at Downtown Camera had two Kiev rfs for sale at the store, his own cameras a few years ago, He wanted alot of money for them. a 73 Kiev 4 , no ERC and a early 80s Kiev 4m with H- 108 lens plus the rotary finder at much extra cost.& no warranty. you can get these cameras cheaper at Fedka now, with warranty ,than what Stan was asking for them then.
julianphotoart
No likey digital-phooey
xayraa33 said:
I know who you mean but don't know his name. He is very nice but oh so timid. It looks like it is so painful to approach a customer. I feel guilty bothering him!
flipflop
Well-known
Guys.
I have enjoyed reading this thread. I was just wondering if someone would be able to tell me the condition of this canon P in Canada? I would like to get a Canon P but I dont have a ton of cash...
I would be interested in the whole set. I know Joe is interested in the lens, but I would be willing to take the body if its in decent condition and mayb we could come to a agreement on how much the lens alone is worth, or joe maybe you have a lens you could send me instead of the lens included.
Thanks!
I have enjoyed reading this thread. I was just wondering if someone would be able to tell me the condition of this canon P in Canada? I would like to get a Canon P but I dont have a ton of cash...
I would be interested in the whole set. I know Joe is interested in the lens, but I would be willing to take the body if its in decent condition and mayb we could come to a agreement on how much the lens alone is worth, or joe maybe you have a lens you could send me instead of the lens included.
Thanks!