eyedeebee Posted January 29, 2008 Share #21 Posted January 29, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) Has anybody used Nicholas in Camden High Street? - it looks (from their ad in AP) like they have massive stock including a lot of M and R gear - they seem however to be absent from any replies to similar questions to this on the forum. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 29, 2008 Posted January 29, 2008 Hi eyedeebee, Take a look here Leica stores and photography spots in London. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
ejd Posted January 29, 2008 Share #22 Posted January 29, 2008 Has anybody used Nicholas in Camden High Street? - it looks (from their ad in AP) like they have massive stock including a lot of M and R gear - they seem however to be absent from any replies to similar questions to this on the forum. Hmm. Caveat emptor, I would say. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted January 30, 2008 Share #23 Posted January 30, 2008 Has anybody used Nicholas in Camden High Street? - it looks (from their ad in AP) like they have massive stock including a lot of M and R gear - they seem however to be absent from any replies to similar questions to this on the forum. I called in there when I was looking for a 35mm lens. Very odd. Its a dusty shop full of stuff but little on display. The guy serving (he was on his own) was sorting through a box of odds n sods and when I said I was looking for a 35mm M or screw fit lens (I hadn't decided what to buy then) he said "I can sell you any 35mm lens you want, but you need to tell me what you want" !! I was hoping he'd get a few out, let me see the condition, prices etc. But no, he continued to fart about with a box of rubbish and lost a sale (when pressed for more info he said he had a s/h Skopar in stock but wanted more than Classic Camera were charging for new ones). Interesting shop. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
masjah Posted January 30, 2008 Share #24 Posted January 30, 2008 Hmm. Caveat emptor, I would say. I would echo that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyoung Posted January 30, 2008 Share #25 Posted January 30, 2008 I would echo that. Indeed, so would I, I have bought one item from him (a 21mm Skopar) but it was a struggle to get him to fetch it. He was very patient with a young lad who came in though, who wanted a tele lens for an slr, gave him some good advice and sold him a sensible option (rather than a 28-200 zoom). The feeling is that he is a phantasist, if he had half the rare leica stuff he claims in the advert it would be a very interesting place. Gerry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael-IIIf Posted January 30, 2008 Share #26 Posted January 30, 2008 I called in there when I was looking for a 35mm lens. Very odd. Its a dusty shop full of stuff but little on display. The guy serving (he was on his own) was sorting through a box of odds n sods and when I said I was looking for a 35mm M or screw fit lens (I hadn't decided what to buy then) he said "I can sell you any 35mm lens you want, but you need to tell me what you want" !! I was hoping he'd get a few out, let me see the condition, prices etc. But no, he continued to fart about with a box of rubbish and lost a sale (when pressed for more info he said he had a s/h Skopar in stock but wanted more than Classic Camera were charging for new ones). Interesting shop. It is a strange shop indeed. I only live around the corner from it so often browse the window. One time he spent an hour selling me forty quid's worth of Weston Master V. Together we carefully examined every singly one in his stock (quite a few) until he found the best one for me. I couldn't fault that for service. However, a pro-photog friend (I have to be careful what I put in writing here) has suggested to me that the some shops, I won't mention names, are not too careful about the providence of their stock. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maggie_O Posted January 30, 2008 Share #27 Posted January 30, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) Be sure to spend some time in the reviatalised Southwark- Borough Market and Bermondsey Street are great places to spend some time and definitely make time to eat at Roast or The Garrison House, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aesop Posted January 31, 2008 Share #28 Posted January 31, 2008 Terence, when you are in central London, check out Kingsley Photographic Ltd at 93 Tottenham Court Road for new and used Leica equipment. Whilst off the beaten track, it is a true repository of photographic equipment (not just Leica), including darkroom-related bits. Feel free to talk technique and sample great personal service from the knowledgeable shop folk. True, I may sound slightly biased, but this is not without reason - Kingsley's provided immeasurable support for my passion when I was just an impoverished but ambitious University of London student. And I was not alone. To this day, the same values still exist in this shop, and that's really hard to beat. Enjoy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gravastar Posted February 1, 2008 Share #29 Posted February 1, 2008 .......................................However, a pro-photog friend (I have to be careful what I put in writing here) has suggested to me that the some shops, I won't mention names, are not too careful about the providence of their stock. Yes, I've also been told that by someone who was in the camera repair business for many years. Bob. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fielden Posted February 1, 2008 Share #30 Posted February 1, 2008 I have just ordered my 35 cron Asph from Richard Caplan. Excellent service on the phone from Natalie. Her voice on the telephone makes me wonder what she looks like. Don't tell me though it my spoil the mental picture I have! