Camera Shops in the UK

[Jon]

I am not sure if this thread will be OK here, or would be best suited someplace else?

Been looking for Camera shops in the North West UK area. I went into town the other day, as I wanted to look for some used camera equipment. But the shop was gone, so where are they hiding, or are they mostly online now?

 

[Snooze]

I think camera shops are a bit of a scarcity in the UK, my nearest one is 32 miles away

 

[Jon]

I think camera shops are a bit of a scarcity in the UK, my nearest one is 32 miles away

I used to love going into town, with the hopes of spotting a lens or a camera. Don't even know where my nearest camera shop is now. Might still be one or two in Liverpool or Manchester.

 

[Pantry42]

Nearest one for me is CameraWorld in Chelmsford, Essex...may have other stores nationwide but not yet checked...

 

[Jon]

The best Camera shop I ever found, was called Best Kamera. It was based in ST Helens town centre. It was great, all the cameras were out on display, and you were allowed to play with them. Great prices too.

 

[didgit]

I guess I must be lucky as we have an LCE here in Colchester.
Staff are friendly and knowledgeable.

 

[Jon]

I guess I must be lucky as we have an LCE here in Colchester.
Staff are friendly and knowledgeable.

I think my nearest LCE, is Manchester about 30 or 40 miles away. Traffic and parking is a bit hectic in the area.

 

[StephenM]

There's a shop in Liverpool - I can't recall the name immediately - well known elsewhere for second hand cameras. I can try to look out a link. I don't suppose you want to buy a large format film camera, but if you did there are a couple of makers not far from you (north Wales and Wirral). Joking apart (why do you think I'm joking - I use LF!) there are a number of shops across the border in Yorkshire if that isn't too far to travel. Back on the wrong side of the Pennines, Mathers in Bolton springs to mind.

My knowledge tends to be centred on second hand shops, or those with extensive second hand supplies as I've never actually bought a digital camera and am more interested in where to buy film and chemicals (and there are at least two shops in Brighton that serve - I live over the border in Hove for those with local knowledge).

 

[Jon]

There's a shop in Liverpool - I can't recall the name immediately - well known elsewhere for second hand cameras. I can try to look out a link. I don't suppose you want to buy a large format film camera, but if you did there are a couple of makers not far from you (north Wales and Wirral). Joking apart (why do you think I'm joking - I use LF!) there are a number of shops across the border in Yorkshire if that isn't too far to travel. Back on the wrong side of the Pennines, Mathers in Bolton springs to mind.

My knowledge tends to be centred on second hand shops, or those with extensive second hand supplies as I've never actually bought a digital camera and am more interested in where to buy film and chemicals (and there are at least two shops in Brighton that serve - I live over the border in Hove for those with local knowledge).

I think it was off Dale street City centre, think it was called Ellis or Ellisons, or something like that. I went in a few times, got a polarisor and other bits. A shop from a different era, if we are talking about the same shop. I moved away a while back, so don't know if they are still going. Last time I went, I could not find it. So either I took a wrong turn, or they have closed down.

 

[Jon]

There's a shop in Liverpool - I can't recall the name immediately - well known elsewhere for second hand cameras. I can try to look out a link. I don't suppose you want to buy a large format film camera, but if you did there are a couple of makers not far from you (north Wales and Wirral). Joking apart (why do you think I'm joking - I use LF!) there are a number of shops across the border in Yorkshire if that isn't too far to travel. Back on the wrong side of the Pennines, Mathers in Bolton springs to mind.

My knowledge tends to be centred on second hand shops, or those with extensive second hand supplies as I've never actually bought a digital camera and am more interested in where to buy film and chemicals (and there are at least two shops in Brighton that serve - I live over the border in Hove for those with local knowledge).

Thanks for all that lengthy info.

 

[StephenM]

The one I was thinking of was

The Real Camera Company

Used Photographic & Camera Equipment - Manchester & Liverpool

realcamera.co.uk

But there is also

Liverpool

Our Liverpool Camera shop stocks the latest range of DSLR, mirrorless & compact cameras, binoculars, scopes & more. Expert, friendly, photographic advice.

www.wilkinson.co.uk

I expect I could find a few more, and I do know of ones further afield and closer to me.

