Where are all the Camera stores: Unfortunately, even large cities have seen the mom and pop camera stores close. We are fortunate in Spartanburg SC to still have one of the best. There...

nikonshooter Loc: Spartanburg, South Carolina

Unfortunately, even large cities have seen the mom and pop camera stores close. We are fortunate in Spartanburg SC to still have one of the best. There are a total of 3 stores in the entiere state of SC. I am not counting the Mall stores with Wolf and Ritz....or the camera departments in SAMS and Walmarts.

The internet has shut them down. Adorama, Calumet, B&H dominate camera purchases and like so many other businesses, this new dynamic has made it difficult for the small shops to survive. The ones that are making it.....also have a large online business to boost revenues.

What a shame!

If you happen to have a local camera shop, try to support them with your purchases. Sometimes you must go online as the price difference is that significant but many times there is little or no difference.

brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky

You make a very good point that can be made about so many different business types. Murphy's Camera in Louisville has been there a long time. They are really nice people who simply want to help.

Since they rent lenses, I rented the Nikkor 17-55, as I had contemplated the purchase of one. The rental performed flawlessly and I was extremely pleased with the results. So much so, I made the decision to buy one. I knew Adorama's price when I took the rental back, but I asked if they had one in stock. She said they had a used one and a new one. I looked at the used one, and while fully functional, it was obvious that it was used. I asked about the new one and their price was about $30 higher than Adorama. Just as you suggested, and in support of the great service this store provided, I bought it from them and carried it home that day. I love this lens, and I enjoy knowing that Murphy's is there.

RocketScientist Loc: Littleton, Colorado

In Denver there are many shops. I stop in Englewood Camera at least once a month if only to window shop. The sales people are knowledgeable and they do have a website. Their Canon and Nikon counters are far enough apart to avoid fighting.

nikonshooter Loc: Spartanburg, South Carolina

brucewells wrote:

You make a very good point that can be made about ... (show quote)

Ditto

Our Camera shop is like family to our photog community. Many of us hang out there from time to time. Mike, the owner, opened his shop up to our Photography Guild. This is where we meet. He is instrumental in getting guest speakers and arranging shoots for those interested.

The shop seems to be doing well.......we all hope it does. I too buy everything I can from him. We ordered two D4's from Mike last week. The price was the same as advertised on B&H. I wish Mike carried Elinchrom lights and RRS ballheads and L Plates......other than that there is very little we can't get locally.

nikonshooter Loc: Spartanburg, South Carolina

RocketScientist wrote:

In Denver there are many shops. I stop in Englewood Camera at least once a month if only to window shop. The sales people are knowledgeable and they do have a website. Their Canon and Nikon counters are far enough apart to avoid fighting.

Love it....the fighting that is! Of course there is little need to argue as Nikon reigns the obvious winner. I tell all of my Canon friends when they get honest with themselves, they will end up selling their cameras and glass and become part of the Nikon family (my oldest son is a Canon shooter - like the prodigal - one day he will return)

Adirondack Hiker Loc: Southern Adirondacks

They did themselves in. High prices, limited selection. For example, I called up the local store for the price of 5x7 pribnts, he said $7 each. I can send them out to a major print house for 99 cents. When Elements 8 came out, he marked it $150, when everyone else sells it for less than $80. Adorama has every camera brand out there, the local guy 1 or 2. The same is true for any mom and pop. Limited selection, high prices.

notnoBuddha

We are in the bigger is better era - the more in both selection and quanity has been proven by the marketers and the public. As a whole most like the idea of getting their Q-tips, dog food, care tires and camera at the same place - look at all the time they are saving. From my view point no one ever saves time, most of the time you cannot find anyone with any knowledge of the products, and the social connection of dealing with those that care is missing. It always cracks me up the few times that I am in a Walmart - you can always hear people say how they should use the local grocery down the street - but they don't. In the town where I am of over 250,000 there is one camera store, and that is part of a chain that has no personality nor their employees. The short of it - I agree with you.