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cocker Posted February 1, 2008 Share #31 Posted February 1, 2008 Terence, when you are in central London, check out Kingsley Photographic Ltd at 93 Tottenham Court Road for new and used Leica equipment. Whilst off the beaten track, it is a true repository of photographic equipment (not just Leica), including darkroom-related bits. Feel free to talk technique and sample great personal service from the knowledgeable shop folk. True, I may sound slightly biased, but this is not without reason - Kingsley's provided immeasurable support for my passion when I was just an impoverished but ambitious University of London student. And I was not alone. To this day, the same values still exist in this shop, and that's really hard to beat. Enjoy. I have dealt with Kingsley's and would entirely endorse what you say. Very nice people to deal with. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim B Posted February 1, 2008 Share #32 Posted February 1, 2008 Graeme, I'm not sure of names, but there are two very good looking young female assistants at Richard Caplan, as far as I remember, and they are as friendly and helpful as you have discovered on the phone. So, no doubt you'll be along to the shop as soon as you next get down to London! Tim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
antiochus66 Posted April 26, 2008 Share #33 Posted April 26, 2008 funny.. the nicholas camden guy is a complete looney tune.. his catch phrase is come back when you know what you want.. he once accused me of just wanting to look and stroke his cameras just so i could get it for next to nothing on ebay.. well i went straight home and checked and he was correct on ebay the camera was 70% cheaper..so i got it off the net.. he seems to have a compulsive inclination not to sell cameras or just to alienate customers. a lot of junk would not trust a lot of it.. he probably has good stuff but i am sure it is sold from the back of the store to other dealers.. care in the community in action..better in a shop, than bothering people on the street i say.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted April 26, 2008 Share #34 Posted April 26, 2008 Don't forget Red Dot Camera, near Old Street tube station. Ivan is a 100% decent bloke. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spylaw4 Posted April 27, 2008 Share #35 Posted April 27, 2008 Don't forget Red Dot Camera, near Old Street tube station. Ivan is a 100% decent bloke. Agreed! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thehouseflogger Posted July 3, 2008 Share #36 Posted July 3, 2008 I have exclusively used RG Lewis, 29 Southampton Row. Len Lyons sold my wife my first leica in 1997 (my wedding present !) and since then I have never gone anywhere else. The shop has a great history and an interesting web site. R. G. Lewis - The Leica Shop Good luck ! Oh by the way make sure to wander around Chelsea and up and down the Kings Road - COOL! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenneth Posted July 3, 2008 Share #37 Posted July 3, 2008 will be travelling to london end of February, and staying in kensington. need some advice on where to look at leica m gears around london and where would be good spots for photo opportunities in and around the city. thanks a bunch, t Very good shop in Central London- extensive new and mint used Leica- were Leica main dealer until recently- I have dealt with them recently- hard to fault- contacts Andrew or Michael Leica Cameras, Summarit, Voigtlander, Zeiss, Minox Binoculars - Classic Camera Ltd UK Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick Delaney Posted November 23, 2008 Share #38 Posted November 23, 2008 What's all the bitchy stuff about Classic Canera? I've never had any problems. It's nice and relaxed and out of the crowds and the staff are helpful and friendly. Perhaps there's something wrong with the attitude of certain customers! Patrick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted November 23, 2008 Share #39 Posted November 23, 2008 In that case, Patrick, they have changed their spots recently. They have always been very snooty when I've been in there - as if selling something was too much trouble. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrh68uk Posted November 23, 2008 Share #40 Posted November 23, 2008 I've recently had a long weekend in London, where I did my usual camera shop tour - except that, this time, I visited Red Dot Cameras for the first time (it wasn't open the last time I was there). Firstly, I would thoroughly recommend Red Dot which has taken first place in my list of favourite camera shops . In fact, I think it is my favourite shop full-stop (or "period", as our US friends would say). Whenever I go to London it's usually with my wife, who gets bored rigid with my camera shop trawlings and so we will often separate for a couple of hours or so. She came with me to Red Dot, though, which was nice in a way but I was aware that I'd probably have limited time there before I started to feel guilty. I couldn't have been more wrong. Once inside we were greeted by the friendly faces of Ivor and Elaine, lots of Leica for me to drool over and a lovely red sofa with magazines and books to amuse my wife. We all ended up chatting for ages about Christmas and a particular holiday destination, punctuated with a little "gear talk". With my wife pleasantly occupied in chat and looking at pictures, Ivor accompanied me outside to try out (on my M8) two lenses I'd said I was interested in. The idea was that I look at the images at home and decide later whether or not I may want one. Absolutely no sales pressure at all. We ended up spending a very enjoyable afternoon (1.5 hours!) with two of the most genuinely friendly people you could meet, who happen to be able to demo and sell lovely Leica gear Now, I've been to the other dealers mentioned in this thread, and have experienced pompousness, gruffness and some hard-sell tactics. Red Dot is a breath of fresh air and has some decent prices, to boot (I bought the lens I wanted - a 90mm Summarit - which was less expensive than at most other places). Aperture is another I'd highly recommend and probably number 2 now on my list. Camera shops should never underestimate the power of having a camera widow(er) amusement area Cheers, Jason Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.