What's your favorite camera shop?

[ryans]

I was trying to go to Wolf in Stockton and got lost. I found this placed called Gluskins and man was I impressed. They had every Canon and Nikon lens and camera in stock. Their camera section is super impressive. The sales guys were really cool too. I ended up buying a lens from them. they have HDTV's and other electronics too. They have a website but they're not into selling online. If your ever in the area check them out.

http://www.gluskins.com

[datsunfreak]

When you get serious, that's the time to ditch Wolf. ;)

[ryans]

I know wolf isn't the greatest place in the world to shop, but I was bored! And that was supposedly their super store.

Say like for motorsports photography do you usually go out and rent one of those $6,000 lenses? Or is the 70-200mm F2.8 good enough?

[datsunfreak]

I know wolf isn't the greatest place in the world to shop, but I was bored! And that was supposedly their super store.

Yes, but it's always better find a good local store that is privately owned. I'm sure there's more than a few around there.

Say like for motorsports photography do you usually go out and rent one of those $6,000 lenses? Or is the 70-200mm F2.8 good enough?

If you are taking them for fun or to learn, stay cheap. If someone's paying you to do it, it's worth spending the chips on a rental.

[ryans]

Where I live, there are no indy photo places. It really sucks. I think the nearest ones from me are about an hour each direction.

[Cali Agent]

Hey Ryan if you're not bothered to drive through SF theres this great place that has EVERYTHING in stock. Its a pro photography shop. Its called CALUMET. I was very impressed!!!!
Heres the adress.

2001 Bryant Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

[imported_STP03Bluesi]

There really isnt a cam shop in st. pete anymore :(

[KYLiquid]

I go to a place called Colonial Photo and Hobby. Its really the only camera shop around me (Orlando, FL) that I have found (other than the chain stores, Ritz....ect).

The have TONS of stuff for both film and digital cameras, they sell PNS's as well as DSLR bodies and lots of lenses. Everything from fisheye, wide angle, tele-photo, Filters (polarized, color, fog, uv)....ect.

The have all the major brands (Nikon, Canon, Olympus. Minolta...ect) as well as the off-brands....Promaster, Sigma, Tamron, Quantray, ect.

Their prices are fair (right at market value and a little under) so you wont save a bunch of money, but the thing I like is that the sales people are very helpful and you can try out ANYTHING in the shop. Not only can you bring in your DSLR body and ask to check out any lens in stock and shoot with it using your own camera. You can also leave your drivers licence and a credit card and take the lens outside and shoot with it....your supposed to stay around the store but ive walked around with it a bit. They are very cool.

They also have a 10 day return policy on lenses. I got a lens and shot with it all week and decided it wasnt the lens I really wanted and they had no problem giving me a refund. I dont always buy from them but I do go there to test things out and talk to them.

[wangamachang]

If you are in the bay area, I recommend going to Keeble and Shuchat Photography in Palo Alto. These guys have been around forever, and they stock almost everything. They also have a great rental department. They have 2 buildings that are meant for specific things (i.e digital, film). The service is good. Most of the people there have been taking pictures for a while (it might be their old age). Prices are fair (not like internet cheap, but reasonable for a walk-in store). Definitely better priced than Wolf. They seem to stock equipment pretty fast. I remember signing up for the waiting list for the 18-200mm VR f/3.5-5.6 G lens from Nikon when they were hot (the release of D200 and that lens). No one had it in stock. I was put on the waiting list at bhphoto and they never emailed me until 3 months. KS Photo called me within 2 weeks and held onto it for me. Good place to go.

www.kspphoto.com You can't buy on the internet. Classic Walk-ins only!

261 / 290 California Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94306

[kokonutjc]

If you are in the bay area, I recommend going to Keeble and Shuchat Photography in Palo Alto. These guys have been around forever, and they stock almost everything. They also have a great rental department. They have 2 buildings that are meant for specific things (i.e digital, film). The service is good. Most of the people there have been taking pictures for a while (it might be their old age). Prices are fair (not like internet cheap, but reasonable for a walk-in store). Definitely better priced than Wolf. They seem to stock equipment pretty fast. I remember signing up for the waiting list for the 18-200mm VR f/3.5-5.6 G lens from Nikon when they were hot (the release of D200 and that lens). No one had it in stock. I was put on the waiting list at bhphoto and they never emailed me until 3 months. KS Photo called me within 2 weeks and held onto it for me. Good place to go.

www.kspphoto.com You can't buy on the internet. Classic Walk-ins only!

261 / 290 California Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94306

I second Keeble....at first I was a little hesitant to go to Keeble because of some of the staff. But the more you go there :) you start to feel more at home.
Rental department rocks, specially if youneed that special lense that you don't have, reasonable prices too.

[mooboyGSR]

Hey Ryan if you're not bothered to drive through SF theres this great place that has EVERYTHING in stock. Its a pro photography shop. Its called CALUMET. I was very impressed!!!!
Heres the adress.

2001 Bryant Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

Yeah I hear calumet is quite good.

[TurboDerek]

I like http://www.samys.com/ main store in LA. They let me in after closing, asked me to test then lens/compair to other brands and then sold me a lens lower then any internet price i could find. This is all after they had reopened to let me in on a Saturday.

http://www.volkswagenphotography.com

[ryans]

great places to check out. I didn't know about them.

[imported_NotStock]

I have found a good place here in jacksonville called desktop darkroom they usually have some good demo items,and cater mainly to proffesionals