JimH Loc: Western South Jersey, USA

Economic models that made sense 50 or 100 years ago simply do not work anymore. Mass communication, overnight shipment, a global manufacturing base, and even the use of credit cards and 'online money' make the corner store, no matter what it sells, obsolete. The only local shopping outlets that survive are those that provide extremely inexpensive goods that do not warrant 'price shopping' (e.g. Dollar Stores) or offer specialized goods that are not (yet?) provided via electronic shopping. And unfortunately, 'specialized' also means 'limited volume'. Time marches on.

nikonshooter Loc: Spartanburg, South Carolina

Adirondack Hiker wrote:

They did themselves in. High prices, limited selection. For example, I called up the local store for the price of 5x7 pribnts, he said $7 each. I can send them out to a major print house for 99 cents. When Elements 8 came out, he marked it $150, when everyone else sells it for less than $80. Adorama has every camera brand out there, the local guy 1 or 2. The same is true for any mom and pop. Limited selection, high prices.

I agree that many have done just that. I guess they had little choice in order to pay for the brick and mortar. However, or local shop has managed to pull it off.......for gear, there is little difference in price and their prints are dirt cheap. We do almost all of our printing.....but when Mike (Spartan Photo Center) runs specials.....I Drop Box pics to him in the morning and pick up that afternoon.

I give him credit.....he did step out of the box. They have classes going on all the time on everything photographic.

This is his website.

http://www.spartanphotocenter.com/

MWAC Loc: Somewhere East Of Crazy

I have two that are within driving distance for me (a hour and 1/2 from my house, I live in out in podunk, Texas). Both seem to keep their prices within $50 or less of amazon, so I normally shop local. I like the personal attention and being able to go in and test the product. They are always more than welcoming in answering my stupid questions or offering different ideas I hadn't thought of.

nikonshooter Loc: Spartanburg, South Carolina

MWAC wrote:

I have two that are within driving distance for me (a hour and 1/2 from my house, I live in out in podunk, Texas). Both seem to keep their prices within $50 or less of amazon, so I normally shop local. I like the personal attention and being able to go in and test the product. They are always more than welcoming in answering my stupid questions or offering different ideas I hadn't thought of.

Again, I agree. A lot of what I know about digital cameras was demonstrated locally. I can't name the number of times I have returned a product only to find out I was not doing something right.

photocat Loc: Atlanta, Ga

We are lucky here in Atlanta, or maynot, as most of the small shops have shut down; however, Showcase keeps on an on and on.

They are always busy, which is a good thing. Knowleable sales force. Develop and print film, and highend inkjet prints are availabe and of course a huge supply of everything needed these days, including used film cameras.

They offer all sorts of workshops and bring in the camera folks for demos. etc.

THey also have a school that is under their brand.

Of course there are the usual Ritz, Bestbuy, etc. a few Wolf's left (using that name).

Are they the cheapest, maybe not, but it is nice to come in leave the camera and walk out knowing it will be taken care of immediately. No need to pack it up and mail it someplace waiting to find out what is going to happen next.

Personal attention is a good thing;however, somethings are hard to pass up. I.E. specials at B&H etc on memory cards. :)

sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant

Southern Photo supply in Melbourne Florida is going strong, covers the gamut of photography from digital point and shoots to film darkroom supplies. they offer classes as well. If I could afford new i would buy from them untill then its KEH.com!!! what i like most about local camera stores is the social aspects of it. the salespeople are actual photographers, they get to know you and visa versa. also have made new friends and learned alot just hanging out and talking to people. In Grand Rapids Michigan there is Mark's photo (don't know if its still there as I haven't been home since 1995

sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant

In the words of britney spears " Whoops I did it again" and double posted. dang this old obsolete falling apart computer,its just like me as im old obsolete and falling apart owner.

nikonshooter Loc: Spartanburg, South Carolina

sinatraman wrote:

Southern Photo supply in Melbourne Florida is goin... (show quote)

You also have two very good camera shops in Orlando (Colonial Photo and Hobby - actually on Mills Ave) and Harmon Photography.