Camera Shops in Birmingham
Discussion
Had a bit of time to kill today in Birmingham so did a tour of Camera shops
Calumet - very untidy and didn't have the lens I wanted (£1500's worth of Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 at a Nikon 'Professional Dealer') to look at and not a patch on Manchester or Liverpool. The studio infinity backdrop could do with a coat of paint - very grubby and looked unloved! Bit like the shop really - a bit untidy.
The Flash Centre - closed?! On a Saturday? That's binned the idea of ever buying from them - I work weekdays and would need backup on weekends!
Jessops - actually had the Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 in stock so had a play but not the Sigma equivalent so couldn't decide whether the Nikon was worth twice the price. Wandered round the store for a think and walked back past the assistants and overheard them talking about customers :-( Unprofessional so I walked out.
Jacobs - Not much in there at all :-( what else can I say
And that's it in Britain's second city! Oh, well I've saved some money today. Duffers!
Calumet - very untidy and didn't have the lens I wanted (£1500's worth of Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 at a Nikon 'Professional Dealer') to look at and not a patch on Manchester or Liverpool. The studio infinity backdrop could do with a coat of paint - very grubby and looked unloved! Bit like the shop really - a bit untidy.
The Flash Centre - closed?! On a Saturday? That's binned the idea of ever buying from them - I work weekdays and would need backup on weekends!
Jessops - actually had the Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 in stock so had a play but not the Sigma equivalent so couldn't decide whether the Nikon was worth twice the price. Wandered round the store for a think and walked back past the assistants and overheard them talking about customers :-( Unprofessional so I walked out.
Jacobs - Not much in there at all :-( what else can I say
And that's it in Britain's second city! Oh, well I've saved some money today. Duffers!
ian in lancs said:
Had a bit of time to kill today in Birmingham so did a tour of Camera shops
Calumet - very untidy and didn't have the lens I wanted (£1500's worth of Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 at a Nikon 'Professional Dealer') to look at and not a patch on Manchester or Liverpool. The studio infinity backdrop could do with a coat of paint - very grubby and looked unloved! Bit like the shop really - a bit untidy.
The Flash Centre - closed?! On a Saturday? That's binned the idea of ever buying from them - I work weekdays and would need backup on weekends!
Jessops - actually had the Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 in stock so had a play but not the Sigma equivalent so couldn't decide whether the Nikon was worth twice the price. Wandered round the store for a think and walked back past the assistants and overheard them talking about customers :-( Unprofessional so I walked out.
Jacobs - Not much in there at all :-( what else can I say
And that's it in Britain's second city! Oh, well I've saved some money today. Duffers!
Saved today, yes, but only if you didn't really need the lens and will now not be buying it.Calumet - very untidy and didn't have the lens I wanted (£1500's worth of Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 at a Nikon 'Professional Dealer') to look at and not a patch on Manchester or Liverpool. The studio infinity backdrop could do with a coat of paint - very grubby and looked unloved! Bit like the shop really - a bit untidy.
The Flash Centre - closed?! On a Saturday? That's binned the idea of ever buying from them - I work weekdays and would need backup on weekends!
Jessops - actually had the Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 in stock so had a play but not the Sigma equivalent so couldn't decide whether the Nikon was worth twice the price. Wandered round the store for a think and walked back past the assistants and overheard them talking about customers :-( Unprofessional so I walked out.
Jacobs - Not much in there at all :-( what else can I say
And that's it in Britain's second city! Oh, well I've saved some money today. Duffers!
If you trekked out to the Flash Centre for a large Nikon lens it would have been worth checkeing their web site first. They mainly do Lighting stuff, rentals, some medium format and Phase One camera kit, printing related stuff and general accessories but not so much the mainstream cameras and lenses these days as far as I know. The web site only lists a handful of 'L' type Canon lenses. They also run training courses.
If you need lighting or rental they are great people to deal with but for the most part they are offereing a lighting service for Pros - hence the opening hours - and the location (in Birmingham).
As for the others - it may vary store by store. Jessops seems to have moved towards consumer level operations in the regular stores - no surprise given the mail order based competition. My local Jacobs carries some of the more expensive stock (assuming that supplies are available from the manufacturer) but is as likely to rely on rapid delivery from the central warehouse stock or direct from the manufacturer in these times of economic uncertainty.
I can't comment on Calumet.
Most people here seem to buy via eBay, Warehouse Express mail order or Park Cameras unless they have their own local favourite specialist retailer. There may be other names of course, but in the end for many the price is the prime factor. That more often than not points to a mail order supplier, so I imagine the highstreet based stores have responded by reducing expensive stock and general investment in the premises.
Of course you probably already guessed that.
LongQ said:
Saved today, yes, but only if you didn't really need the lens and will now not be buying it.
If you trekked out to the Flash Centre for a large Nikon lens it would have been worth checkeing their web site first. They mainly do Lighting stuff, rentals, some medium format and Phase One camera kit, printing related stuff and general accessories but not so much the mainstream cameras and lenses these days as far as I know. The web site only lists a handful of 'L' type Canon lenses. They also run training courses.
