Local photo store bargains

[kiev4a]

Don't know if anyone else has noticed this trend where they live.

The largest camera store in our area has been around for more than 50 years and their prices on equipment have always be manufacturers list. But recently somebody apparently decided to put all emphisis on digital.

The store does sell equipment on consignment. I was in one branch and they had a big bunch of M2s and M3s and lenses. Most were users but most of the prices--even with lens ranged from $750 to maybe $1,200.

Over the weekend I strolled into another store branch and found an absolutely Mint Nikon F3 with high eye-point finder for $350. That condition commands $500 plus at KEH. Now I own the F3.

Anyway, the store just doesn't seem to think even the high end equipment is worth their time. I think the only way they are selling it is on consignment --they won't take it in trade. Is that a trend in the business?

 

[dmr]

Full list????!!!

Full list????!!!

The largest camera store in our area has been around for more than 50 years and their prices on equipment have always be manufacturers list.

Do they actually sell at full list?????? Around here nobody could get away doing that! Walk-in places aren't normally as low as B&H or even Wally World, but never full list.

Around here, Somewhere In Middle America<tm>, we had until recently 2 of what I call "real" camera shops. One recently closed, not due to the Great Unwashed Masses going digital, but due to the proprietor retiring with nobody to take over.

The remaining shop seems to recognize my Pentax as a Real Camera<tm> but I haven't taken the GIII in there yet. 🙂

 

[back alley]

trades have never really been worth it to the buyer of new gear but nowadays even less so.
the big store in my town gives next to nothing on trades but still tries to sell high. like they never heard of the internet.

joe

 

[kiev4a]

This store has always sold at full bore. They sell a lot of equipment to state and federal agencies which seemsto think mfg list is the only price. Plus now they have outlets in malls and trendy areas whose customers don't seem to be bargain hunters. They used to have quite a few knowledgable old-timers who could furnish valuable info (before the internet). Now the staff is made up of "it's not worth buying unleass it's the latest thing" clerks. I think they price the consignment stuff low because they want to get it out of the way ASAP and it's no skin off their noses if the seller gets a ltttle less.

 

[Todd.Hanz]

Trades? Ha!, they should be called donations. I watched a guy try to trade a Nikon body towards a digicam, they salesman went into the back to check the current used price guide ( he checked ebay price minus 40-50 percent) and told the customer, the guy almost choked. The salesman told him no one buys film cameras anymore and they would have a hard time selling it. What a load of CR@P!

Todd

 

[Wayne R. Scott]

In the past year I have purchased a few cameras at local camera stores at what I thought were decent prices. I got a Nikon F3HP with MD4 for $425. Then about 3 months later they had another one just like it and I said I would take it if $325 was ok, I was just joking and the owner thought for a couple of minutes and then he said OK. Now I have 2 Nikon F3HP's with MD4's. I also bought 2 Nikon FA's for $125 each, one of them had a 50mm f1.8 AIS lens. I bought a Canon F1 N with 28mm and 35 mm lens for $180. All of these are cameras that I had lusted after for several years but could not afford. I also picked up a Pentax Spotmatic F with 28mm lens for $60. I bought a mint Crown Graphic 4x5 with 162mm Optar lens for $195.00 from the same store. He wants to make me a screaming deal on some Bronica RF645 lens that he has in stock, but I haven't bought a body (yet).

God, I really love digital!!! Best thing that has happend to this poor film using boy.

Wayne

 

[captainslack]

Guy at the local shop here showed me a Mamiya 645 with 80mm lens for $245!!! My jaw almost broke his display case when it fell open.

Too bad I didn't have the extra cash at the time.... 🙁

 

[Fedzilla_Bob]

Not so at Bob Davis Camera in La Jolla. The used cameras remain high in price. I'll bet it is largely due to the neighborhood and the fact that they still do good business selling film, processing and developing prints for 35mm, medium and large formats.

They still have a Bessa R in the case from last year with the Skopar 35/f2.5 for $495. Used. A zorki 4k with a rigid i50 for $100. Also a Contax G1 body for $495. All are still there.

Film is also about 3 to 4 dollars more there than if I order from Adorama. Nice folks though.

 

[smudge]

There is a camera shop in west London (Chiswick) called Macs Cameras who has a glass case at the back of the shop filled with lots rangfinder cameras ( canon QL17, olympus, Russian Rf + more) and all camera's are £29.99p. I don't really know many of these camera's but if they work this would be a great price.

