Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12
Results 11 to 17 of 17

Thread: Central Camera - Chicago - great!

  1. #11

    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Montgomery, Il. USA
    Posts
    552

    Re: Central Camera - Chicago - great!

    Any store that has employees interested in the stuff in the back room will be pretty good. The hard part is finding them. Too many "sales" clerks today couldn't find their ass with both hands.

  2. #12
    Michael Alpert
    Guest

    Re: Central Camera - Chicago - great!

    I stopped by Central Camera last month when I was visiting Chicago. I must say that I felt really saddened when I saw the store. Years ago it was thriving. Now it seems to be holding on by a thread. I don't think that the store has purchased any large format equipment for inventory in a long time. I bought some roll film and left. The people who work in Central Camera seem very nice; but, like it or not, they are witnessing the end of their kind of business.

  3. #13
    Kirk Gittings's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Albuquerque, Nuevo Mexico
    Posts
    9,864

    Re: Central Camera - Chicago - great!

    I always stop in there when I am in Chicago. I can usually find something odd that I need and buy it. Over the years that has been everything from VCs to tripod heads. i hope they hang on. I think, because of their proximity to SAIC and Columbia, that they do allot of student business and students are big on film these days.
    Thanks,
    Kirk

    at age 73:
    "The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
    But I have promises to keep,
    And miles to go before I sleep,
    And miles to go before I sleep"

  4. #14

    Join Date
    Dec 1997
    Location
    Baraboo, Wisconsin
    Posts
    7,697

    Re: Central Camera - Chicago - great!

    Quote Originally Posted by Trius View Post
    Because they were reliable. Some of the others weren't always.
    So it was their reliability that caused them to advertise their prices when there were 20 other places advertising the same thing in the same issue for much less? My question wasn't why they advertised, it was why they advertised their prices under these circumstances.
    Brian Ellis
    Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you do criticize them you'll be
    a mile away and you'll have their shoes.

  5. #15
    Yes, but why? David R Munson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 1999
    Location
    Saitama, Japan
    Posts
    1,494

    Re: Central Camera - Chicago - great!

    You know, I've walked past it a couple times, but only when closed. Next time I'm down in the loop I'll make a point to stop by.

  6. #16

    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    178

    Re: Central Camera - Chicago - great!

    I bought my very first view camera from Central Camera in the mid-1970s from, then owner, H.R. Flesh, whose father, I believe started the business in 1899. H.R. studied to become a doctor, and upon graduation, had to choose between medicine and the family camera store. Mr. Flesh's advise to me was to buy a low-end view camera (he sold me an Omega F) and to sink my money into good lenses (2 Schnieders). I still have & use both the camera and the lenses (although in the last couple days the bellows are getting their second round of taping up the pinholes). His advice has served me well.

    Rick Tapio

  7. #17

    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Chicago, IL
    Posts
    222

    Re: Central Camera - Chicago - great!

    Quote Originally Posted by Michael Alpert View Post
    I stopped by Central Camera last month when I was visiting Chicago. I must say that I felt really saddened when I saw the store. Years ago it was thriving. Now it seems to be holding on by a thread. I don't think that the store has purchased any large format equipment for inventory in a long time. I bought some roll film and left. The people who work in Central Camera seem very nice; but, like it or not, they are witnessing the end of their kind of business.
    I work around the corner from Central Camera, so I go by to window shop at least once a week. To me, the low point was about 6 months ago, when they had little in the way of new digital cameras and the same used equipment they had been displaying for quite a while. Since then, they still do not have as much in the way of digital as they had a year ago, but they have a lot more used film equipment on display. Prices are higher than other sources, but at least they have film and chemicals for sale (and recently have gotten some more chemicals in stock). I think the move away from digital is good, as there is no way they can compete with Best Buy, etc., on the PS digitals or with Internet sales on the high-end digital cameras. By serving basic digital needs and establishing themselves as a source for film and related equipment, they might just be able to survive.

    Bob

Similar Threads

  1. Huge Wooden Camera - R. R. Robertson of Chicago
    By efdalby in forum Cameras & Camera Accessories
    Replies: 21
    Last Post: 19-Jan-2014, 23:34
  2. Doug Busch's Chicago Camera
    By Richard K. in forum Lenses & Lens Accessories
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 30-Jan-2011, 10:18
  3. Last of the great Camera's!
    By milliondollarbaby in forum Cameras & Camera Accessories
    Replies: 22
    Last Post: 16-Jan-2010, 13:52
  4. Camera Bellows - Great Britain
    By neil poulsen in forum Cameras & Camera Accessories
    Replies: 20
    Last Post: 4-Sep-2009, 10:09

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •