Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2011/08/15
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]In the "good old days", camera stores (and the very occasional vintage camera show) were about the only places to get used equipment. I recall trolling the 32nd street stores circa 1974 for a Bolex H8 Reflex, a piece of pro-quality gear made for the 8mm market in the early 1960s. Nada, zip, zilch after a day's hunting. There was one crummy example I later found at Olden, at an outrageous price. Today, thanks to That Auction Site, I can probably find several example, any one of which would have been vastly superior to the Olden merchandise. It's a different world, now that a camera is nothing more than a computer peripheral. Used equipment (for the most part, unless very high tech) is about as attractive as a four year old computer. It ages faster than unrefrigerated sturgeon. As I said on Saturday at the LUG meeting, in four years today's Fuji X100 will be worth what, about $50 or $100? By that time there will be at least two or three more modern iterations of the camera, with easier to use menus, faster processing, probably interchangeable lenses, a bidet and a flame-thrower for less money. Best, Jim -----Original Message----- From: lug-bounces+jshulman=judgecrater.com at leica-users.org [mailto:lug-bounces+jshulman=judgecrater.com at leica-users.org] On Behalf Of W. R. Smith Sent: Monday, August 15, 2011 9:52 AM To: Leica Users Group Subject: Re: [Leica] IMG: Camera store graveyard I bought a Russkie Practika TTL SLR from Cambridge Camera mail order from Houston in 1970 and returned it by registered mail to them almost immediately, as it was defective (as I recall it was the meter). They refused to answer my numerous letters over 1 year, so I mailed a complaint letter to the new NYC Consumer Affairs Commissioner, Bess Meyerson Grant (a former Miss America), w/ a copy to them. I got a new camera ASAP. Not sorry to see that name gone. --- On Mon, 8/15/11, Steven Beckham <ecoprof10 at gmail.com> wrote: From: Steven Beckham <ecoprof10 at gmail.com> Subject: Re: [Leica] IMG: Camera store graveyard To: "Leica Users Group" <lug at leica-users.org> Date: Monday, August 15, 2011, 8:39 AM This too is my first post on the LUG. Like many, I spent a lot of time looking at those ads in Modern Photography etc. and dreaming.? Living in "fly over country" I could not imagine the amount of choice offered by those stores.? Last year was my first time in NYC--you can bet I went by B & H. It was heaven--pure photographic heaven.???Sorry to see all those names gone though. Steve Beckham On Mon, Aug 15, 2011 at 12:16 AM, Mark Rabiner <mark at rabinergroup.com>wrote: > Its like the FBI most wanted list of famous camera store rip offs finally > in > the end blocked from selling gray market in Pop photography and also I > think > shutterbug which is way they went thank god under and we don't hear about > them any more. In the 70's and 80s it was the back of pop and modern > photography.? You had to be very careful who you did business with becuae > the magazines then didn't care. > I'd put a (good riddance!) on a few more of them then just one. > -- > Mark R. > > > > > From: David Freedman <dpfreedman at gmail.com> > > Reply-To: Leica Users Group <lug at leica-users.org> > > Date: Sun, 14 Aug 2011 21:36:28 -0400 > > To: Leica Users Group <lug at leica-users.org> > > Subject: Re: [Leica] IMG: Camera store graveyard > > > > I *never* post to the LUG but this really hit home (being a life-long New > > Yorker). To add to the list (all were in Manhattan): > > > > Executive Photo > > Olden Camera > > 47th Street Photo > > Cambridge Camera (good riddance!) > > Garden Camera > > Wall Street Camera > > Sharp Photo > > Rechovos Camera > > Competitive Camera > > Bi-Rite Camera > > Profoto (not sure of the name/spelling; was on the block with Spiratone > and, > > I believe, Willoughby) > > > > I'm sure I'll think of a few others. > > > > On Sun, Aug 14, 2011 at 9:00 PM, Lawrence Zeitlin <lrzeitlin at gmail.com > >wrote: > > > >> What happens when you cling to old technology too long. New York is the > >> graveyard of old photo stores. Remember Willoughby, Camera Barn, > Spiratone, > >> etc. > >> > >> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Larry+Z/NYC+old+photo+store.jpg.html > >> > >> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Larry+Z/NYC+old+photo+store.jpg.html > >> > >> Larry Z > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Leica Users Group. > >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > >> > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Leica Users Group. > > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > _______________________________________________ Leica Users Group. See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information _______________________________________________ Leica Users Group. See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information