canadian travelling to france

hello apuggers,
i have been a silent member of this community for quite a while. i was even able to attend the very exciting first apug conference in toronto last may. i am particularly interested in medium format photography, rangefinder cameras, and alternative printing techniques.

i have small request of you all: i am going to be travelling to france for the month of january and am interested in meeting other photographers who are interested in medium format, large format, alt printing techniques in france. i would especially love to hear from photographers living in france. i'm interested in hearing about interesting places to photograph in the winter, any great used gear stores, favourite photography galleries.
any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

thanks in advance,
mandy from winnipeg canada

Sorry, can't help re' France as I'm on the wrong side of the Channel, but just wanted to say Hi...

Someone here must have the lowdown on French photo-ops etc. I could have sworn there was at least one guy around here with a reasonable grasp of English living in France these days ... Might be worth saying where in France you intend visiting (if you know yet).

Have fun, Bob.

I can't help either, but welcome aboard APUG and Merry Christmas from a wee bit past your western horizon

Murray

Bon Voyage Mandy!!

Appelle-moi au studio avant de partir.

mandym said:

hello apuggers,
i have been a silent member of this community for quite a while. i was even able to attend the very exciting first apug conference in toronto last may. i am particularly interested in medium format photography, rangefinder cameras, and alternative printing techniques.

i have small request of you all: i am going to be travelling to france for the month of january and am interested in meeting other photographers who are interested in medium format, large format, alt printing techniques in france. i would especially love to hear from photographers living in france. i'm interested in hearing about interesting places to photograph in the winter, any great used gear stores, favourite photography galleries.
any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

thanks in advance,
mandy from winnipeg canada

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Dear Mandy,

The Boulevard Beaumarchais in Paris has so many camera stores that it is known as the Boulevard de la Photographie.

Where are you going in France? I'm about 300 km south-west of Paris; take a look at www.rogerandfrances.com to see more -- also mctie.com (motorcycletouringineurope.com) which is due to be heavily updated in 2007.

Cheers,

R.

Hello Mandy,

mandym said:

hello apuggers,
i have small request of you all: i am going to be travelling to france for the month of january and am interested in meeting other photographers who are interested in medium format, large format, alt printing techniques in france. i would especially love to hear from photographers living in france. i'm interested in hearing about interesting places to photograph in the winter, any great used gear stores, favourite photography galleries.
any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Click to expand...

I know Brittany is a little outlying in regards of the most popular tourists spots (Paris, for example), but if your steps bring you to the Western France, and if you want to exchange with a photographer living in france (and french appuger), you can send me a private message, you are welcome, if not too late.

Same thing if you need any information or advice that can helps you.

In all case, I hope you will enjoy your trip

Best regards,

Raphael

Hi Mandy, although I live in the UK, my wife and I often stay in the Ardeche region of France (in the small village of Ruoms). Let me know if you're staying around this area - there are some fantastic photo opportunities within the region.

Cheers,
David.

Mandy -- I live in Paris, and Roger's right about Beaumarchais, but don't expect any bargains. Weaned as I am on US/North American camera prices, every time I go to the shops on Beaumarchais I wind up shaking my head in wonder at what they want for equipment. And I can't say that I'm knocked over by the friendliness of the staff, and I do speak fairly fluent French. So it's fun to look and see if you find something of interest, but I doubt you'll be taking out your wallet much. There's also Photo Muller over by the Champs de Mars, and another interesting but not affordable shop in the 8th -- the name escapes me at the moment. There is a little used-camera mag that's published every couple of months here in France, but it's almost impossible to find. Good luck with your visit!

Trask said:

Mandy -- I live in Paris, and Roger's right about Beaumarchais, but don't expect any bargains. Weaned as I am on US/North American camera prices, every time I go to the shops on Beaumarchais I wind up shaking my head in wonder at what they want for equipment. And I can't say that I'm knocked over by the friendliness of the staff, and I do speak fairly fluent French. So it's fun to look and see if you find something of interest, but I doubt you'll be taking out your wallet much.

