Redmark

Does anyone know of a Camera store for running repairs, maybe a senor clean and to check out for a GAS problem should one get whilst touring in these parts.
Cheers

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

In SF there is Samy's. I'll be honest, I've never been into the store, but I mail order from the LA warehouse all the time. I'd rather pay my taxes to CA than go to B&H!!
There are a couple in SF. If you need help de-GASing, just call me!!! Good luck.
SS

rockdog Loc: Berkeley, Ca.

One of the best in S F is/was Adolf Gassers (sp?) not a joke. There is also Looking Glass Camera in Berkeley.

Redmark

Thanks SharpShooter , remember in this Country if you order from NY State to deliver to another State you don't pay the NY tax. You are exempt.
Cheers

Redmark

Thanks rockdog, I shall check them out and put the co-ordinate in the GPS if it appeals.
Cheers ( That's funny,I just pick up on the connection there)

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

That is not correct. In California, if you order from out of state you are required to pay the equivalent of sales tax, called a use tax, on your state income tax. There isn't much enforcement, and a lot of people get away with not paying it, but you are not exempt.

Redmark

Right on, got to love the honest system.

mawarzoc

In Las Vegas, the best camera store is B&C Camera on Sahara Boulevard. They can do
sensor cleanings and have all the major brands and accessories to investigate while
your camera is being cleaned.

Bazbo Loc: Lisboa, Portugal

In SF, Adolf Gasser on 2nd street. It has a long history (historical note: the original Adolf Gasser help Ansel dams build his darkrooms) and very knowledgable staff.

Also, across the Bay in Berkeley, there is Looking Glass (on Ashby) whose prices are very competitive with B & H.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Keeble & Shuchat (ksphoto dot com) in Palo Alto is only a short drive down Hwy 101 or 280 from SF... well worth the trip. It's actually two stores.... the larger "consumer" store on one side of the street has both new and used... all sorts of stuff. The "pro" store, diagonally across the street, is a great place to go drool over high end gear such as MF digital cameras, 44" wide printers, etc. They offer rentals in the pro store, too. I don't think they offer sensor cleaning or repairs at K&S, though. It's been a while since I visited K&S, but there used to be a great cafe right across the street, too.

In San Francisco, Adolph Gasser Photography on 2nd street is one of the oldest and coolest photo stores (gassersphoto dot com) in the area. Definitely worth checking out. The original owner and founder was married at Ansel Adams' home in Carmel and Adams was his best man. They do repairs and probably offer sensor cleanings.

I haven't visited, but have had some dealings with Camera West, across the Bay Bridge in Walnut Creek. Seems a nice place with a lot of very high end gear (they are a Leica dealer).

I've also heard of, but don't know much about Mike's Camera in Danville.

San Jose Camera is nothing special. It's in a great location and has a lot of good stuff, but feels more like you're walking into a car dealership than a camera store.

Unfortunately, a lot of the really neat and interesting camera stores have closed: Calumet in SF, Kamera Korner in San Jose, Los Gatos Camera. All gone!

For something really different, visit any of the Fry's Electronics stores around the Bay Area. I think they all have a a variety of camera gear and accessories... but that's not the reason to go there. They're huge and each store has it's own theme, such as the Egyptian motif at the one in Campbell. Fry's is computer nerd nirvana, so the other shoppers can be very entertaining. It also has a reputation for taking bad customer service to such an extreme that you have to go see it for yourself. Maybe it's better now, but it used to be pretty hard to get the pimply kids working there to stop playing video games or chatting with each other about their dates last nite long enough to answer a question... But they usually didn't know the answer anyway, so it really didn't matter. This Fry's "employment application" can give you some idea what to expect: http://homepage.smc.edu/engfer_mark/frys.htm While they offer some computer repair services, I don't think they do any camera work or sensor cleanings.... not that I'd ever let them touch my camera or lenses... or computer for that matter.

Vegas? I have no idea. Never been there. If I went, I'd probably spend my nights shooting the lights and sleep during the day (especially in the Summer months). But I bet there are some interesting pawn shops in Vegas!

EDIT: California sales taxes are high... Varies somewhat by city, but can run between 8% up to nearly 10%. As noted, technically one is not exempt from California sales tax even when buying from sellers in other states. If the seller didn't collect sales tax at the time of the sale (some do, such as Amazon)... you're supposed to self-report when filing your taxes each April and pay the sales tax at that time. 8 to nearly 10% sales tax might not sound a lot to someone paying VAT of 18 or 20%... but California has lots and lots of other taxes and fees that add up to make it one of the most heavily taxed places in the U.S. Gasoline costs $.30 more per gallon than any other state, and that's mostly taxes (and because Calif. requires their own unique gasoline blends, which only a few refineries are able to produce)... and you pay sales tax, on top of it. There are hefty extra taxes on hotel rooms and rental cars, too. Pretty much everything you do from birth to death is taxed in some way in Calif. They've gotten really creative, after a tax-payer "Proposition 13" revolt in 1978 implemented some limitations on property tax increases and a made it mandatory for most "new taxes" to be voter approved, with 2/3 approval.

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

These folks are a little south of SF but very good - long time in the business -Keeble & Shuchat Palo Alto, CA
http://kspphoto.com/

NormPR

I make most of my purchases a B&C camera in Vegas as mentioned above, but never inquired about repairs. That is the only camera shop in tow that I know of, there were others but are long gone.

Photocraig

Gasser is great. It is on 2nd St with actual automobile parking across the street!! In Palo Alto there is Keeble and Schuchat (sp??) on California Street. Both full line Pro shops with repair, processing, rentals, supplies, used gear and pro sales reps. I've done business with both and they're exactly what you'd expect from a top of the line Pro retailer. Just ring money.

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

Been in K&S with my Deep Pocketed son-in-law and shivered at what he spent.- I bought good used Film stuff there.

Ed Chu Loc: Las Vegas NV

in LV, be sure to check out B&C Camera ( on Sahara, between Decatur & Arville); amazing - all brands with all their lenses ( including Leica, Fuji, Lumix, etc. ); a destination for me on every visit