San Francisco camera store?

L

Landberg

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Hi!
Is there any god camera stores in San Francisco? I'm looking for a camera store that sell analog cameras and film.

Thanks!/Rikard
 
Adolf Gasser Photography (181 2nd St; about 2nd and Howard if I remember correctly), Camera Exchange (not sure on the name, but it's at Maiden Lane and Kearney), and Calumet (2001 Bryant St) are the ones that come to mind.

G
 
Godfrey said:
Adolf Gasser Photography (181 2nd St; about 2nd and Howard if I remember correctly), Camera Exchange (not sure on the name, but it's at Maiden Lane and Kearney), and Calumet (2001 Bryant St) are the ones that come to mind.

G
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You beat me :)
 
I haven't been any of those stores in ages. I still occasional go by Keeble & schuchet, compared to the old days, analog inventory is pretty bad there. How is it in SF?

Gary
 
If u have a friend u are visiting while u are out here another option is to use something like www.keh.com to order your analog camera before u make your trip. Gets sent to their house before u leave..

Gary
 
I am just back from San Francisco. Calumet was a virtually empty warehouse. I wouldn't bother going there. Samy's Cameras had a good selection of digital cameras, and the guy behind the counter was both knowledgeable and helpful. I didn't see any new or used film cameras though. Wherever you go, be sure to telephone first to see if they have what you are looking for in stock.
 
GaryLH said:
I haven't been any of those stores in ages. I still occasional go by Keeble & schuchet, compared to the old days, analog inventory is pretty bad there. How is it in SF?

Gary
Click to expand...

I was just at Keeble & Shuchat on Saturday.

There's little in film cameras at the main store other than film itself, although the remains of the darkroom stuff is still upstairs (not much of that left). But there are plenty of film cameras in the used department of the "pro" store across the street. A bunch of nice Nikons, Canons, Leica R, Leica M and others are there. Plus all the medium format stuff is there, other than the film itself.

Basically, if all you're looking for is buying film, you're better off ordering from the New York and other vendors. But they've got a reasonable inventory of used film gear if you like to poke around at that.

The business is digital cameras these days. That's just the fact of it.

G
 
Glass Key Photo on Haight Street is a newer shop, but a great one. I sold them my Mamiya 7 and they gave me a decent price. They stock a wide selection of film and specialize in older cameras, rangefinders, etc. Real friendly folks running the shop, too.
 
For film, Photographer's Supply (Bryant St between 2nd and 3rd) still has some.

For cameras, Samy's, Calumet Photo, and outside the city Camera West in Walnut Creek (Leica specialist) or Keeble & Shuchat in Palo Alto (they have a great Leica collection on display, worth the trip for that alone).

Gasser and the shop on Kearny are rip-offs, best avoided.
 
Another vote for Glass Key Photo, 442 Haight Street. It's a small place, but probably has the best stock of used film cameras and supplies in all of northern california. Matt, the owner, is a great guy who gives fair deals and knows a LOT. Bonus: he shares the space with 4x5 Gallery, an excellent gallery specializing in film photography. Double Bonus: he collects old slides from the 50s and 60s, bring some and he might do a trade!

Also: Rayko Photography Center, on 3rd street, has a varying selection of used film gear for sale, but it's always interesting. Also an excellent gallery.
 
VERY nice people and great for snagging film. Very tiny store though. You might think of hopping on BART and taking a 15 minute ride to Looking Glass over in Berkeley. Nice selection and a new big store. Lots of film and film cameras too.


furbs said:
Glass Key Photo on Haight Street is a newer shop, but a great one. I sold them my Mamiya 7 and they gave me a decent price. They stock a wide selection of film and specialize in older cameras, rangefinders, etc. Real friendly folks running the shop, too.
Click to expand...
 
IMO Gasser's is just a skeleton of its former self. K & S is a good idea, or check the Camera West website, looking in the used inventory for analog gear at the Walnut Creek (not Rancho Mirage) store. If you find what you want, you can take a long subway trip to about six blocks from the store – and then do some street-shooting in the town, which is a DisneyWorld of upper middle class American shopping.
 
Gasser's is definitely a waste of time these days.
Photographers Supply is good for film, but not much else. Vic(The Dick) is a bit gruff, but they do carry a fair amount of film.
Rayko has film, and darkrooms, but the camera selection is pretty sparse.
Glass Key is a great store. Lots of film, darkroom supplies, and the owner is a nice guy.
I think Action Camera has closed, but maybe not. They were always kinda rude, anyway.
Looking Glass is worth the trip over the Bay.
If you're in Marin County, Seawood is always good for a visit. They claim to have the largest selection of used gear in Northern California, but I kinda doubt it. Their M case is sometimes plentiful, sometimes empty.
Camera West is well worth the drive to Walnut Creek if you have real money to spend.
Finally, if Camera Heaven(in the Tenderloin) is still around it is worth having a look. It's a real mess of a store, but there is sometimes a Nikon S2, or maybe an M or two on the shelf.

Good luck.
 
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