SECOND SUNDAY CAMERA SHOW: 12 JAN 2020

Hilton Hotel at 650 Terrace Avenue, Hasbrouck Heights. NJ 07604.

Transit:
From Newark: Penn Station Bus Lanes: number 76 bus. (About 45 minutes ride.) Get off at Pasadena Ave and Terrace Ave (several blocks past Williams Ave). Hotel can be seen close by.

From New York: Port Authority Bus Terminal: number 163 or 164 bus to Boulevard and Pasadena Avenue. (About half an hour ride.) Then you walk along Pasadena Avenue a few blocks to Terrace Avenue. Hotel can be seen close by.

Though I’m a million miles away n SOUTH jersey, been temped to come. Can you give an overview what to expect?

Ray Morgenweck said:

Though I’m a million miles away n SOUTH jersey, been temped to come. Can you give an overview what to expect?

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I can: usually about 10 vendors (this month it was exactly 10), each occupying between 1-4 folding tables. Most of the vendors are older guys. Most of the wares are 35mm SLRs and lenses from the 60s-80s. You’ll also find a fair amount of older, 1950s and 60s rangefinders - Retinas, Anscos and the like. Often you’ll see a small amount of Contax or Leica M stuff.

For medium format you’ll usually see a lot of TLRs and some folders. There are usually far fewer modern MF cameras but there are some.

Some vendors only bring stuff for parts or repairs. Some bring big tubs of nick-nacks for a couple of bucks or $1. If you’re looking for a weird part, an odd-sized filter or lens hood or an obscure accessory this is a place you’re likely to find it.

Werner Leudeke, a semi-retired repairman of note almost always has a table of 50s-era German cameras he’s restored. I’ve also brought repair work for him from time to time. His prices are very good for his sale items and his repairs.

Sometimes you’ll see enlarging lenses but you’ll only seldom see any other darkroom items. It’s also pretty seldom you’ll see any large format gear.

To call it a ‘camera show’ is, perhaps a bit optimistic. It’s a camera flea market and a pretty good one at that. Prices tend to be pretty reasonable, the vendors (in my experience) are pretty honest and it’s almost always a pleasant hang. The crowd is almost always small so I wonder how much longer it will be around but the clientele seems to be getting younger and that’s always a good sign.

I’m not always able but I try to go every month and I always end up buying things. Much to my wife’s chagrin....

I went this month. Mostly to see if it is worth vending there. It is a smallish show but I had fun..bought a long cable release for $3!

Peter Schrager said:

I went this month. Mostly to see if it is worth vending there.

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And.... what did you decide?

Pentode said:

And.... what did you decide?

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Well I would specialize in some older large format materials...cameras and lenses. If word got it could be worth it. Sometimes people just want to handle items for themselves

Peter Schrager said:

Well I would specialize in some older large format materials...cameras and lenses. If word got it could be worth it. Sometimes people just want to handle items for themselves

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I have seen some guys looking at (and buying) LF lenses there so I know there are a few folks there in search of that stuff, but I don’t know how many.

I do not attend the show. I merely help to advertise it. Please note that the proprietor recently died and his wife is now running it. Also, note that there are two shows every year in Bensalem, at the Best Western Plus on Street Road, (just north of Philadelphia) run by photorama.com. The next is in early March. This show is, apparently, a bit larger. - David Lyga