NYC Camera Merchants

AndyMA · Dec 20, 2003

I know this is a little far down in the post, since many have already recommended B&H in New York. I have also had excellent luck with them. For those who haven't visited them, if you are in New York it's worth a trip to their store. They sell virtually everything you can imagine in photo, video and lighting equipment, ranging from simple point and shoot to the video camera network TV uses. I can spend hours in their store just looking around. Sometimes I'll tell a salesman I want to buy a particular item and let's say it's marked $100. He'll ring it up at $89 or so. The first time this happened to me, I questioned the salesman. His reply was do you want to pay more? Enough said.

Andy

MikePA · Dec 21, 2003

TresCrows - I see that DocHeb answered your questions. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif I also had the same experience as DocHeb re: my 35 mm gear. I had a Yashica 35mm SLR, telephoto lenses, wide angle lenses, etc. I was not a professional photographer, but based upon the gear I was always carrying, you couldn't convince my wife of that. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif All that gear is gone, and I have 2 digital cameras now, one of which can do almost everything all the 35 mm SLR could do, plus a pocket digital that I carry in my laptop bag, or pants pocket. Many moderately priced digital cameras can do what only a 35 mm SLR plus additional lenses could do only a few years ago. Exposure bracketing, auto or manual white balance, spot metering, etc. are all available on $400 - $700 digital cameras. Several digitals also offer manual focus which would allow you to prefocus the lens at the anticipated action point.

BIGUN · Dec 21, 2003

( As much as I like my digital camera, it is not ideal for action photography, and I wouldn't hold out that it can do all things for all people. However, ever since I bought my Olympus Digital Camera, I haven't used my Minolta SLR-35 mm camera. It just isn't worth the hassle to me. )

What I like about my digital camera over my 35mm is how I can click away at anything I want with no guilt about wasting film. After making that sizable initial investment for the hardware, you are free to take all the pictures you like with virtually no added expense. Being the frugal type (tight /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif ), it is a liberating way to enjoy photography.

Like the old Polaroid cameras you get the results immediately.

You can easily do your own cropping and resizing.

Watch slide shows without the PITA of a projector, screen, slide trays and room to store all the above. Store many pictures on a little silver CD disc.

Easily print the few pictures I take that warrant it.

Ability to tell someone online about something and go take a high quality picture of it and have it to them in a matter of minutes is still pretty amazing to me.

These are a few of the reasons I think my old 35mm will be gathering dust even though it’s ability to capture high speed events is superior to my new electronic wonder.

I haven’t researched it, but I would think film sales are taking a hit nowadays from the digital craze. I know why Kodak is into the Digital camera market. Does anyone remember how they lost the patent infringement case with Polaroid and you couldn’t buy film for their instamatic type cameras?

The big downside I can foresee is the storage medium becoming obsolete so that in 10-20 years you won’t be able to look at all your old pictures. Sure, you can always take the time to transfer them to each new storage medium that comes along, but that’s another PITA. Just think how few years ago that you might have saved something on a 5 ¼” floppy and how quickly it has become very difficult to find a machine that can read that floppy today. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Docsknotinn · Dec 21, 2003

While I like my digital it has significant dissadvantages over a SLR. The white light balance is more than just a little sensitive on nearly all of them under 1k. The screens wash out in the light. Try takeing digital photos of a moveing object like a plane with a digital. Not much fun. I cant ever imagine not haveing one again, but then I sure cant imagine giveing up the Nikon SLR either. Dave

TresCrows · Dec 21, 2003

"I cant ever imagine not haveing one again, but then I sure cant imagine giveing up the Nikon SLR either."

I agree completely, the best of both worlds is to have both.
Oh, anyone thinking that film is going away is wrong. It is true that digital will become prevalent for many types of photography but film and film cameras will be around for many years yet.
When I buy a new digicam I will probably order it from B&H, the selection around here is way limited. J

Docsknotinn · Dec 21, 2003

I agree completely. The digital cam is a great tool. Its easy and compact etc. I wouldnt give you two cents for one at a sporting event or in other select situations. My digital will never ever take photos that rival the Nikon SLR. There certainly are those that can but they are still very expensive. I dont think we will see print or slide media going any place for a very long time. Dave

BillG_in_TX · Dec 22, 2003

BIGUN,

Here is a web page that really goes into detail on shutter lag on the C-750. While the autofocus times are average at best, the prefocus shutter lag is lightning fast. This reviewer (imaging-resource.com) has the same info on all the cameras he reviews.

By the way, I just ordered and received a Canon digital video camera from B&H. They had nearly the best price available, and it arrived in 2 days using their free 3 day shipping option. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Gatorboy · Dec 23, 2003

( I wouldnt give you two cents for one at a sporting event or in other select situations. )

You mean to take digital pictures like these?: Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 | Photo 3

TresCrows · Dec 23, 2003

Nice shots Gatorboy, those were probably just luck, Huh? /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif. (Just kidding /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif) J

BIGUN · Dec 23, 2003

( BIGUN,

Here is a web page that really goes into detail on shutter lag on the C-750. While the autofocus times are average at best, the prefocus shutter lag is lightning fast. This reviewer (imaging-resource.com) has the same info on all the cameras he reviews.

By the way, I just ordered and received a Canon digital video camera from B&H. They had nearly the best price available, and it arrived in 2 days using their free 3 day shipping option. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )

This web sire describes exactly the “lag time” I was referring to (1.23 seconds). From the information here it seems doing the “prefocus thing” should allow me to capture most of the shots I want. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

In my previous post when I said “I would think film sales are taking a hit nowadays”, I didn’t mean that “film is going away” or that I think “print or slide media going any place” just that it is hurting sales. I have since looked into Kodak’s business pages and that is the case. I found one report that stated a reduction in retail film sales was especially damaging to company profits because there is 90% profit in those sales. Another report stated that digital has already caused Polaroid to go bankrupt.

Those are some really nice shots Gatorboy.