If you need lighting or rental they are great people to deal with but for the most part they are offereing a lighting service for Pros - hence the opening hours - and the location (in Birmingham).
As for the others - it may vary store by store. Jessops seems to have moved towards consumer level operations in the regular stores - no surprise given the mail order based competition. My local Jacobs carries some of the more expensive stock (assuming that supplies are available from the manufacturer) but is as likely to rely on rapid delivery from the central warehouse stock or direct from the manufacturer in these times of economic uncertainty.
I can't comment on Calumet.
Most people here seem to buy via eBay, Warehouse Express mail order or Park Cameras unless they have their own local favourite specialist retailer. There may be other names of course, but in the end for many the price is the prime factor. That more often than not points to a mail order supplier, so I imagine the highstreet based stores have responded by reducing expensive stock and general investment in the premises.
Of course you probably already guessed that.
I will be buying a 70-200 lens but can't decide which one. I know what The Flash Centre specialise in and I'm toying with getting some studio lights and wanted to look at the Elinchrom ones and see what support and services they provide. Can't if they're shut can I and by shutting exclude a business stream from semi-pros like myself. I could have easily spent £2-2500 yesterday, but I want to look / see and maybe try first to decide. Maybe depending on the price and service provided buy there or on-line. I bought my D300 at Jessops Leeds and glad I did because when it developed a fault after 45 days it was exchanged no quibbles. My point was in my home town, Britain's second city, the Camera store provision was pretty awful. Manchester and Liverpool and Leeds are far better served. If you trekked out to the Flash Centre for a large Nikon lens it would have been worth checkeing their web site first. They mainly do Lighting stuff, rentals, some medium format and Phase One camera kit, printing related stuff and general accessories but not so much the mainstream cameras and lenses these days as far as I know. The web site only lists a handful of 'L' type Canon lenses. They also run training courses.
If you need lighting or rental they are great people to deal with but for the most part they are offereing a lighting service for Pros - hence the opening hours - and the location (in Birmingham).
As for the others - it may vary store by store. Jessops seems to have moved towards consumer level operations in the regular stores - no surprise given the mail order based competition. My local Jacobs carries some of the more expensive stock (assuming that supplies are available from the manufacturer) but is as likely to rely on rapid delivery from the central warehouse stock or direct from the manufacturer in these times of economic uncertainty.
I can't comment on Calumet.
Most people here seem to buy via eBay, Warehouse Express mail order or Park Cameras unless they have their own local favourite specialist retailer. There may be other names of course, but in the end for many the price is the prime factor. That more often than not points to a mail order supplier, so I imagine the highstreet based stores have responded by reducing expensive stock and general investment in the premises.
Of course you probably already guessed that.
By way of illustration there's a Camera Show today in Preston sponsored by Wilkinson's Cameras. http://www.wilkinson.co.uk/digitalsplash/ Fifteen miles from home. All the main manufacturers will be there and some seminars. That's where my £2500 will be going today!
Nikkor 70-200 MkII is pre order anyway, you wouldnt have found much on the shelves.
http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-nikon-70-200mm...
http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-nikon-70-200mm...
Edited by andy-xr on Sunday 18th October 09:23
andy-xr said:
Nikkor 70-200 MkII is pre order anyway, you wouldnt have found much on the shelves.
http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-nikon-70-200mm...
I don't want the Mk II its too expensive. I'm after the £1400-1500 VR mk I onehttp://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-nikon-70-200mm...
Edited by andy-xr on Sunday 18th October 09:23
Snapper7 said:
I am based in Birmingham and I have to say that I get great service from the Flash Centre and Calumet. They are Pro Dealers and not really set up for Saturday Shoppers. I would say that the back up from say the Flash Centre should you have a problem would far out strip Jessops.
There's a significant difference between Saturday shoppers as you put it and people who work full time and can only shop on Saturday! Money is still money though!I'll accept your view re Flash Centre - as they weren't open I can't form a judgment myself and one based on 20 odd years in customer support... However, anyone who's closed when I need them wont be getting my money. Of course Jessops is operating in a different market and let down by the staff and management. Calumet is fast becoming the pros and serious photographers choice countrywide with a very good business model and certainly gets my vote in Manchester and Liverpool. The one in B'ham was untidy, grubby and lacked stock. My point remains, B'ham is poorly served by Camera equipment shops in comparison to oop north and the smoke.
Surprised at Jacobs. The one in the City was spot on for me as a newbie 
They let me try both the Canon and Nikon models when deciding, setup a tripod to show the difference between a cheapie and a Manfrotto as well as how to use them, recommended a flash and let me try on with my camera. Happy to use them
They let me try both the Canon and Nikon models when deciding, setup a tripod to show the difference between a cheapie and a Manfrotto as well as how to use them, recommended a flash and let me try on with my camera. Happy to use them
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