framestore Posted June 23, 2011 Share #1 Posted June 23, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi, All I don't like buying things on ebay due to import duty and tax. Do you know any good resellers to look for an old Leica glasses in UK, or European? I think Reddotcameras have many used lenses in stock but their prices seem more expensive then others. Thank you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 23, 2011 Posted June 23, 2011 Hi framestore, Take a look here Best places to buy Leica old glasses in UK. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
bill Posted June 23, 2011 Share #2 Posted June 23, 2011 Aperture, London Camera Exchange (Guildford and The Strand branches in particular), Jacobs New Oxford Street. Red Dot, in my experience, has been exemplary. Be aware MW ignore all instructions (written and verbal) and use crap couriers regardless. ffordes managed to dispatch to a neighbour of mine, another forum member, who kindly did the delivery for them. Their response - not so much as an apology... The Classic Camera has everything to learn about customer service and are the subject of a number of "interesting" threads here. As always, YMMV and caveat emptor. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
viramati Posted June 23, 2011 Share #3 Posted June 23, 2011 I would recommend either Red Dot or Aperture. I have used Red Dot for most new leica purchases but they have a good 2nd hand selection. Ivor and the team there are knowledgeable and helpful and prices are reasonable I have also bought from Patrick and Richard at Aperture (http://www.apertureuk.com/) who again are very helpful and have keen prices (maybe a little lower than red dot). They are also useful for selling gear and I have recently sold most of my Nikon kit through them. Both of them give a warranty on used purchases though I can't remember for how long. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted June 23, 2011 Share #4 Posted June 23, 2011 Agree with much of the above. If you are after a particular lens then you can call all the Leica dealers in the UK (see the Leica website for a list). Amatuer Photographer often has a large section of dealer adverts - but avoid 'Nicholas Camera' in Camden, they advertise just about everything you can think of but never actually have any of it in stock, at least from my experience (and yes I did phone first then made a trip to the shop). Another good source are camera fairs - look out for one in your area. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgk Posted June 23, 2011 Share #5 Posted June 23, 2011 I think that my local dealer (Cambrian Photography in Colwyn Bay) have some 'old glass' in stock - I have dealt with them for 30 years and they are a good dealer happy to send items out. You might trawl through the used dealers shown at UK camera shops - a database of camera shops and photographic manufacturers plus information on digital and classic cameras, although the list is a bit out of date, as many smaller dealers often have older Leica bits and pieces, including lenses, in stock. Personally, I would 'phone about anything of interest and get an undertaking that if its not as described or what you expect (not all dealers know exactly which lens/model/year they actually have) then you can send it back for a refund. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MPerson Posted June 23, 2011 Share #6 Posted June 23, 2011 Two places I always look first are: Peter Loy - in London Simon & Julie's Collectable Cameras - in East Yorkshire Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted June 23, 2011 Share #7 Posted June 23, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) ... Been to several Leica dealers and there are a number I'll never go back to. Red Dot being one - snotty attitude towards a scruffy photographer with scruffy equipment that - shock - gets used...! ... Rich, I'm very surprised by your comment about Red Dot Cameras. I've dealt with Ivor and Elaine since they opened and have received nothing but excellent service, as have the many other forum members whom I'm acquainted with, and anything but snotty attitudes. In fact I doubt that they even know how to do "snotty" because they are the most down to earth people you could hope to meet. If there was a problem with Red Dot then I think it would have emerged by now since the forum is a perfect vehicle to create a raging forest fire from a single carelessly discarded match. Could it perhaps have been a misunderstanding where Ivor had enough of the "scruffy":p equipment you wanted to sell and you took it to mean that its condition wasn't up to scratch? I ask this to try to snuff out a discarded match. Now if someone *wants* snotty there is a crowd near the British Museum (not Aperture) who will certainly oblige ... if they can be bothered to talk to you at all. Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmradman Posted June 23, 2011 Share #8 Posted June 23, 2011 All shops listed I have first hand experience, bought stuff from all except Red Dot Camera & Nicholas In London Aperture - quirky shop next to British Museum, varied stock including Leica, also restaurant. Classic Camera - no appointment required, classy shop, again near British Museum. RG Lewis - nice Leica store, friendly service Richard Caplan - very good. Red Dot Cameras - use cheap currier and wouldn't budge on using Royal Mail but good stock. London Camera Exchange, only R lens I ever returned came from their London Strand branch. Beware of fully boxed lenses smelling musty. There is also Nicholas Camera in Camden Town, amazing S/H stock but decided not to buy there. Manchester - Stephens Leica, very happy with them Sheffield - Harrison Camera, excellent service but limited S/H stock Scotland - Ffordes, top dealer with good stock and good prices Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted June 23, 2011 Share #9 Posted June 23, 2011 There is also Nicholas Camera in Camden Town, amazing S/H stock but decided not to buy there. Amazing list of stuff advertised but mysteriously absent when you visit the shop! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted June 23, 2011 Share #10 Posted June 23, 2011 Rich, I'm very surprised by your comment about Red Dot Cameras. I'd second what Pete said about Red Dot. They are members of the forum and often come along on our meets/trips. Certainly not a 'snotty' dealer. Maybe he spoke to Brian :eek: (only joking Brian!) