Photographic retailers

P

Phaedrus

Messages
34
Name
Dave
Edit My Images
Yes
I've got to the point where's I'm going round in circles regarding research for a new camera, so I've phoned several retailers and had useless conversations with people who know less than I do. I don't want to hear someone regurgitating what I've already read. If anyone could recommend a place where they know about cameras and lenses I'd really appreciate it.
 
Well why not just ask your questions here (y) you have to remember shops primary interest is selling and if possible upselling they are not always going to know everything you want to know :(

That said, I've always found both WEX Photographic to be very good and also LCE (London Camera Exchange) if you've got a local one
 
I'd add York Cameras and Microglobe in London as places I've used. Park Cameras are also good.
 
Cameraworld in London and Chelmsford.
Real stores staffed by knowledgeable and helpful people (and mostly really competitive prices too!)
 
Many thanks for the replies.
John Lennon said 'how can I go forward when I don't know which way I'm facing?' which sums up my thoughts on which camera to buy.
I didn't ask questions here only because I thought it would be easier to pick the phone up and talk to someone. It would have been a rambling inconclusive sort of conversation, not well suited to an exchange on a forum. I wasn't expecting to get any superior knowledge, on the contrary.
 
I'd recommend SRS in Watford. very knowledgeable and good prices. That said, you'll need to know what it is that you intend to photograph, because that'll help whittle down the choices.
 
Phaedrus said:
Many thanks for the replies.
John Lennon said 'how can I go forward when I don't know which way I'm facing?' which sums up my thoughts on which camera to buy.
I didn't ask questions here only because I thought it would be easier to pick the phone up and talk to someone. It would have been a rambling inconclusive sort of conversation, not well suited to an exchange on a forum. I wasn't expecting to get any superior knowledge, on the contrary.
Click to expand...

Dave, the wonderful thing about the TP community is that if you say what your looking to do there is so many people here will be more than happy to spend just as much time as is needed to make sure you get exactly what is best for you (y)
 
What are your plans? Are you a beginner, improver, pro? What sort of thing do you want to photograph? Frankly, at the end of the day, it doesn't much matter what you get unless you have some highly specialised photography in mind. You'll just end up going around in confused circles if you think about it too much.
 
Most of the photography I've done, including developing and printing, has been with 35mm film cameras. It's only ever been a hobby. Living in the Lake District now, my interest has changed, unsurprisingly, from street photography to landscape. A couple of years ago I bought a cheap Nikon D40 as an introduction to digital, and I've decided it's time to upgrade. My ideal replacement would be a digital equivalent of an Olympus OM2; size, quality, simplicity, range of quality lenses, aesthetically pleasing. Fuji X series, Olympus OMD, Sony A7 with Zuiko fast primes, Pentax K3, seem to be the ones I've looked at more than anything else. It's probably true that in the end it won't make much difference what I get. Bearing in mind the good deal on the X-Pro1 maybe I should have done with it, order one, and start taking pictures instead of reading reviews
 
We've used Harrison's in Sheffield a few times and found them excellent. They have a good web site and are very helpful on the phone.
 
Morning Phaedrus

Find a descent camera retailers in your area and go and visit. I searched high and low for which camera to buy. I spent weeks reading reviews, looking at camera magazines etc. Then I went into the retailer and played about with the cameras and finally chose one. What is also important are the lens that match your system too. The retailers will let you see your chosen camera with whatever lens you want. Good luck
 
Following Jessops collapse last year there was no camera shop in Liverpool, a few months ago Wilkinsons moved into the jessops premises and they have a really wide range of stock including sony which Jessops didn't. their prices seem to be better than Jessops were before they went into liquidation. The staff seem very knowledgeable as well.
 
Phaedrus said:
I've got to the point where's I'm going round in circles regarding research for a new camera, so I've phoned several retailers and had useless conversations with people who know less than I do. I don't want to hear someone regurgitating what I've already read. If anyone could recommend a place where they know about cameras and lenses I'd really appreciate it.
Click to expand...


If they are knowledgeable and ethical, they will only ask you the same questions we will ask you in here, and that will start with 2 questions:
  • What's your maximum budget?
  • What kind of images do you enjoy taking the most?


The answers to those will dictate where the conversation goes next. Anyone who fails to ask you those two is just trying to sell you stuff, or recommending what they personally own (which is always a massive danger in TP or any other forum.... people big up their own gear.. watch out for that).

Listen to those who have used a wide range of gear. Taking advice from (for example) someone who only uses (and has only ever used) Canon gear will inevitably result in them recommending a Canon camera of some sort, as that's all they know.
 
Last edited:
I have found digital depot in Stevenage herts, to be excellent,
they gave me loads of advice, without spending a penny,
obviously they need ones money to survive, so that's where I purchase my stuff from,
there prices are very good, I really hate this internet shopping,
I prefer to deal with local business, if we don't use them we will lose the shops,
then who can we talk to for good advice,
try to find a local independent and build up a customer relationship with them.
DD also have used section, along with a website,
which also helps, I look to see there latest offers and what second hand gear they have,
and pop along to buy what I need.
 
peak4 said:
I'll second that :)
Click to expand...

I'll third it! Just bought my new Fuji X-E2 from them, they gave me good trade-in prices on a couple of lenses, and they were same as Internet prices. They ordered in an X-E2 for me to compare with the X-Pro 1 before deciding which one to get. Very helpful. And I have just ordered the 60mm macro from them. I have always (usually) ordered from Wex, but when you can support a local business so much better.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions.
Regarding budget, £1500 max though I'd feel more comfortable spending nearer £1000. I'm not averse to buying secondhand. Images are nearly all landscape.
I completely agree about the importance of taking impartial rather than partisan advice; applicable to everything. In the end one has to make a decision though, and it's not possible to know until later, whether or not the decision was a good or bad one. I don't like to make the wrong decision when buying a pair of shoe laces. I'll admit I need to get out more.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top