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I have to be agree with Trask about it. Prices are somewhat much higher in theses Boulevard Beaumarchais ' shops than in some less visible photo stores, who have sometime nice gear in second-hand in the back shop. Much higher too, than at the different used camera trade fair, in several place in France, but you have to be at the right place at the right date. The "must" is of course the Bièvres (near Paris) camera trade fair, first week-end of June.

I am agree too about the "friendliness" (or the lack of) of certain staffs, but to be fair-play, it is not true for all the shops of Bvd Beaumarchais, thanksfully.
But I remember in particular a shop where the guy was very unpleasant, or this other, who tried (years ago), to sell me a broken Fuji STX2 SLR for parts, for the equivalent of 40.00 Euros today...

I am a French native, but I am always staggered by these people (not only in France), who run a business in a very narrow and/or fragile market sector, and who paid themself the luxury to be arrogant, unpleasant and unfair with customers !

Trask said:

There's also Photo Muller over by the Champs de Mars, and another interesting but not affordable shop in the 8th -- the name escapes me at the moment. There is a little used-camera mag that's published every couple of months here in France, but it's almost impossible to find. Good luck with your visit!

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A contrario, I found Mr Muller very kind and helpful, Photo Muller is a good address to go, for whose who search some oddities (russian and east-german old cameras, all sort of stepping ring, filter, etc...). And a almost complete collection of Praktica camera to see. A more precise address : Photo Muller, 17 rue des Plantes, 14th arrondissement

The shop in the 8th is IMHO "Photo Mac Mahon", not far from Place de l'Etoile.

For a extensive listing of place for used camera in Paris, see (in French, sorry) : Dead Link Removed

Happy shooting,

Raphael

I just found out that the PhotoAntica camera show is taking place here in Paris on January 38, so if you're in town then, you could attend. I was out walking yesterday on Rue LeCourbe in the 15th and ran across "Magic Photo", with lenses on display (I'd managed to show up during the owner's two-hour lunch break!). But again, silly prices: 50mm Nikkors for Euro 160, Minolta XD-11 body for nearly Euro 180, etc. I can't imagine that this fellow or his compatriots move much product.
As for service in France, it's hit and miss. I was out shopping for new stereo speakers, and in two shops I was greeted nicely and given some time, while in another the salesman just continued to blab about non-hifi stuff with his "mec" and let me and my money cool our heels and eventually we both left. Hit and miss, really. Here's a tip: any time you enter a shop in France, say "Bonjour, Monsieur" or "Bonjour, Madame". If you jump right into business as you might in the U.S., they'll be put off that you didn't deal with them on a personal level before moving to business.

Hi Mandy and welcome to apug.
The only advice I can give regarding France is if you are in Paris plan on shooting early in the morning. When the sun is rising or just risen and the merchants are setting up or having a coffee prior to the onslaught is a recommended way to view the city -- something I didn't learn until too late.

Mandy,

Can't help you with France but welcome to APUG, I was at the conference too.

Bill

hi mandy

i came back from the eastern part of france near the swiss border just a few weeks ago. if you are headed that way, i can't recommend any camera shops, that region is near alsace, and just about everywhere you look is stunningly beautiful. there are several fortified cities that are about an hour apart you might want to check out ..
belfort (http://www.france-pub.com/french_city.php?city=81 ) and besancon
( http://www.interfrance.com/en/fc/do_besancon.html ) . there are castles and hillsides between the 2 cities too ... the one in clerval was closed when we went, so it might be closed for the entire winter season ...

have fun!
john

jnanian said:

hi mandy

i came back from the eastern part of france near the swiss border just a few weeks ago. if you are headed that way, i can't recommend any camera shops, that region is near alsace, and just about everywhere you look is stunningly beautiful. there are several fortified cities that are about an hour apart you might want to check out ..
belfort (http://www.france-pub.com/french_city.php?city=81 ) and besancon
( http://www.interfrance.com/en/fc/do_besancon.html ) . there are castles and hillsides between the 2 cities too ... the one in clerval was closed when we went, so it might be closed for the entire winter season ...

have fun!
john

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Mandy is currently in France and -- alas! -- the dear girl's Hasselblad is misbehaving. Not much use in further advice until she gets back, as she told me she's not checking the forum. Well, would you? (She has another camera, fortunately).

Cheers,

R