 

[Kim Coxon]

Hi Smudge,
Whereabouts? I have to go down to London next week and I might go and have a look. Even if they need a little work, there may be something of interest.

Regards
Kim

There is a camera shop in west London (Chiswick) called Macs Cameras who has a glass case at the back of the shop filled with lots rangfinder cameras ( canon QL17, olympus, Russian Rf + more) and all camera's are £29.99p. I don't really know many of these camera's but if they work this would be a great price.

 

[smudge]

MAC'S Camera's 262 King Street, Hammersmith , London, W6 Tel: 020 8846 9853 This is the main road from Hammersmith to Chiswick, half way along is a bright red camera shop called Mac's. You need to go into the back of shop to the big glass case. The place is a bit of an aladdin's cave for anything photographic: enlargers , filters, developing tanks, paper and of course Rangefinder camera's.

 

[solane]

i discovered the art of haggling at my local camera shop. i went in wanting to buy a new lens for my N80 and when they told me their price, it was a good $50 higher than adorama. i told them that if they couldn't meet me halfway, i might have to buy online. the sales clerk said "ok" and i left with my new lens and a lightmeter. i think the smaller shops know that they have to compete with the chains, online discounters and ebay and will haggle a bit to get your sale. its worth a shot.

later, i picked up a yashicamat for $50 from their used case. they tease me because i always check the used case. they do stock used leicas but the prices are still very high.

 

[Heath]

I like going to second hand goods dealers (like pawn shops, but more upmarket). I once bought a Canon T-70 and a Canon Speedlight 199A from one such store. I was mainly after the flash as I has anothe T-70 at home. The asking price was $60 and the Camera (with 50mm 1.8) was $250. I tested the flash on the camera to make sure it worked and it worked. I then asked what the best price I could get it I bought both the camera and flash. The sales guy went and talked to his supervisor and when he came abke he said the best he could do for the flash was $50 and the he could go as low as $190 for the camera. After a few seconds to add it up I figured what the h*ll. This totalled $140 for both. $10 less than if I had bought the camera alone. That was one h*ll of a deal in my books. When I was heading home I stopped in at a local photographers shop who I go to for advice a lot. He looked at the stuff I bought and said the flash alone was worth close to $200 and the camera was worth at least that as well.

Heath

 

[Goodyear]

There is a camera shop in west London (Chiswick) called Macs Cameras who has a glass case at the back of the shop filled with lots rangfinder cameras ( canon QL17, olympus, Russian Rf + more) and all camera's are £29.99p. I don't really know many of these camera's but if they work this would be a great price.

And to think I was in London a few wekks ago :-/

Well, probably for the best I didn't know 😀

 

[Terence T]

Does anyone know of any good used 2nd hand cam stores in the Los Angeles area that might be worth a visit?

 

[ChrisN]

Hi Heath - sounds like we share the same haunts - Cashies? I dropped in last Friday evening on my way home from work. Hiding amongst the Japanese SLRs was a Leicaflex (first model Leica SLR) with 50mm Summicron lens; $140. It didn't take me long to convince myself - the only product of Wetzlar I'm ever likely to own! I wonder if the R lenses are as good as the M and LTM lenses? Not sure if I've wasted my money or if I should just have walked away. Feels nice in the hand though, for the situations where a heavy SLR is appropriate. First roll of film goes to the lab tomorrow. Pity Cashies never buy anything other than SLRs (and digital rubbish).

Chris

 

[Heath]

Hi Chris, the store I was talking about was Cash Wise, theoretically the same as Cash Converters. Sounds like a bloody great bargain in my books. I would have snapped it up too. For comparison I bought a Canon T-50 with 50mm 1.8 from a CC 5 years ago for $150. I have seen a few vntage/classic cameras in some of the CC's I have visited. Most of the stuff they had was either too over priced or in such bad shape it wasn't funny. One Kodak Retinette 1A I saw was so filthy you couldn't see through the lens and they were asking $80 for it. That was back in January.

I got a great bargain to that was delivered yesterday. I got an almost mint Praktica MTL-5 body for a shade under $20 (including delivery). The leather looks brand new and is not lifting at all. Even the meter is still working. Goes well with my Praktica LB and assortment of lenses I have for them.

Heath