Zeff Photo

[bdial]

Just got an email from them, stating that they are closing.
Apparently they are now in the process of selling off the remaining inventory.

 

[BrianShaw]

Just got an email from them, stating that they are closing.
Apparently they are now in the process of selling off the remaining inventory.

Ya, me too. Sad isn't it.

 

[removed account4]

 

[SuzanneR]

I was bummed to get that e-mail today, though I have to say, they became so digitally focused that they weren't able to meet my particular needs for the past few years with regard to film and chemistry, so I hadn't spent any money there in a while. That said, between the economy, and the seismic shifts in the field of photography, seems the retailers, little and medium sized box stores are the ones closing. People must be buying cameras at Best Buy, and not going to specialized retailers like Zeff, or (like me) ordering an awful lot of stuff from the big online retailers, B&H, etc.

Wonder if EP Levine is next?

 

[removed account4]

i dont' know about ep suzanne. maybe newtonville ( same owner/s )
it seems that ep has carved out its niche over the years from a hardcore
pro store, to a rental space ( rental camera source ) educational stop &C.

just the same, maybe you are right ...

 

[brucemuir]

Is/was Zeff a boston based brick & mortar.
I've bought nik naks off eBay from them but cant remember exact location?

 

[SuzanneR]

Is/was Zeff a boston based brick & mortar.
I've bought nik naks off eBay from them but cant remember exact location?

Yup, Zeff is located in Belmont just outside Boston. And john... I think you might be right about EP Levine, hopefully they'll stick around. I've been researching color printing, and have learned that you can rent time on some fancy scanner there to make you own scans, and of course, the studio and classes. Maybe moving beyond the retail is the way to go, though Zeff had it's share of classes, too. They just both feel like similar business models to me, but maybe there's really only enough need for one such place???

 

[Whiteymorange]

Zeff is about a half mile from my school, and I used to give them all the business I could. They had been a downtown shop long before I got here in '78 and had moved out to the 'burbs for a better building, I think. With the management change a few years ago the store became less attractive to me. I haven't been in in awhile, but it does seem a shame to see another place go down the tubes.

EP Levine had a great presence at the PHSNE show this weekend, with lots of consignment gear as well as their usual sell offs. They stayed both days, something they have not done for the past two or three shows. I think they have a strong rental and studio market as one of the "last men standing," so I hope they can stay afloat. Nice guys.

 

[winger]

As I used to live in Waltham, I always went to Newtonville and never made it to Zeff. What I liked at Newtonville was that the people working there still used film and the darkroom. I bought some Ilford selenium toner there within the last 4 years and the clerk said to let them know how it was - she hadn't tried it, yet, but was looking forward to it. They helped me build my first darkroom and I supplied myself from there when I lived in MA. Down here, there's no one like them. I hope they stay around in case I get to move back up there.

 

[BrianShaw]

As I used to live in Waltham, ...

Ha... me too, for several generations.

 

[LizzBartlett]

I, too, used to do a fair bit of business with Zeff. The last time I was in there (now about 2 years ago) they didn't have a memory card for my digital, a UV filter for my lens after which their sales guy asked "How else may we disappoint you today?" That kind of clinched it for me.

 

[JMcLaug351]

Such bad news. Can it be true that there is now only 2 pro photogrpahy/camera stores in the Boston area? I'm thinking Hunt's in Melrose and Calumet in Cambridge. I'm getting old. I remember Hunt's Photo when it was the right half a drug store in Malden Sq. Long time ago.
JOHN

 

[winger]

If Newton is close enough to Boston and Newtonville Camera still has what they used to, then I'd at least say there could be 3 good photo stores left. I always went to Newtonville as I lived in Waltham.

 

[removed account4]

Such bad news. Can it be true that there is now only 2 pro photogrpahy/camera stores in the Boston area? I'm thinking Hunt's in Melrose and Calumet in Cambridge. I'm getting old. I remember Hunt's Photo when it was the right half a drug store in Malden Sq. Long time ago.
JOHN

hi john

im in ri, and there is 1 photo store left, and it's hunts ( used to be sbi ) and they have moved 3 times since they arrived
first to basset street, then to point street now to university heights ..

its funny what you said about hunts, i still find myself calling it "hunt drug" ...
i think they kept the drug store as long as they could, so they could stay open on sundays
being massachusetts and the blue laws and all that stuff.

john

 

[epp]

Such bad news. Can it be true that there is now only 2 pro photogrpahy/camera stores in the Boston area? I'm thinking Hunt's in Melrose and Calumet in Cambridge. I'm getting old. I remember Hunt's Photo when it was the right half a drug store in Malden Sq. Long time ago.
JOHN

Re Hunt's, I posted to (there was a url link here which no longer exists) today.

 

[Moopheus]

There's still a tiny Hunt's in Harvard Square, but the Calumet has more stock and better prices. In fact, the Calumet is planning to move to a larger space. Never went to zeff, but as a kid I bought all my supplies at Newtonville Camera.

 

[LizzBartlett]

E P Levine in Waltham also has a lot of film gear. I walked past a whole row of enlargers and large format gear yesterday. I didn't check the film inventory, though.