My first U.S. camera show in 15 years -- bummer

Trask · Mar 1, 2011

I've been living outside the U.S. since 1995 until I moved back last summer; this past weekend, I went to the camera show in Tysons Corner, VA -- my first U.S. show since '95.

What a change! Whereas you could formerly count on several hundred attendees, with perhaps 60 sellers, this show had maybe 10 sellers and only perhaps 30 attendees during the hours I was there. Not much of significant interest at the show; even the sellers were telling each other that there was little to see.

I asked the guy selling tickets if this was the way things are now, and he said yes, that eB*y had created such a popular online sales forum that bricks-and-mortar shows were dying.

Is this the way it is elsewhere around the U.S., in your experience? I'd hate to think that it's true.

arpinum · Mar 1, 2011

I live a mile from Tysons and didn't hear about the show. Maybe advertising could have been better. I'm desperate for a replacement for my Nikkormat, and would have gladly gone had I known.

brucemuir · Mar 1, 2011

I'm closeby also but I think I only remember getting notified via KEH mailing list.

From what I hear this is def the trend.

Kevin Caulfield · Mar 1, 2011

Here in Melbourne, Australia, there is a big camera show twice a year and you can hardly move through the crowds and have to fight your way into many of the stands. I don't know what it was like years ago, as my first show was only about 2 years ago, but if the recent shows are any indication, the film world is alive and well here.

Barry S · Mar 1, 2011

I went to the Tysons show and while it compares to the couple I've been to in the last few years, it was the smallest one yet. If it gets any smaller, it'll just disappear, and that'll be a shame. I enjoy looking through piles of odd stuff, talking to people, and bargaining a bit. Hopefully, the next show in the spring/summer will be a little bigger.

J Rollinger · Mar 1, 2011

I went to my first camera show here in Illinois and was very disappointed I was so excited to with my analog friends but it was a waste of my $6 admission fee. There were less than 20 sellers with a bunch of tripods and very few cameras.

willrea · Mar 1, 2011

There is a yearly one near here in Puyallup and now that I look at the fairgrounds website it looks like it is gone this year. Since I move up here two years ago I've went and it was bigger than the one I went to in Hayward, CA. It had at least what seemed like a few hundred visitors and 40 or so vendors.

MattKing · Mar 1, 2011

There are two different shows each year in the Vancouver area. They get a pretty good turnout of customers, and some interesting vendors (and some that I wonder at).

What I've liked most about them recently is that I've seen a real upsurge in younger people attending, and a lot of them seem to buy stuff.

They are mostly film based, although I'm sure some are buying lenses to put on digital bodies.

wotalegend · Mar 1, 2011

Kevin Caulfield said:
Here in Melbourne, Australia, there is a big camera show twice a year and you can hardly move through the crowds and have to fight your way into many of the stands. I don't know what it was like years ago, as my first show was only about 2 years ago, but if the recent shows are any indication, the film world is alive and well here.

You surprise me, Kevin. I have lived in Melbourne most of my life and I don't know of any big camera show twice a year.

Edit (one hour later): Ah, I now realise that you are talking about those swapfest type events that they hold at Box Hill Town Hall at sparrow-f**t on Sunday mornings. My mindset on reading the initial post was trade-type shows. Sorry, I am not qualified to comment because I have never been to one, mostly for aforementioned reason - guess I'm not sufficiently motivated. Prior to my membership of APUG I didn't even know that such events existed.

Galah · Mar 1, 2011

Kevin Caulfield said:
Here in Melbourne, Australia, there is a big camera show twice a year and you can hardly move through the crowds and have to fight your way into many of the stands. ..

In Adelaide, South Oz, there is only one show a year, but the same applies as in Melbourne.

BTW, the next Adelaide show is due in May, whooppie!

Kevin Caulfield · Mar 2, 2011

wotalegend said:
You surprise me, Kevin. I have lived in Melbourne most of my life and I don't know of any big camera show twice a year.

Edit (one hour later): Ah, I now realise that you are talking about those swapfest type events that they hold at Box Hill Town Hall at sparrow-f**t on Sunday mornings. My mindset on reading the initial post was trade-type shows. Sorry, I am not qualified to comment because I have never been to one, mostly for aforementioned reason - guess I'm not sufficiently motivated. Prior to my membership of APUG I didn't even know that such events existed.

