New York City camera stores?

[ernstk]

Hi,

I will be in NYC at the end of May on a business trip. I'll be at the Jacob Javits centre on W 34th St. Are there any good camera stores specialising in used Leicas (or interesting gear in general) that are reasonably close to that location?

Thanks
Ernst

 

[rover]

B&H is just a few blocks up from the JJ on the corner of 34th and 9th.

 

[Huck Finn]

Tamarkin (www.tamarkin.com) & Photo Village (www.photovillage.com) are both Leica dealers. Both are small & are very customer friendly with knowledgable staff who put a priority on service. They are a short cab ride rom the Javits Center & you can get their addresses from their websites

 

[Pablito]

B&H is just a few blocks up from the JJ on the corner of 34th and 9th.

33rd and 9th

 

[Magus]

Post deleted by posters request

 

[like2fiddle]

You'll be very close to B&H. It's worth visiting if for no other reason than to witness the most efficient retail store set-up you will ever come across.

 

[David Goldfarb]

Sunday at B&H is a zoo. If I really want to buy something, I try to make time to go on a weekday morning when it is relatively quiet. The used department, though, is more relaxed, and the staff there are knowledgeable.

That said, even when it is a zoo, they are staffed for it. The lines can get long at checkout, but then they put more people on checkout and the line moves quickly. The busiest times are right before and after holiday closings, and even then I've found I can be in and out in 20 minutes.

 

[boilerdoc2]

Adorama. Ask for Martin Holland in used dept. Leica expert without peer. I think he knows every Leica ever made. Met him in Santa Fe at LHSA meeting. Amazing mind for cameras!!!!
Steve

 

[Benjamin Marks]

33rd and 9th

Actually, the store takes up the whole city block on 9th, from 34th to 33rd St. with the entrance in the middle of the east side of the street. So both of you are correct.

🙂

Ben

 

[ibcrewin]

Adorama is closer to Union Square, 18th and 6th? anyway, That's a cab ride.

 

[StuartR]

Tamarkin (www.tamarkin.com) & Photo Village (www.photovillage.com) are both Leica dealers. Both are small & are very customer friendly with knowledgable staff who put a priority on service. They are a short cab ride rom the Javits Center & you can get their addresses from their websites

I agree with Huck. B&H is worth checking out, but they are not generally as nice in person as they are on the phone. I much much prefer Adorama. But understand that both of them are going to be short with you and not really want to chat about gear with you for hours. They want to sell you something and they don't hide it. Tamarkin and Photo Village are better bets for personal service and used equipment.
Tamarkin is at 215 Park Ave South, Suite 1914. That's around 25th St. Photo Village is nearby, you could take one cab and go to both places. 1133 Broadway, #824 (between 25th and 26th). Calumet is also in that area (22nd between 5th and 6th). Adorama is at 18th between 6th and 7th. Fotocare is also worth looking at 21st street between 6th and 7th...basically everything is in a similar area other than a few sporadic ones like B&H.

 

[nightfly]

Hit B and H on a weekday morning preferably not Friday.

Be aware that due to the fact that it is run by Hasidic Jews, they close early on Friday and are closed on Saturday. This also holds true for some of the other big camera stores in Manhattan. Don't think there are any major Jewish holidays coming up but check their online calendar for closings. I've made the trip over there many a time to find them closed for one reason or another that I wasn't aware.

B and H is super efficient but not the best place for idle browsing. It's great if you know what you want. Also the guys upstairs in the used department are friendly and knowledgeable if they aren't too busy they don't mind you checking out all the cool used gear they have.

Pick up some film while you are there, I think it's th cheapest place on earth for film.

 

[Al Patterson]

Please be aware also that B&H closes early on Friday and is not open on Saturday.

(I should have read nightfly's entire post before posting this. His advice is excellent on all counts).

 

[kbg32]

It's gonna be tough finding good used gear in stores around here these days. Pickings are slim and it's catch as can. No one has the used stock that they once had. Other then Tamarkin, Photo Village, Adorama, I'd check out Photo Habitat, 928 Broadway, Suite 707 as well. Walter and Lou use to work at Ken Hansen's when he had his shop on 34th Street. Both extremely knowledgeable. You could begin at B & H and work your way downtown. Tamarkin would be your last stop. They are on Park Avenue South close to Union Square.

 

[Magus]

Post deleted by posters request

 

[nightfly]

When I was shopping for a Leica, a teacher I had recommended Photo Habitat and I went in there and their prices were outrageous. It was like they lived in a bubble where ebay and KEH didn't exist. I found Photo Village much more reasonable. They didnt' have what I was looking for but Rich promised to get in touch with me if something came in. A week later he emailed saying they had just gotten an M4-P that was going out for a CLA and was I interested. It's the camera I've been using for over a year.

 

[Huck Finn]

It's gonna be tough finding good used gear in stores around here these days. Pickings are slim and it's catch as can. No one has the used stock that they once had. Other then Tamarkin, Photo Village, Adorama, I'd check out Photo Habitat, 928 Broadway, Suite 707 as well. Walter and Lou use to work at Ken Hansen's when he had his shop on 34th Street. Both extremely knowledgeable. You could begin at B & H and work your way downtown. Tamarkin would be your last stop. They are on Park Avenue South close to Union Square.

Even the dealers in many cases are selling their stuff on eBay. 😱

 

[ernstk]

Thank You...

Thank You...

My thanks to everyone for your suggestions. It's been extremely helpful and I'll now have lots to do in NYC.

Regards
Ernst