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View Full Version : Camera delivery and service stories :an alternative view



bob moulton
4-May-2002, 12:35
I sympatize and empathize with the contributors who have narrated horror stories about camera dlivery and service. But my experience, at least with one of the f irms mentioned, Wisner Classic, reveals an alternative picture. I have purchased cameras and accessories from ron wisner since 1988 and have exp erienced none of the problems mentioned here. When a camera was not delivered at its promised date, i received a phone call indicating it would arrive within 10 working days. It arrived, 9 working days later. Accessories, including lenses, tripods, etc. were shipped from wisner or through his company on time or within a reasonable window (1-4 days) of order. When I ordered one camera he and his representatives warned me that they had exp erienced back orders and would be going on summer holiday and that I was late in the line. When i inquired later about the status of my order I received a phone call or an email. The camera took a long time to get here, but teh Wisner firm kept me informed. i had the option at any point to pull the plug. Obviously others have different experiences with Wisner. Anyone can find an alternative view camera; many are celebrated on these pages a s the "ideal camera de jour", and so we read about Canham, Technikardan, Ebony, Arca-Swiss, and the hits keep coming. So to some limited extent each of us who o rders a specific brand and waits, drooling, for its arrival--myself obviously in cluded!--should do a reality check. Would it make any difference if we used a di fferent camera that we could readily purchase from a large retailer--Samy's, CPI , B&H? Are Avedon's images better because he uses a XXX, John Sexton's because h e uses a YYY, or Jack Dykinga's because he uses a BBB? Those of us who insist upon this or that tool--and all a large format camera is is our craftsman or home depot hammer after all should recall Fred Picker tirad ing against a participant in a workshop, saying that his(the paticipant's) image s would be better if he did not make them all in the desert southwest, if he did not use that T-Max 100, if he would just follow all of Picker's dogmas about e xposing for Zone VIII, and especially if he would get rid of that west coast sp ecial--a Linhof. Sound familiar?? "All art is conceived two inches behind the eyeball--the rest is tool manipulati on." A pretty darned good workshop leader--obviously not Fred-- made that commen t while discussing art, artists and life one night at Canyon de Chelley. Not a b ad view. Bob .

Alec Jones
4-May-2002, 13:50
So, what is this, an attempt to change the subject to Fred Picker? At the very least, you could quote him correctly: "Just try it". He didn't say that was the ONLY way to do it. I don't recall Ron being in the workshop business either. Judging from the success Fred enjoyed, I'd suggest the problem was YOU, not Fred. Haven't heard of you becoming a world famous photographer yet! Awfully easy to talk about the dead, isn't it Bob? And, if you didn't like him, why did you go to his workshop in the first place? For one, I don't like your "view" a damn.

darter
4-May-2002, 16:31
Both of you would do yourselves a favor, and large format forum participants as well, if you wrote your tirades then set them aside for a few hours before posting them.

Alec Jones
4-May-2002, 18:00
Hey Phil - buzz off. It's a free world and I can unload any time I want to! Nobody forces you to read it.

Besides, in the midst of it, I learned something new. RonW DOES do workshops. Amazing, he has the time instead of delivering the cameras he's promised to others so THEY could get out and photograph too.

Kevin J. Kolosky
4-May-2002, 18:38
Alec

You certainly do have the right to say what you feel. But if you are going to dish it out, learn to take it as well.

Kevin

David A. Goldfarb
4-May-2002, 19:24
Of course the moderator has the right to delete all this unpleasantness, and it would be respectful of his time and effort not to post it in the first place.

Wayne_6692
6-May-2002, 12:15
Alec - A fat mouth and thin skin, quite a combo. Mercifully, Tuan will likely strike this thread.