Toronto RFFers

Toronto RFFers

  • YES

    Votes: 20 62.5%

  • NO

    Votes: 5 15.6%

  • You're crazy

    Votes: 7 21.9%
  • Total voters
    32
B

brokencivilian

Established
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Mar 13, 2011
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153
I have a question for all the Toronto and GTA. As well as anyone else in Ontario really. And anyone with any input.


I am trying to figure out whether or not toronto should get a leica dealer and how would we go about getting one. By opening up a new shop and getting leica as a dealer like Eight elm had. But I don't know if there is enough of a demand or if there is.

Something Im curious about for sure.


So let me know, Do you think toronto needs a leica dealer? Used and new?
 
Doesn't Henry's sell Leica? I know they had some of the digicams in there last time I checked (here in Ottawa at least)... I'm sure they could order in what you want. And I cant remember the name, but there's a camera shop on Queen next to where the old Henrys outlet used to be that sells Leica and Voigtlander (again, at least they used to last time I was there a couple years ago)

I'm sure if there was enough demand, there'd probably be one in TO already...there's enough camera shops on Young/Queen that someone would have tried to become an official reseller if it was financially viable.
 
Thats downtown camera, and they only sell used leicas (if they'll sell it) and voigtlander. They are not an Authorized leica dealer and as far as i know henrys only really sells the digi cams. I was talking more of a specific leica dealer
 
Eight Elm Photo used to be a storefront Leica Dealer in Toronto... It closed at the end of last year.

Harry's Pro Shop used to sell Leica, but nothing is listed on his site right now.

Downtown Camera sells Voigtlander bodies and lenses.

Vistek sells the M9, and possibly some lenses.

Headshots sells lower end Leica digital, including the X1.

There are probably some other local dealers.
There are definitely Leica repair technicians.
 
jammcat said:
Eight Elm Photo used to be a storefront Leica Dealer in Toronto... It closed at the end of last year.

Harry's Pro Shop used to sell Leica, but nothing is listed on his site right now.

Downtown Camera sells Voigtlander bodies and lenses.

Vistek sells the M9, and possibly some lenses.

Headshots sells lower end Leica digital, including the X1.

There are probably some other local dealers.
There are definitely Leica repair technicians.
Click to expand...


Yeah, I knew about most of these but I was still thinking about a leica specialty shop. People that have connections to repair/leica/ s and m series.

Specialists. Not a company that 'could' get leica equip.
 
I don't think a specialist store stocking any amount of new Leica M cameras and M lenses would be a viable business proposition. I really don't think there is enough of a market to sustain one. That may be why there is not one at present. There are viable alternatives for new Leica gear on the net.

Bob
 
I would absolutely love to have a store for new and used Leica stuff here in Toronto. The used market for Leica gear here is generally very thin, with maybe a few M's listed on craigslist here and there, but practically nothing from reputable dealers. Downtown Camera has basically stopped stocking voigtlander, and at most has a used Konica or M body every 6 months or so. Vistek can put you on the waiting list for the M9 and new lenses, but they'll never keep any in stock. Hit Camera on Avenue has been buying up used stuff lately, but they are generally very unpleasant to deal with.

There are a ton of photo stores in Toronto right now, even after so many have closed. I think the solution is not to open a new one, but rather to convince an existing one to expand their stock into Leica. This city is practically bursting at the seams with photographers, so I'm sure a market could be found.
 
CVickery said:
PhotoCreative in Mississauga sells leica ( http://www.photocreative.com/ ). Jeff's a good guy (and a good saleman...watch out :D )
Click to expand...

Have you ever delt with them for large items? Like an M9? haha. I know i've dealt with them through kjiiji or ebay.. but never in store.

lonemantis said:
I would absolutely love to have a store for new and used Leica stuff here in Toronto. The used market for Leica gear here is generally very thin, with maybe a few M's listed on craigslist here and there, but practically nothing from reputable dealers. Downtown Camera has basically stopped stocking voigtlander, and at most has a used Konica or M body every 6 months or so. Vistek can put you on the waiting list for the M9 and new lenses, but they'll never keep any in stock. Hit Camera on Avenue has been buying up used stuff lately, but they are generally very unpleasant to deal with.

There are a ton of photo stores in Toronto right now, even after so many have closed. I think the solution is not to open a new one, but rather to convince an existing one to expand their stock into Leica. This city is practically bursting at the seams with photographers, so I'm sure a market could be found.
Click to expand...