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnkunstadter Posted June 23, 2011 Share #11 Posted June 23, 2011 Rich, ... If there was a problem with Red Dot then I think it would have emerged by now since the forum is a perfect vehicle to create a raging forest fire from a single carelessly discarded match. ... Pete. Pete, I recently had a similar experience of snotty behavior there (no scruffiness or desire to sell equipment in my case, and I've bought from the shop before), and would not characterize the description as a "carelessly discarded match." In my experience Peter Loy is first-rate. MW Classic Cameras also has hard-to-resist items, but I've found it better to call on them. Aperture is always worth a look. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted June 23, 2011 Share #12 Posted June 23, 2011 Pete, I recently had a similar experience of snotty behavior there (no scruffiness or desire to sell equipment in my case, and I've bought from the shop before), and would not characterize the description as a "carelessly discarded match." ... Fair enough, John. Since you'd bought from the shop before I have to assume that the service on other occasions was to your taste or presumably you wouldn't have returned. Would you care to describe those to provide some balance? Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted June 23, 2011 Share #13 Posted June 23, 2011 Hi I've found RedDot cheaper then Aperture. additionally Elaine (Red Dot) does free coffee Aperture does nice food/drinks and WiFi/computer hire. Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tietje Posted June 23, 2011 Share #14 Posted June 23, 2011 I've bought stuff from MW Classics, Richard Caplan and Stephens Premier and have no complaints. Their service was prompt and courteous. The goods where everything I expected. The only problem I had with Red Dot was that they wouldn't accept credit cards from outside the UK and I live in Ireland, so that was that! Nicholas Camera, I've been in their shop and I too decided not to buy there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgk Posted June 23, 2011 Share #15 Posted June 23, 2011 I was in my local dealer today - used Leica rangefinder lenses (screw or M) are thinner on the ground than they would like, especially 50s. They have just a few lenses in at the moment! They had just had an M9P in though - I refused to even look at it.......... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmradman Posted June 23, 2011 Share #16 Posted June 23, 2011 Amazing list of stuff advertised but mysteriously absent when you visit the shop! No kidding, we are not talking Sigma lenses with EOS mount. My way to any rare item persistence and countless hours of web window shopping and be ready to press buy button without a blink amazingly I can still afford food. I forgot to mention Cambridge based Camtech and Croydon Photo Centre. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnkunstadter Posted June 23, 2011 Share #17 Posted June 23, 2011 Fair enough, John. Since you'd bought from the shop before I have to assume that the service on other occasions was to your taste or presumably you wouldn't have returned. Would you care to describe those to provide some balance? Pete. Balance? One might consider my comment, and Rich's, to be the balance to the unequivocal support the shop enjoys, and I imagine will continue to enjoy, on this forum. I have no quarrel with anyone else's view and hope those who patronize the shop will continue to receive the level of service they seek. In my experience service was uneven: on one occasion willing to show me gear which had just arrived and hadn't even been uploaded to the web site yet (some of which I bought), on that and another occasion hospitable with tea and shortbread, passive-aggressive on a third. The fourth (and final) time was the one I alluded to. No need to go into details here; you may choose to accept my general account or not. I'm polite, (unfortunately) always open to buying something, and always aim to avoid wasting a dealer's time. All I'd like in return is common courtesy. In this regard, I'd refer you to Menos | M6's approach, one I share, in another recent thread, where he described visits to several dealers in Paris. Regards. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted June 23, 2011 Share #18 Posted June 23, 2011 No kidding, we are not talking Sigma lenses with EOS mount.My way to any rare item persistence and countless hours of web window shopping and be ready to press buy button without a blink amazingly I can still afford food. I forgot to mention Cambridge based Camtech and Croydon Photo Centre. Rare? who said anything about rare? I was looking for a 35mm LTM or M mount lens. They had a whole bunch of options listed, Leica, Voigtlander, Jupiter, Zeiss, Canon etc. I phoned and was told to call in, so I did. When I got there I asked to see some of the lenses. Most were apparently 'in the warehouse'. I asked about a Voigtlander Skopar, I was quoted a price for a 'new' lens (even though they don't stock new stuff). I asked to see it, and was told "Buy it then you'll see it" - nice. It was also "in the warehouse" which meant I'd have to pay for it and collect later or have it posted. I was told by another dealer - only relaying what I was told - that the owner of Nicholas advertises loads of stuff, then if someone bites he quickly sources a similar item to sell on. No surprise that I've read a few complaints on the web about people buying 'mint' items from Nicholas by mail order and receiving apparently less than mint items. I wasted a good half day of my life because of Nicholas Camera, never again!. I really wouldn't have minded if I'd gone there on spec, but I phoned and spoke to them for some time and was encouraged to visit and see the selection of lenses on offer, and I visited the day after! Croydon Camera is just around the corner from me. They have a very poor website and there's a lot more gear in the shop - worth a call if you're looking for something in particular. I still have a Kodak Retina and a B&O amp my father bought there in the 60's, from the owner who still works there today. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tietje Posted June 23, 2011 Share #19 Posted June 23, 2011 I just saw cameras and lenses piled into boxes, lying on the floor. I left. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpattison Posted June 23, 2011 Share #20 Posted June 23, 2011 Stephens Premier and SD camera in Manchester for me. David Stephens is very knowledgeable in anything Leica, and will always keep a lookout for something you want. Tell him John P sent you! John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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