I too didn't know about it until relatively recently. They used to be held in Camberwell.

wotalegend · Mar 2, 2011

Kevin Caulfield said:
I too didn't know about it until relatively recently. They used to be held in Camberwell.

Ah yes, they did used to be held in Camberwell, an even worse location (for me) and still way too early on a Sunday morning. I guess that not going to them has helped my financial situation, in a back-handed sort of way.

Brian Legge · Mar 2, 2011

willrea said:
There is a yearly one near here in Puyallup and now that I look at the fairgrounds website it looks like it is gone this year. Since I move up here two years ago I've went and it was bigger than the one I went to in Hayward, CA. It had at least what seemed like a few hundred visitors and 40 or so vendors.

Ha! I haven't made it to the Puyallup one... and despite growing up in Castro Valley, I didn't know about the Hayward one at all.

I plan on going out to Puyallup this year. Any idea if the early admission is worth while? I'm guessing most of the vendors are selling over ebay prices anyway, etc but I'm still tempted to go early.

TheFlyingCamera · Mar 2, 2011

I also went to the Tyson's show this past weekend. While it was mostly junk, and pretty thin on the ground at that, there were bargains to be had if you were looking for what they were selling. There was an (older) 16x20 dry mount press in good condition for $75, and a big Majestic tripod and head for $50.

David Brown · Mar 2, 2011

Trask said:
Is this the way it is elsewhere around the U.S., in your experience?

When I moved to Dallas in 1989, the Dallas/Ft. Worth area had six (count'em 6) shows a year - every two months. They were huge and hundreds of people attended. I've bought a little of everything over the years.

However, in the last several years, a big decline. We're down to two shows a year and the last one (In January) was just pitiful. Each time I go to one, I say it's going to be the last, but this time I think I meant it.

domaz · Mar 2, 2011

Brian Legge said:
Ha! I haven't made it to the Puyallup one... and despite growing up in Castro Valley, I didn't know about the Hayward one at all.

I plan on going out to Puyallup this year. Any idea if the early admission is worth while? I'm guessing most of the vendors are selling over ebay prices anyway, etc but I'm still tempted to go early.

The Puyallup camera show is going to be in Renton this year- a change of venue because the fairgrounds are too big for them anymore.

CGW · Mar 2, 2011

There's no denying that online auction and local listing sites have thinned old school photo swap meets. Here in Toronto, there are still big spring/fall shows with 2 smaller meets annually. Attendance has gradually declined but they're still worth doing for short-dated film and odds-n-ends. It's also cheap entertainment. Still, I find quality and price on gear to be askew at most tables, though I usually visit known sellers first, scan the rest, and reserve the remaining time looking for offbeat stuff like old mugshots or books. Overall, the institution seems healthier here, thanks to a large, active photo community in and around Toronto.

bsdunek · Mar 2, 2011

Our local guy, Sam Vinegar, puts on ten shows this year. You can see the schedule at http://www.photorama.com/
I agree the shows are nothing like they were in the 80's and 90's, but there are still bargains to be had. Also they used to be two day and are now one day. Unlike eBay and other auction sites, you can see and touch what you're considering buying. I would, though, like to see shows like the 'old' days, but I guess the interest just isn't there.

willrea · Mar 2, 2011

domaz said:
The Puyallup camera show is going to be in Renton this year- a change of venue because the fairgrounds are too big for them anymore.

Thanks for letting us know! I was worried is was gone. Last year it still took up most of the room, although last year was a decline from the year before.

willrea · Mar 2, 2011

Brian Legge said:
Ha! I haven't made it to the Puyallup one... and despite growing up in Castro Valley, I didn't know about the Hayward one at all.

I plan on going out to Puyallup this year. Any idea if the early admission is worth while? I'm guessing most of the vendors are selling over ebay prices anyway, etc but I'm still tempted to go early.

I've never done the early admission. I've only bought a few things from when I go. I usually get some good stuff from the pile of free stuff though

My first U.S. camera show in 15 years -- bummer

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