Can someone provide me feedback on camera stores in San Francisco? I am interested in finding a good pro shop there and I am wondering who has the best selection and the most knowledgeable sales staff? I am especially interested in feedback on salespeople since that can make or break a store for me.
Morgan
There are two pro shops in San Francisco. Adolph Gasser has been established for over a half a century. I don't know if Saint Ansel purchased from them in the early days. They are at 181 2nd Street.
Calumet has a retail store at 18th and Bryant Streets. Both of these stores have customer parking which is important in San Francisco. I have not had a bad experience at either of these stores.
If you let us know what you are shopping for, you might get more specific feed back. View cameras of what size, new, used, lenses, film, processing, chemicals etc.
I'm looking for a wide variety of things. I shoot all different formats and I am basically looking for a well stocked shop with good prices and friendly, well informed sales staff.
If you consider Palo Alto in the Bay Area try Keeble and Shuchat.
steve simmons
I'll second Keeble and Shuchat. It's an easy drive from the city 'cept during the Christmas season...(:
I'll put in my votes for Keeble & Schuchat and Calumet. I've always gotten good help at both stores, and for new stock, both have excellent new inventory, and a phenomenal stock of film, paper and chemistry. When I was out there last in October, neither one had anything much in the used department.
Gassers is hit or miss with the sales staff, in my experience. Some of the salesmen are great, some just have a greatly inflated opinion of themselves and therefore a diminished opinion of you. Also, Gassers has some really outrageous prices on used gear - they wanted $1700 for a black Hasselblad 50mm C T*. Granted, it was in excellent cosmetic condition, and had the plastic bubble, but c'mon... that's almost what a comparable condition 50mm CFi FLE goes for!
If you're looking for used gear, there's supposed to be someplace over in Berkeley somewhere that has a decent inventory.
A third for KSP (Keeble and Shuchat Photography). They have a far larger selection than Calumet or Gassers and far more knowlegable sales staff.
Be advised there are also two stores for KSP -- across the street from one-another.
I don't think I can make it to Palo Alto. How's the sales staff at Calumet?
I've been to both Calumet and Gasser's. The sales staff have always treated me well and there are LF "specialists" at both stores. I haven't been to KSP yet but I'll certainly put them on my list next time I'm in Palo Alto.
Be warned: the prices are going to be very "San Francisco" although the last time I was at Gassers they had some older equipment and one of the kits---a Graphic View I, was awfully tempting. Very little used stuff at Calumet but lots of accessories like filters, etc...
If you're looking for film in formats bigger than 4x5, I'd call ahead(either store) before making the journey just to be on the safe side.
There is a photo "swap meet" at Santa Clara thats been going on for years(I've never gone to it, though) but I've heard its the place if you're into esoteric LF junque. Maybe someone from the bay area can comment?
"I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority"---EB White
There is also an extremely well stocked store for pro and digital in Palo Alto, Bear Images.
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