Best Places for Second Hand Mamiya

DavidClapp · Apr 29, 2015

I recently bought a Mamiya 645 1000s and a Mamiya C3. I have instantly fallen in love with the two cameras, both very different beasts.

Although Many people are going to say 'Ebay' I have had nothing but bad experiences of late. Other than trawling the internet can anyone recommend a retailer with an online shop (other than Ffordes) who specialises in film cameras / lenses / accessories?

Many thanks

David

paul_c5x4 · Apr 29, 2015

A name that isn't mentioned very often is London Camera Exchange - As a whole, I can't give an honest opinion of the chain, but the two shops I've dealt with have been reasonable. Purchased a set of Bronica bellows a while back and the shop was quite willing to haggle over the price, but I suspect it depends on who answers the phone.

There is also a small shop locally to me that specialises in film equipment, but he does not have an online presence - Stock is constantly changing, and prices are often well below ebay.

bdial · Apr 29, 2015

KEH is the usual prime suspect on this side of the pond. My understanding is that their shipping for overseas buyers can be a bit dear, but they are generally reliable, and have a good reputation and a liberal return policy. By far they have the widest selection, at least over here, but there are many good shops with an on-line presence.

DavidClapp · Apr 29, 2015

paul_c5x4 said:
There is also a small shop locally to me that specialises in film equipment, but he does not have an online presence - Stock is constantly changing, and prices are often well below ebay.

Thank you Paul... There's a great shop in Bristol called Bernard Hunters, similar to what you describe, that I remember from my pre-digital days - I loved going in there, but I had no idea what half the stuff was at the time!

DavidClapp · Apr 29, 2015

bdial said:
KEH is the usual prime suspect on this side of the pond.

Yes thats similar to Ffordes here in the UK. I wish there was more places like this. I am not too far away from Mifsuds, another good shop for medium format, but all these places are no longer interested in refreshing their stock a lot of the time (and you can't blame them)

I was doing talks for Canon UK last week at the Camera Centre Cardiff - they have a large stock of MF and much more, even though they don't advertise it on their website. Worth checking this out with a phone call.

Ricardo Miranda · Apr 29, 2015

David

Not really know for MF stock, but they might have something: Aperture, West End Cameras, Camera World or City Cameras.

Xmas · Apr 29, 2015

HiRicardo

Yes they each do sub min to medium format and aperture does large to ULF format as well.
Gem's Real Camera Manchester everything, it is safer to leave your plastic on sidewalk outside shop.
Films is not dead has 4x5 and TLR on ocassion they price to sell quick, email them for options.

Noel

Ricardo Miranda · Apr 29, 2015

Hi Noel

Yes, of course, I was forgetting FilmsNotDead!
Here: http://www.filmsnotdead.com/
They are great!

Ricardo

DavidClapp · Apr 29, 2015

Many thanks for the information Ricardo

AgX · Apr 29, 2015

bdial said:
KEH is the usual prime suspect on this side of the pond. My understanding is that their shipping for overseas buyers can be a bit dear, but they are generally reliable, and have a good reputation and a liberal return policy.

Always their liberal return policy is hinted at, but reading their general business terms will tell you different.

DavidClapp · Apr 29, 2015

Yes thats always the way isn't it. I ask a lot of questions. I remember buying a brand new Canon 1Ds3 and being told - 'if you open the box and it doesn't work, send it to Canon...' - I wont get myself started again on this subject...!

ruby.monkey · Apr 29, 2015

For Mamiya, try IanB Foto. He also has an eBay store, but he'll give you a small discount if you shop direct and pay via bank transfer or cash in hand (to reflect the avoidance of paypal fees).

benjiboy · Apr 29, 2015

Ricardo Miranda said:
Hi Noel

Yes, of course, I was forgetting FilmsNotDead!
Here: http://www.filmsnotdead.com/
They are great!

Ricardo

If they are so "great" why do they have no prices on the equipment on their website that I can see, are they giving it away for free to promote film use ?

Sirius Glass · Apr 29, 2015

bdial said:
KEH is the usual prime suspect on this side of the pond. My understanding is that their shipping for overseas buyers can be a bit dear, but they are generally reliable, and have a good reputation and a liberal return policy. By far they have the widest selection, at least over here, but there are many good shops with an on-line presence.

+1

macfred · Apr 29, 2015

Worth a look : IanB. - Photo Ltd. (located in the UK close to the M25 / J17 in Rickmansworth) http://ianbfoto.com/home.php
Ian has a lot of used Mamiya and Bronica stuff - I can recommend.

edit : ruby.monkey was quicker than me …

paul_c5x4 · Apr 29, 2015

DavidClapp said:
I remember buying a brand new Canon 1Ds3 and being told - 'if you open the box and it doesn't work, send it to Canon...' - I wont get myself started again on this subject...!

