Secondhand Camera Shops - London

LonerMatt

LonerMatt

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Hey guys,

As a recent immigrant to England I'm heading into London this week and hoping to have a look at some stores that have a selection of second hand film cameras (135 or 120!).

I've had a poke around the internet, and there are some shops near the British Museum - but if you've got a recommendation let me know, I'd like to see a few and maybe pick up something a bit different and fun.

Thanks!

Matt
 
If it's Nikon the Grays of Westminster is alleged to be an Alladin's Cave :)
 
Not a lot of them left compare to years ago,as you say some round the British Museum,i:e Aperture is always worth a look,and their LCE on the Strand :)
 
Not London but if you ever get to Manchester The Real Camera Shop (I think it's called) is fantastic for old stuff, including cine.
10 minutes walk from Piccadilly station.

Try York Cameras, in Bloomsbury at 18-20 Bury Place, London.
 
As above really, Gray's is indeed an Aladdin's cave and although it's pricey the gear is top notch.
LCE are worth checking out as are Camera World, 14 Wells Street London W1T 3PB,
also depending on what sort of thing you're looking for it's worth checking out the guys on the Film's Not Dead stall in Brick Lane Market, The Backyard Market, 91 Brick Lane, London, E1 6QL

And if you're going to be in Bloomsbury, go and have a coffee and a mooch round Aperture UK's shop and cafe at 44 Museum St, London WC1A 1LY
 
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Cameraworld usualy have a stock of film cameras, check their webby. Aperture UK is good, if a littly pricey but theyre both off oxford street if i recall
 
AshleyC said:
Cameraworld usualy have a stock of film cameras, check their webby. Aperture UK is good, if a littly pricey but theyre both off oxford street if i recall
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Aperture UK have two shops, one off Oxford St in Rathbone Place and the other one new New Oxford St in Museum St.
 
if your a bit on the minted side then there is always Red Dot cameras. A shop the size of a broom cupboard near the Barbican, but every inch is stuffed with Leica gear.
 
Robclarke said:
The one near the British museum is now called camera cafe. It has a good selection of Hasselblad stuff.
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Thanks for the update Rob, do you know if it's still owned by the same people?
 
RaglanSurf said:
Thanks for the update Rob, do you know if it's still owned by the same people?
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Yes aperture and camera cafe are under the same ownership I believe. Camera cafe (near british museum) now just sells hasselblad stuff aperture (off Oxford St) sells everything else and does repairs.
 
There are a couple of guys operating out of Portobella Road, never dealt with them but I overheard one of them dealing with a customer and he seemed pretty honest. It can get busy.
 
Mr Cad is around a 10 minute walk south from Victoria Station. They have a web site but my experience is that the stock levels are not accurate so if anything on it takes your fancy it would be best to call to check they have it before visiting. The shop looked a right Aladdin's cave when I paid it a visit in June.
 
kenm said:
There are a couple of guys operating out of Portobella Road, never dealt with them but I overheard one of them dealing with a customer and he seemed pretty honest. It can get busy.
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I've driven past a stall a few years ago and he had a selection of cameras......but in that location the prices might be high as plenty of tourist visit there.
 
Mr. Cad's is excellent.

Excellent selection, great staff, generous trade-in pricing.

Traded in an OM-2SP with lens for an XA11 with flash (pus a few pounds), was looking to downsize and this just worked for me.

Really recommend popping in!
 
LonerMatt said:
Mr. Cad's is excellent.

Excellent selection, great staff, generous trade-in pricing.

Traded in an OM-2SP with lens for an XA11 with flash (pus a few pounds), was looking to downsize and this just worked for me.

Really recommend popping in!
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Just to clarify - did you trade in an OM-2SP, with a 50mm f/1.8 (I'm assuming), and have to add money on top to get an Olympus XA2 and A11 flash?
 
Yup - sure did. The OM-2 as banged around a bit, so the shutter dial wasn't easy to turn (and has been getting harder), and the lens had some dents along the rim too (making attaching filters a bit tricky at times).

I didn't have to add much money and was very happy with the trade :)
 
LonerMatt said:
Yup - sure did. The OM-2 as banged around a bit, so the shutter dial wasn't easy to turn (and has been getting harder), and the lens had some dents along the rim too (making attaching filters a bit tricky at times).

I didn't have to add much money and was very happy with the trade :)
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Fair enough, with that description (and the fact it's an XA) make it sound like a fair deal all round. The XA is a fantastic nifty little camera - you may need to brighten up the rangefinder patch with the well documented mod, but apart from that, the lens is excellent.
 
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