 

[Jon]

The one I was thinking of was

The Real Camera Company

Used Photographic & Camera Equipment - Manchester & Liverpool

realcamera.co.uk

But there is also

Liverpool

Our Liverpool Camera shop stocks the latest range of DSLR, mirrorless & compact cameras, binoculars, scopes & more. Expert, friendly, photographic advice.

www.wilkinson.co.uk

I expect I could find a few more, and I do know of ones further afield and closer to me.

Going to have to check them out. Thanks for the links.

 

[gmcphotographics]

I'm kind of done with the UK camera stores. I like to visit my nearest WEX, especially to browse their Used gear. But the last few batches of new gear that I've bought have all come from Digital Rev / grey market. The price differential is massive. HDEW are excellent with their UK pricing too. If you are lucky enough to be able to claim your VAT back, the the HDEW prices are better than Digital rev's.

The UK pricing is fanciful. Full RRP, £=$ plus 20% vat. Which means that Canon are fleecing the UK market by 30-40 % on the US prices. Some lenses just seem to carry a RRP premium becuase they can.
One example, the cheapest I can find a RF 50mm f1.8 in the UK is £189. In the US they are widely available for $89. In fact in the USA, the EF nifty is usually the same price as the RF version.

 

[StephenM]

I have to agree on new UK pricing, at least on some items. Due to my being a film as opposed to digital photographer, and large format at that, I've bought lenses from the UK, USA and Japan. On the rare occasions where the same lens appears in two places (there's a current example with both Catlabs in Boston USA and WYC in Leeds having the same lens), prices are more or less the same. When it comes to film, things aren't so simple. The last box of 10x8 FP4 film I bought came from B&H in the States; after VAT and shipping were added, it was cheaper than buying in the UK.

For smaller purchases (look up the price of 10x8 film!) like single rolls of 120 film, and I'm more likely to pop into one of at least 3 local shops that carry it.

 

[icee]

We’re lucky in that we have a LCE and a WEX in Newcastle.

 

[Honey Monster]

I think that my closest camera shop is likely to be ffordes of Beauly, which is around 100 miles away

 

[PaulG]

We must be lucky here in Norwich, we've got three shops including the mighty WEX. A veritable Aladins cave. If they haven't got it you don't need it.

 

[NigelD]

We used to have 3 or 4 in Hull but on line purchasing and lack of buying power have been contributory factors in their demise I assume. The bigger retailers have all given me good service over recent years. The real problem is when you want to try something out - you have to travel miles in a lot of cases. I went to Lincoln when I changed brands from Canon to Fuji - only an hour away but I'd have preferred a local deal.

 

[StephenM]

We must be lucky here in Norwich, we've got three shops including the mighty WEX. A veritable Aladins cave. If they haven't got it you don't need it.

That prompted me to take a look, and it seems that Gregorys in Lower Goat Lane is no more. I used them in the 1960s.

 

[Jon]

I'm kind of done with the UK camera stores. I like to visit my nearest WEX, especially to browse their Used gear. But the last few batches of new gear that I've bought have all come from Digital Rev / grey market. The price differential is massive. HDEW are excellent with their UK pricing too. If you are lucky enough to be able to claim your VAT back, the the HDEW prices are better than Digital rev's.

The UK pricing is fanciful. Full RRP, £=$ plus 20% vat. Which means that Canon are fleecing the UK market by 30-40 % on the US prices. Some lenses just seem to carry a RRP premium becuase they can.
One example, the cheapest I can find a RF 50mm f1.8 in the UK is £189. In the US they are widely available for $89. In fact in the USA, the EF nifty is usually the same price as the RF version.

I remember the days when there were loads of camera shops about, I used to drive all over the place visiting them. I must have spent about £25 in fuel, not to mention the hours of time wasted. I would have been better just buying from the first shop I went to. But I must admit, I would still love it for there be at least a couple, of good camera shops on the high street.