I found myself in Vienna and I would like to visit some shops that could sell old lenses.
Any recommendations?
I found myself in Vienna and I would like to visit some shops that could sell old lenses.
Any recommendations?
The first on your list should be Westlicht, Westbahnstraße 40. Close by is United Camera (formerly Orator). You'll have to look up the address; I can't remember it offhand, but it's close by Westlicht. I'm still working with a Wista DX I bought at Westlicht almost 30 years ago. Westlicht is also the most prestigious photo gallery there.
There are several other traditional camera places around too that may have used lenses. A quick look at the Internet or the Vienna yellow pages will take you to them. I used to pass by many, but don't remember names and streets really. since I wasn't really in the market for anything. In all my 30 years living there, I only bought one camera and some processing chemicals, mostly from the "Digital Store" in the Siebensterngasse. They don't have much in the way of used lenses though.
You may be a bit disappointed with the selection available. Vienna, just like most other places, has only a few analog shops left.
If Rudeofus doesn't join in and give you a few more specific places to visit, you may want to PM him; he lives there.
Best,
Doremus
Screw the camera shops, head directly to Café Central at Herrengasse 14. You'll be happier by far.
Here is a link to WestLicht, Vienna.
https://www.tripadvisor.dk/Attractio...ht-Vienna.html
I only know them as a classic photographica auctioneer, now using the trademark “Leitz”. There is certainly an impressive museum there (see link photos) - but not so sure about a retail shop!
The site https://www.leicashop.com/vintage_en/ is the way to go. Westlicht is the auction house as far as I know, and there seems to be some sort of connection to the Leica inner circle, since they are able to plaster Leitz and Leica everywhere. Good selection of stuff, but I wouldn't expect much in the way of bargains (unless something happens to be mislabelled by accident).
"Be still and allow the mud to settle."
The WestLicht name has been retired (2018?).
Note that some of the (unfriendly) listed prices are further inflated by 20% VAT.
I found 3 shops around WestLicht selling large format gear.
Smallest of them is Camera 31 (https://www.camera31.com) having only few large format items including nice looking 8x10 Arca Swiss for ~1400.
Of course there is big Leica Shop store (http://www.leicashop.com). They had really a lot of large format lenses in addition to even more smaller lenses and cameras.
Something in between of these two is Jo Geier (https://www.jogeier.com/). I found a small 180 f/4.5 Xenar from there for 65 euro. They are also doing Wetzlar camera auctions (on 10th October) and they also do Vienna Camera Fair (on 10th May).
I also visited the WestLicht museum but I was not really impressed. There is much bigger and better one in Switzerland close to Lausanne.
Then I wanted to see Supersense (guys who came up with the One Instant film) in the other end of the town.
Just when I came out from the subway I encountered another camera shop, Foto Soyka (https://www.fotosoyka.at/). This place had also few large format items.
All these places have their listings online and it is worthwhile to check what they have and go there to check the appearance in person and perhaps negotiate a little.
Bookmarks