Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2011/08/15
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I shopped at most of the now defunct photo stores listed in the various posts. To my mind, the best of the lot for used equipment were Oldens, Camera Barn and Wall St. Photo. Willoughbys was good too for new camera specials. Cambridge and 47th Photo were notorious for ripping off the customer by bait and switch tactics. When you shopped there in person for an advertised special, they would strip the package, sell you just the camera, and then charge extra for all the bits and pieces normally included in the box (lens caps, straps, batteries). More often than not, you got grey market equipment. If you bargained hard, usually threatening to call the NYC Consumer Protection Agency, you could get them to deliver the advertised equipment but it usually wasn't worth the effort. Of the general photo stores still in business, B&H and Adorama were by far the best of the lot although during the period when I did most of my photo shopping, B&H was best for supplies, not used equipment. I would trust them both for mail order. Be aware that if you visit NYC and want to shop in person for photo equipment, most of the big stores are closed on Saturday for the Jewish Sabbath. To compensate, most are open on Sunday. I had one major advantage.My university office for nearly 32 years was in the heart of the NYC Gramercy Park photo district. Several pawn shops near Lexington Ave., between 11th. St. and 23rd. St. specialized in used photo gear. It was far easier for a pro who needed cash to simply pawn little used or outmoded equipment than to sell the stuff to a dealer. I picked up a nice Leica M3 and a couple of lenses that way. I even shopped at Tamarkin but I couldn't afford all the new Leica stuff being offered. And Jim, I have an H8 8mm Bolex camera that you can have if you still want one. For free! Just let me know where I can pick up a cheap Fuji X100. Larry Z - - - - - - Jim Shulman writes: 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.