Florence, Italy

[sandro]

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Very soon I will be spending a few months in Florence, Italy. Are there interesting shops or dealers with Leica material?

Thanks, Lex

[Michael Hiles]

Bypass the shops - go to the Uffizzi.

[sandro]

Michael, thanks but I know where to go. I am an art historian and I have spent time in Florence before, so I know my way around. But I am less secure about camera shops.

Lex

[erl]

Lex, first point, you may be better off making any camera purchases at home before you travel, for a number of reasons. Second, if you are spending several months there, I imagine you will have ample time to casually discover Leica shops in Florence, more than most of us that is. If there are any.

 

To me, shopping seems such a waste of valuable travel time and Florence, as you will know, is very rich photographically to the keen eye. Enjoy your travel/work.

[Naper]

New Leica Boutique in Florence.

Leica Store Firenze opens its doors in Florence today | Leica News & Rumors

[PaulM]

I was in Florence in July and found a camera shop that's a few hundred meters from the Ponte Vecchio on the city side (can't remember the name). It had used M Leicas and a good selection of film and processing chemicals. The place is across from the market with the famous Porcellino bronze statue, and the people were very nice and helpful. Enjoy Florence.

Paul

[wattsy]

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The place is across from the market with the famous Porcellino bronze statue

 

I think the shop is called Bongi.

[sandro]

Thanks, sounds interesting, and I found it on the map. The name is indeed Bongi.

Lex

[gbealnz]

Yes, Bongi it is, I had at least half a dozen fly-by's of the store mid September this year, with my nose glued to the glass inside and out.

While I don't need to be annoyed while drooling, I did find that not a solitary sales person paid me any attention whatsoever. In fact I felt they were downright rude, too busy conversing amongst themselves and people within the store.

They had a small selection of used Leica stuff, M6's and an R8 (maybe it was an R9?), plus a swag of other stuff, used and new.

I'd have spent some money there but I'm not going to chase the sales staff, not if they are to busy.

Maybe it was my scruffy "down-under" look, but I did have my X1, as well as my M6 with 35 Summicron.

I did find another coffee shop, opposite the rail staton, it had a small collection of older Leica stuff for sale and on display. The espresso was excellent as well.

I didn't find out about the Leica store until well after we got home.

Gary

[algrove]

I'd have spent some money there but I'm not going to chase the sales staff, not if they are to busy.

Maybe it was my scruffy "down-under" look, but I did have my X1, as well as my M6 with 35 Summicron.Gary

 

I hate to chase sales staff too. I often dress way down when spending big money just to see how I get treated. Tells one a lot about who you are dealing with.

 

Funny Example-Realized I had forgotten a protective UVa filter for my APO50 while in Paris. Walked in to La Maison du Leica and even though it was busy I was asked for help tout de suite, bought the filter and began attaching to my APO50 +M before leaving the store and all of a sudden aficionados defended on me-the store bum.