Sale of Goods Act 1979 - The retailer is responsible for all faults, and if they had tried that line with me, I'd have taken my money elsewhere.

benjiboy · Apr 29, 2015

paul_c5x4 said:
Sale of Goods Act 1979 - The retailer is responsible for all faults, and if they had tried that line with me, I'd have taken my money elsewhere.

That's correct Paul according to the Sale of Goods Act the customers contract in law is with the company who sold him or her the goods not the manufacturer according to the law if the goods are not "of merchantable quality" and "fit for the purpose for which they are intended" the customers claim is with the retailer and he is entitled by law to a replacement or a refund.

Sirius Glass · Apr 29, 2015

benjiboy said:
That's correct Paul according to the Sale of Goods Act the customers contract in law is with the company who sold him or her the goods not the manufacturer according to the law if the goods are not "of merchantable quality" and "fit for the purpose for which they are intended" the customers claim is with the retailer and he is entitled by law to a replacement or a refund.

Making a merchant responsible for the products that it sells is a great idea. If the product does not work as advertized then repair it, replace it or return the money.

philipus · Apr 29, 2015

I've bought several times from Leicashop in Vienna and they also sell Mamiya.

http://www.leicashop.com/vintage_de/mamiya.html

There's a shop here in NL that usually has interesting things. I have not tried them - yet - myself but I've heard good things about them.

http://www.fotohandeldelfshaven.nl

Peter Loy in London also sells several brands, though mostly Leica, and sometimes he has interesting items in stock in other brands.

http://www.peterloy.com/stock-list.php

Br
Philip

EdColorado · Apr 29, 2015

AgX said:
Always their liberal return policy is hinted at, but reading their general business terms will tell you different.

Really? 14 days to decide you just don't want it and a full refund? I don't see much wrong with that.

Ive done it too. Purchased an item and just decided I didn't want it after all. Nothing wrong with it, I just didn't want it. They happily refunded my money. In that case, as would be correct, I paid shipping.

Another time an item just wasn't as clean as I thought it should be. I ordered an Excellent grade and it wasn't quite up to their usual excellent grade standard. It wasn't nasty or anything and worked fine, just a bit more worn than I wanted. They happily took it back, refunded all my money, plus they pre paid my return shipping costs.

I don't know how many thousands of dollars I've handed them over the years but its a few and I've never been left unhappy for any reason. However, if I lived over on the other side of the water, I doubt I'd want to pay shipping costs to get things to my door. Hopefully there is a KEH quality supplier out your way.

Xmas · Apr 29, 2015

benjiboy said:
If they are so "great" why do they have no prices on the equipment on their website that I can see, are they giving it away for free to promote film use ?

Their website is indeed dysfunctional, I said email them for that reason, there is an email button on web site.
Normally my phone brouser crashes.
Their prices are pretty good, and you can buy over the counter, if you want.
I've bought stuff from them, no problems, apart from my phone being unhappy.

Xmas · Apr 29, 2015

macfred said:
Worth a look : IanB. - Photo Ltd. (located in the UK close to the M25 / J17 in Rickmansworth) http://ianbfoto.com/home.php
Ian has a lot of used Mamiya and Bronica stuff - I can recommend.

edit : ruby.monkey was quicker than me

That is bad the bus to ricky stops outside my front door

MattKing · Apr 29, 2015

EdColorado said:
Really? 14 days to decide you just don't want it and a full refund? I don't see much wrong with that.

Ive done it too. Purchased an item and just decided I didn't want it after all. Nothing wrong with it, I just didn't want it. They happily refunded my money. In that case, as would be correct, I paid shipping.

Another time an item just wasn't as clean as I thought it should be. I ordered an Excellent grade and it wasn't quite up to their usual excellent grade standard. It wasn't nasty or anything and worked fine, just a bit more worn than I wanted. They happily took it back, refunded all my money, plus they pre paid my return shipping costs.

I don't know how many thousands of dollars I've handed them over the years but its a few and I've never been left unhappy for any reason. However, if I lived over on the other side of the water, I doubt I'd want to pay shipping costs to get things to my door. Hopefully there is a KEH quality supplier out your way.

KEH's return policy is a lot better for those who are in the USA than anyone outside the country, because the shipping costs and delays seriously impact a customer's ability to benefit from that policy.

I'm able to buy and have stuff shipped to a USA address, so I like dealing with them, but if I didn't enjoy that advantage ...

macfred · Apr 29, 2015

Xmas said:
That is bad the bus to ricky stops outside my front door

Come on, shake a leg and go for a Mamiya 7

Xmas · Apr 29, 2015

macfred said:
Come on, shake a leg and go for a Mamiya 7

Maybe a macro lens for the RB67...

Best Places for Second Hand Mamiya

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