I was trying to find out how think the market is, cause like you said. you only ever see one here and there. But it's true. Maybe a specialty shop isnt the best idea. But asking a store to start carrying more.. They won't untill they know the market though.
 
Vistek sells Leica and they've already sold a number of S2's. A dedicated Leica shop would fail. Not enough business imo in spite of the number of professionals (read doctors and lawyers) the city has. If there was one hypothetically speaking, Keith Matson should run it...where ever he is.
 
I think it's a simple application of central place theory where the camtecphoto pretty much serves much of eastern Canada's Leica demand, adding on another store in Toronto would not build up any additional demand but just reduce the profit for both stores.

Sorry, just in the school paper writing mode, but makes sense in practice.
 
brokencivilian said:
Have you ever delt with them for large items? Like an M9? haha. I know i've dealt with them through kjiiji or ebay.. but never in store....
Click to expand...



Not as large as that though Jeff did try to sell me an M9. I did buy an M6ttl from them (used of course) and it was a good experience. They don't stock much, but I think that's a deliberate policy. It doesn't take too many bodies and lenses to tie up a lot of capital in inventory. Canon and Nikon's warehouses are both very close so you don't have to wait long for product from them. Leica mght be another thing though. Their website says they are an authorized Leica dealer. I would assume that the larger dealers such as Camtec have an easier time getting product, and they do seem to have an inventory on hand.
 
Camtec do keep some Leica inventory on hand, but I find it pretty damn sparse. Over the past 7 years, I've not managed to find one single Leica gewgaw I've asked for on their shelves, and not everything I was looking for was from the sixties and seventies.

Have gotten to meet Gerry Smith and that very nice gent from Zeiss USA at a couple of Camtec's in-store trunk show days, though. They do a fair job of hosting manufacturer PR events and clinics and such.

Surprised to find out that Toronto doesn't have a flagship Leica dealer, given the minimal amount of stock that Camtec seems to need to keep the sign in their window.
 
For used, you might want to look into Setadel in Yorkville . I don't think I've seen such a sizeable inventory. They have an ebay store also.
But I agree, would be nice to have a good licensed dealer.
Cheers,
Jim
 
jammcat said:
Eight Elm Photo used to be a storefront Leica Dealer in Toronto... It closed at the end of last year.

Harry's Pro Shop used to sell Leica, but nothing is listed on his site right now.

Downtown Camera sells Voigtlander bodies and lenses.

Vistek sells the M9, and possibly some lenses.

Headshots sells lower end Leica digital, including the X1.

There are probably some other local dealers.
There are definitely Leica repair technicians.
Click to expand...

RE: Harry's - I like Brian, but I think he's getting out of selling this stuff and, as an FYI I believe his stuff is grey market - so yes, he's reputable but just be aware of what you're buying if he has stock.

I would strongly suggest Merkle Camera (as well) and talking to either "Mo" or "Patrick" there. I bought my 50mm Summarit there. They place orders and carry Leica gear. I would THINK they're a licensed dealer because of this but please verify with Leica themselves.

Cheers,
Dave
 
Broke said:
For used, you might want to look into Setadel in Yorkville . I don't think I've seen such a sizeable inventory. They have an ebay store also.
Click to expand...

I bought my first CL in 2005 from Setadel, on eBay. It arrived with one major and one minor issue: rangefinder badly out of alignment, and incorrect 90mm hood supplied with the 40mm lens, which caused vignetting.

Contacted Setadel immediately. No help was offered getting a correct 40mm hood; Setadel insisted the 90 and the 40 used the same hood, even though the part numbers are different.

They did tell me to send the body back. I sent it in with the lenses. When it returned from their "expert ex-Leica technician", the focus problem was unresolved. Second test roll was just like the first.

My request to return the whole lot for a refund was rudely dismissed.

Sherry Krauter was the next tech to inspect the camera, since I was stuck with it. She successfully repaired it, after informing me that the rangefinder mechanism had been badly butchered by an amateur, or words to that effect. Said it needed parts, not just adjustment.

A few years later, Gerry Smith had a look at my 40mm lens, which had remained untouched by mechanics throughout this episode, and he determined that it was out of collimation. Incorrect shim inside it, or something. He was surprised I was getting any correctly-focused pictures at all with it. Fixed that for me, and perfectly.

So: Body out of whack, lens out of whack, and insistence that two different part numbers are the same hood? I'd get out of Leica before I'd deal with Setadel again.
 
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