Where to Buy Film Cameras & Lenses

I’ll say it right now.  eBay sucks.  Amazon sucks.  These are not proper camera retailers and should not be the first places we go to find film equipment and photography supplies.  Most sellers on these sites do not check, much less service their vintage cameras or lenses prior to sale.  These are sites where people go to buy classic cameras and lenses when they don’t know a better place to go or simply cannot find what they are looking for at a real retailer.

I’ll admit, a good percentage of my accessories and more unusual items come from eBay.  There’s nothing wrong with buying something that can’t really break, such as a lens hood, from eBay or Amazon.  But my most expensive bodies and lenses, I buy from trusted, reputable dealers who check and service the gear prior to sale and also provide a warranty.

Okay, so two of these Nikkomats came from pawn shops, but they were CLA’d!  The FT2 came from B&H.  The 135/2.8 from KEH, case from Ace Photo and so on…

If you try to cut corners buying cheap, un-serviced gear, your photos will suffer.  If not now, at some point when you least suspect it.  And it’s not good for old cameras to go without service for more than a couple decades.  Lubricants harden and the camera may appear to work just fine but with every shot, you’re actually wearing down fine, precision parts which may be impossible to replace in the future.  Not a good scene my friend.

So look, here’s a list of websites where I buy, friends have bought, and generally seem to have good reputations.  If you’re looking for something, check these sites FIRST, then go to eBay or Amazon out of desperation.  Or also, some of these sellers have a presence on eBay and Amazon for exactly this reason.  Buy from them there if you like.  But the point is, support businesses who support us.  Don’t just throw money at people who are emptying out their parents’ closet for extra cash.  It may be fun and cheap for the moment but it’s not sustainable long term.

Used 35mm, medium format and digital cameras, lenses and accessories within the continental U.S.:

KEH

Robert’s Camera

Classic Connection

F-Stop Cameras

Film Photography Project Store

B&H

Adorama

Serviced and customized 35mm and medium format folding cameras within the U.S.:

Certo6

Nikon F2 service and sales in the UK and worldwide:

Sover Wong

Voigtlander authorized U.S. Dealer and repair:

Stephan Gandy

New toy and point-and-shoot type film cameras and accessories within the United States:

Freestyle Photo

Lomography (and outside the US)

Used 35mm, medium format cameras, lenses and accessories worldwide but specifically in the EU:

Kamerastore

Rocky Cameras

Film, processing, used 35mm, medium format cameras, lenses and accessories worldwide but specifically in Russia:

Foqus Store

Used and new Leica cameras, lenses and accessories:

Tamarkin (in the United States)

Classic Connection (in the United States)

Red Dot Camera (in the United Kingdom)

New Instax and serviced/upgraded Polaroid cameras international:

MiNT

 

And if you’re in the Baltimore, Maryland area, please pay a visit to Baltimore Photo Electronic Supply where I’ve been getting my cameras and having them serviced for nearly 20 years!

Got another favorite photo watering hole?  Let me know in the comments so we can all check it out!

Thanks and happy hunting!

Follow, Favorite, Like, Add, Contact Johnny Martyr