Manhattan camera shop, recommandations

[Bertram2]

Hi To all,
my son is going to NY for a week, and I want him to buy some CV stuff for me.

Which shop would you recommend in Manhattan, or which one would you recommend in general in NY for RF/ CV stuff ?

Many thanks for all input !
Bertram

 

[rover]

Photo Village is an official CV distributor in the US, and of course there is B&H. Check on the web before he leaves comparing the prices for individual items from Photo Village and B&H. The prices are not necessarily the same at these stores, and either may be high or low on any particular item.

 

[peter_n]

I second rover's post. I have bought from both stores and they are excellent. My M6TTL and CV 35mm/f2.5 P came from Rich Pinto at Photo Village, and I bought an M-Hexanon and many supplies from B&H. They are a class act for such a huge store. Remember if you buy over-the-counter in NYC you will pay New York state sales tax which was reduced to 4% last week.

 

[kbg32]

I would also recommend Adorama on W. 18th Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues.

 

[rover]

There is a 5% city sales tax too isn't there?

 

[peter_n]

Oops you are right 😱 but I think its more like 4&1/8%, anyway buying in NYC is freakin' expensive! 🙁 Like 8.125% or something...

 

[Bertram2]

Thanks to all, I am going to check prices and adresses in the www, did not know they are all in Manhattan.

 

[StuartR]

I highly recommend Adorama, particularly in person. The guys there have always been pretty nice to me. B&H's guys have been nice at the particular counters (the Leica section and the used section), but I found the general service (registers, darkroom dept. etc) to be very cold. I went to the photo village and the guy there (it wasn't Rich) was accomodating, but a bit impatient -- not in a New York way, but in a "I am annoyed he wants to look at stuff that he might not buy" way. I did end up buying stuff there, but it sort of put me off. In contrast, I arrived at Adorama at 2pm on a Friday, just as they were closing, and they closed the store with me in it while they were getting something for me from the back. They were all yelling "Shabbas everyone, Shabbas!" and the storefront was all locked up, but they were really nice to me. "Don't worry about it, somebody has to be the last customer! We still have to stay around for a bit, so it is fine." I really appreciated that.

 

[StuartR]

Oh, and the other great thing about it is that it is right next to City Bakery, which is a great spot to get lunch. Also, the West Village is a heck of a lot more interesting than 35th street where B&H is.

 

[pbjbike]

Stuart, sometime take a walk north up Ninth Ave after leaving B&H--great people watching, food, ancient bars--There's still a cigar shop where a fellow rolls coronas in the window. That area used to be called Hell's Kitchen.

Cheers

 

[Scarpia]

B&H is at 34th and 9th and the area immediately north of it is still called Hell's Kitchen. Adorama is actually in Chelsea (maybe not quite but the Village is not far away). I agree they are very nice to deal with. As the Jewish Sabbath starts at sundown they can be a little more flexible Spring and Summer than wintertime.
I hope your son enjoys New York.
Kurt M.

 

[Rockford]

Photo Stores in NYC

Photo Stores in NYC

Don't miss Tamakin. It is on the 19th Floor of the building at 215 Park Avenue South. No outside sign. On my one visit, the guard in the building did not even know they were there, but I preservered. I am glad I did.



While in the store in January 2005, I saw two M3's that had belonged to a female anthropoloigist who used it to photograph cultures around the world. The vulcanite was c. 50% gone from both. One was $279.00. The other c. $200.00 more. Shutter fired on the cheaper one, but it really needed repairs. Both had original papers. I have often wished I had bought the cheaper camera, just because of its history.

I later got a nice 25mm Voigtlander from them by mail.

Photo Village is also good. Both of these stores have really great staff. They showed me a Contax IIIa that I wish I could have afforded, too.

Of course, B&H is always worth the trip.

I visited seveal of the older NYC stores in January that are a shadow of what they once were. I suppose that digital and chain stores have done them in. Sad. I particularly enjoyed talking with Robert Olden. He has been kind to me on seveal occassions, and the most I ever bought from him was a few accessories for an old Nikon F.

As for New York---I am a Tar Heel, but I love that town. Enjoy your trip.