can anybody tell me how good this show is. it is a long way to travel to get there. I live in Monmouth county and was hoping for something closer by.
wouldn't mind checking it out eventually
thanks
I go pretty often and I usually have a good time. With patience I've found some pretty good deals there.
I would be hesitant to call it a "camera show" per se. It's more or less a small camera flea market. There are fewer than a dozen regular vendors and most of them are old-timers (some of them are REALLY old-timers!). Many are vendors who used to own stores in the long-gone NYC photo district. Most of the prices are very cheap. Most of the gear is 35mm, but you'll find occasional MF gear. Quite a lot of the gear needs a CLA, but it's usually priced to reflect that. In my experience, most of the vendors are honest and pretty nice guys but you're still buying used, old, unrestored gear so it's very much a buyer-beware kind of situation.
If you want a chance to see a lot of vintage models up close and chat with a lot of very knowledgeable folks and, maybe, buy a fixer-upper at a good price this is a good place to do it. Well worth the $8 door fee.
If you're looking for a pristine Rolleiflex for $200 you won't find it here. There are plenty of cameras that are ready to shoot, but they'll be priced more at the going rate. Sometimes the working stuff is still priced pretty well.
The lighting is poor so bring a flashlight and a magnifier to check lenses before you buy. Be prepared to haggle. Smile and say 'Hi' to vendors first - you're likely to get a better price!
The atmosphere is very relaxed and, as I started off, I usually have a good time. For what it's worth, I come in from Brooklyn. I don't know of anything closer to Monmouth County, personally.
