billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
elliott937 wrote:
There are, without a doubt, excellent camera stores who have featured mail order services.
But it occurred to me that we still need to endorse our -local- camera stores, especially if they have an excellent reputation.
To begin, I'd like to endorse Schiller's Camera store here in St. Louis, here for more than 100 years, and outstanding staff. I've purchased my Canon 5DII from them, and along with that 3 L series lenses. They are always my "go to" store, not only for the equipment, but also for opinions and advice. I know all of you would agree with me in saying that we NEED to support our local camera stores. So I'm beginning that here with:
www.schillers.comI hope no one minds my beginning thread.
There are, without a doubt, excellent camera store... (
show quote)
My go to camera store, upstairs they do my prints. Campus Camera in Kent Ohio. They match B&H prices and give you that personal service we all enjoy. Plus, they offer photo classes during summer and fall. Great place to go.
I go to Murphy's Camera in Lexington, KY. They're maybe a 15-minute drive across town, and very laid back. I've had a couple of issues (one was a used lens, while the other was a rental speedlight). Both times, I called ahead and they already had a replacement waiting for me by the time I got there.
http://murphyscamera.com/
BboH
Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD
02Nomad wrote:
I highly recommend Service Photo in Baltimore, MD. The knowledge and professionalism of all of their staff are beyond reproach.
Me too - they are on Falls Road
I do not have the luxury of ANY camera store in the Jacksonville, Florida area. I have to be happy to go to Robert's Camera in Indianapolis when I am back home in Indiana. And they are one of the best! I only wish we still had camera shops..............sigh.
roxiemarty wrote:
I do not have the luxury of ANY camera store in the Jacksonville, Florida area. I have to be happy to go to Robert's Camera in Indianapolis when I am back home in Indiana. And they are one of the best! I only wish we still had camera shops..............sigh.
I need to stop by Robert's next time I'm in Indy.
For my money ,my first stop is Art`s Cameras Plus with 2 locations in Milwaukee Wisconsin. Great staff,excellent customer service ,full service photography store!
roxiemarty wrote:
I do not have the luxury of ANY camera store in the Jacksonville, Florida area. I have to be happy to go to Robert's Camera in Indianapolis when I am back home in Indiana. And they are one of the best! I only wish we still had camera shops..............sigh.
Any big city I'm traveling in, I always look for somewhere like Roberts. But they are few and far between! I would rent lights and equipment more often, if I could only find more stores. I did find a great camera shop in Philly in Chinatown area. They were very helpful.
Mine is in downtown Orlando and is 'COLONIAL PHOTO & HOBBY
No camera stores at all in Charleston WV
No camera stores at all in Charleston WV
mikedidi46 wrote:
Mine is in downtown Orlando and is 'COLONIAL PHOTO & HOBBY
I will have to check them out next time I'm over that way.
Lost our best camera store - Showcase Camera in Atlanta. Went under because they could not compete with internet sales options. Sad that a city the size of Atlanta would loose such a option.
Bergen County Camera in Westwood NJ is the only place I go for all my camera needs. Customer service is the best, prices are competitive, and they do mail order. I live just across the border in NY 10 minutes away. If youive in Bergen County NJ, or Rockland County NY, this is THE place to go. Web site "bergencountycamera.com".
Ken .
d2b2
Loc: Catonsville, Maryland, USA
02Nomad wrote:
I highly recommend Service Photo in Baltimore, MD. The knowledge and professionalism of all of their staff are beyond reproach.
I support that Service Photo (Baltimore) endorsement, completely! I was there on Saturday. GREAT supply of product; GREAT professional knowledge of photography; GREAT knowledge of their inventory; GREAT prices - frequently the same you would see on the Net!
I’m in Dallas. There are two non chain stores in the area. The folks at the nearest one to me have been just nasty. I will never go back to them. I’ve bought a lot of gear from Cameta in Long Island, New York (one of the “ABC” stores: Adorama, B&H, Cameta) when on business trips and Kathy Razzano there has been fantastic, helping with my dumb questions. I have bought Nikon DSLR’s and multiple lenses (currently a D500 and a 18-300 zoom and 50 mm prime) as well as Olympus OM-D and lenses from her.
In the Dallas area there is still one decent shop: Arlington Camera in Arlington, which is midway between Dallas and Fort Worth. A bit of a schlep but I’ve dealt with them too and they do provide both good advice and good equipment. Since the major camera manufacturers are all “fair trade” pricing the difference between these folks and internet is usually the sales tax and sometimes its worth it to me.
The biggest problem I've seen is that a lot of the non-"bigs" have limited in-stock inventory. If I have to wait for a local store to order something, and then pay sales tax, when I can get the same item over the internet, it makes it much harder to support the local guy, as much as I'd like to.
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