Willoughbys Camera Emporium: Anyone bought any equipment from this place in New York. They have the best price (Other than Abes of Main which I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole) on...

tomad Loc: North Carolina

Anyone bought any equipment from this place in New York. They have the best price (Other than Abes of Main which I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole) on a Sony camera I'm looking at. I checked and it is an authorized Sony retailer.

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

Bought from them when my family lived on Long Island. Quality merchandise, no issues.

Tom G Loc: Atlanta, GA

Great. !!!!!

TreborLow

Bought my first 35mm rangefinder Olympus there in the early 60's. Super sharp lens and perfectly reliable! Bought my first SLR (Spotmatic) there as well. Don't know if it is the same store????

keeth Loc: Maryland

I bought my first Nikon f2as them with no problems

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

This is a nice store. I have bought several items from them without issues. They have made donations to my son's Foundation Fundraiser.

toxdoc42

If they are the same Willoughby's, their store is not even 1/10th of what it was in its hay day. I stopped in last year and they were very nice. They had limited selections compared to other larger stores, but seemed very knowledgeable and helpful.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

tomad wrote:

Anyone bought any equipment from this place in New York. They have the best price (Other than Abes of Main which I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole) on a Sony camera I'm looking at. I checked and it is an authorized Sony retailer.

Willoughby-Peerless was on 32nd St west of 6th Ave. They used to be a major retailer of still camera, motion picture equipment, studio lighting and rigging, and had a decent used gear department. I don't think this is the same outfit. I would avoid buying camera gear in NYC from anyone other than B&H, Adorama, or FotoCare. Willoughby's Camera Emporium is NOT an authorized Sony dealer. I wouldn't touch them with a 20 ft pole.

https://alphauniverse.com/dealerlocator/#store-locator

LXK0930 Loc: Souh Jersey

Back in the 50's and 60's, Willoughby's was one of the largest camera shops in NYC. I bought several low budget cameras from them with no problems.

One time, someone was purchasing a VERY expensive camera (Contarex??) for an upcoming trip. I overheard the salesman telling him not to change any settings, but to just stand about 10 feet from the subject with the sun behind his back.

Fast forward about 60+ years. I can't comment on how reliable they are now, but with advice like mentioned above, I can't believe they would have survived this long. Someone probably bought the name.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

tomad wrote:

Anyone bought any equipment from this place in New York. They have the best price (Other than Abes of Main which I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole) on a Sony camera I'm looking at. I checked and it is an authorized Sony retailer.

Gene51 wrote you, and I quote, "Willoughby's Camera Emporium is NOT an authorized Sony dealer. I wouldn't touch them with a 20 ft pole."
If they are not an authorized Sony dealer then we are now considering the fact they might be selling gray market Sony's. I would check with Sony usa to see if they will honor a gray market camera, they may, I do not know.

rplain1 Loc: Dayton, Oh.

tomad wrote:

Anyone bought any equipment from this place in New York. They have the best price (Other than Abes of Main which I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole) on a Sony camera I'm looking at. I checked and it is an authorized Sony retailer.

Sony has an authorized dealer list on their website. Willoughbys is not on it.

jbk224 Loc: Long Island, NY

Gene51 wrote:

Willoughby's Camera Emporium is NOT an authorized Sony dealer. I wouldn't touch them with a 20 ft pole.

https://alphauniverse.com/dealerlocator/#store-locator

OP: What more do you need to hear?

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Did you check their Yelp reviews?

mffox Loc: Avon, CT

Willoughbys used to be right up there - and on the same side of the street as - B&H. When I worked in NYC I bought all my film camera gear there: always knowledgeable, fair, and friendly. Didn't know they were still in business.

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

I prefer to go into a brick and mortar store! It seems that the Internet is taking over everything except great customer service. If your not sure what store I'm writing about, you can private message me for the answer!

I don't know if any of the old timers here remember, OLDEN CAMERAS in New York City. They are gone now but the selection was remarkable. They were not too far away from Macys on Broadway. That was where I bought my first joint, a ZENIT-E. I still have it and its working just fine.