Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2011/08/15

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Subject: [Leica] IMG: Camera store graveyard
From: jshulman at judgecrater.com (Jim Shulman)
Date: Mon, 15 Aug 2011 15:04:23 -0400
References: <CAKC2cauU_5CEZv2vAiV4rHvrabUr4UksGDzpyW--6HHDoZpVug@mail.gmail.com> <1313416330.15485.YahooMailClassic@web114703.mail.gq1.yahoo.com>

In the "good old days", camera stores (and the very occasional vintage
camera show) were about the only places to get used equipment.  I recall
trolling the 32nd street stores circa 1974 for a Bolex H8 Reflex, a piece
of pro-quality gear made for the 8mm market in the early 1960s.  Nada,
zip, zilch after a day's hunting.  There was one crummy example I later
found at Olden, at an outrageous price.  Today, thanks to That Auction
Site, I can probably find several example, any one of which would have
been vastly superior to the Olden merchandise.

It's a different world, now that a camera is nothing more than a computer
peripheral.  Used equipment (for the most part, unless very high tech) is
about as attractive as a four year old computer.  It ages faster than
unrefrigerated sturgeon. As I said on Saturday at the LUG meeting, in four
years today's Fuji X100 will be worth what, about $50 or $100?  By that
time there will be at least two or three more modern iterations of the
camera, with easier to use menus, faster processing, probably
interchangeable lenses, a bidet and a flame-thrower for less money.

Best,
Jim


-----Original Message-----
From: lug-bounces+jshulman=judgecrater.com at leica-users.org
[mailto:lug-bounces+jshulman=judgecrater.com at leica-users.org] On Behalf Of
W. R. Smith
Sent: Monday, August 15, 2011 9:52 AM
To: Leica Users Group
Subject: Re: [Leica] IMG: Camera store graveyard

I bought a Russkie Practika TTL SLR from  Cambridge Camera mail order from
Houston in 1970 and returned it by registered mail to them almost
immediately, as it was defective (as I recall it was the meter). They
refused to answer my numerous letters over 1 year, so I mailed a complaint
letter to the new NYC Consumer Affairs Commissioner, Bess Meyerson Grant
(a former Miss America), w/ a copy to them. I got a new camera ASAP. Not
sorry to see that name gone.

--- On Mon, 8/15/11, Steven Beckham <ecoprof10 at gmail.com> wrote:

From: Steven Beckham <ecoprof10 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Leica] IMG: Camera store graveyard
To: "Leica Users Group" <lug at leica-users.org>
Date: Monday, August 15, 2011, 8:39 AM

This too is my first post on the LUG. Like many, I spent a lot of time
looking at those ads in Modern Photography etc. and dreaming.? Living in
"fly over country" I could not imagine the amount of choice offered by
those
stores.? Last year was my first time in NYC--you can bet I went by B & H.
It was heaven--pure photographic heaven.???Sorry to see all those names
gone
though.

Steve Beckham

On Mon, Aug 15, 2011 at 12:16 AM, Mark Rabiner
<mark at rabinergroup.com>wrote:

> Its like the FBI most wanted list of famous camera store rip offs
finally
> in
> the end blocked from selling gray market in Pop photography and also I
> think
> shutterbug which is way they went thank god under and we don't hear
about
> them any more. In the 70's and 80s it was the back of pop and modern
> photography.? You had to be very careful who you did business with
becuae
> the magazines then didn't care.
> I'd put a (good riddance!) on a few more of them then just one.
> --
> Mark R.
>
>
>
> > From: David Freedman <dpfreedman at gmail.com>
> > Reply-To: Leica Users Group <lug at leica-users.org>
> > Date: Sun, 14 Aug 2011 21:36:28 -0400
> > To: Leica Users Group <lug at leica-users.org>
> > Subject: Re: [Leica] IMG: Camera store graveyard
> >
> > I *never* post to the LUG but this really hit home (being a life-long
New
> > Yorker). To add to the list (all were in Manhattan):
> >
> > Executive Photo
> > Olden Camera
> > 47th Street Photo
> > Cambridge Camera (good riddance!)
> > Garden Camera
> > Wall Street Camera
> > Sharp Photo
> > Rechovos Camera
> > Competitive Camera
> > Bi-Rite Camera
> > Profoto (not sure of the name/spelling; was on the block with
Spiratone
> and,
> > I believe, Willoughby)
> >
> > I'm sure I'll think of a few others.
> >
> > On Sun, Aug 14, 2011 at 9:00 PM, Lawrence Zeitlin <lrzeitlin at gmail.com
> >wrote:
> >
> >> What happens when you cling to old technology too long. New York is
the
> >> graveyard of old photo stores. Remember Willoughby, Camera Barn,
> Spiratone,
> >> etc.
> >>
> >> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Larry+Z/NYC+old+photo+store.jpg.html
> >>
> >> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Larry+Z/NYC+old+photo+store.jpg.html
> >>
> >> Larry Z
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Leica Users Group.
> >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
> >>
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Leica Users Group.
> > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>

_______________________________________________
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See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information

_______________________________________________
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In reply to: Message from ecoprof10 at gmail.com (Steven Beckham) ([Leica] IMG: Camera store graveyard)
Message from wrs111445 at yahoo.com (W. R. Smith) ([Leica] IMG: Camera store graveyard)