Charlotte Camera

[allrightnow]

I saw in the Observer today where Charlotte Camera closed. A sad time indeed. I always liked them but didn't much care for the move from Park Road to Ballantyne. They went from a first class camera shop to a boutique. Oh well, any suggestions for an honest to goodness camera shop?

[Trace]

I saw in the Observer today where Charlotte Camera closed. A sad time indeed. I always liked them but didn't much care for the move from Park Road to Ballantyne. They went from a first class camera shop to a boutique. Oh well, any suggestions for an honest to goodness camera shop?

Was that the old camera store you could see from Indepenence Blvd? on the left, heading into the city? If so, that is a sad day.

[allrightnow]

Was that the old camera store you could see from Indepenence Blvd? on the left, heading into the city? If so, that is a sad day.

I think that was Camera World or something like that. Charlotte Camera was over on Park Road until they moved to the ritzy section of Charlotte. Those guys at the store you could see from Independence helped me out with a charger for a Quantum Turbo battery I got screwed on in an E-Bay transaction. Nice people too.

[Big Mark]

no idea, but I went into wolf camera in cornelius yesterday and it SUCKED. They're pretty much just processing - VERY small selection of equipment. I kid you not, they had more room dedicated to video games and mp3 players than they did to lenses.

[DireWolf]

I think that was Camera World or something like that. Charlotte Camera was over on Park Road until they moved to the ritzy section of Charlotte. Those guys at the store you could see from Independence helped me out with a charger for a Quantum Turbo battery I got screwed on in an E-Bay transaction. Nice people too.

Please don't let it be Camera World. I had them sell some stuff for me and I was going to let them keep the proceeds on account and pick up a lens or something. Guess I'll be checking that out Monday.
Damn, I hope that's not right!

[PhotoGuy]

From www.charlottecamera.com :

Charlotte Camera has now closed.

We would like to thank you for your support and business over the years.

We are negotiating to have another company take over all outstanding gift cards and Charlotte Camera Extended Service Contracts. If you have an outstanding contract and we have your correct address, you will be notified of any changes as they take place. We will also make every attempt to post information to this website.

We will no longer be reachable by phone or email.

Once again, many thanks for your support.

Charlotte Camera

[Big Mark]

so tell me about this Camera World place. is it worth me driving an hour or so (each way) to check out? do they have lots of lenses/accesories in stock, or is it similar to a wolf/ritz kinda thing?

[PhotoGuy]

Camera World is ok... a small, old-school camera shop. I was the lab manager there in 98 when I moved to Charlotte. The people who work there have been working in camera sales since the camera was invented and they certainly know their stuff. I'm sure a lot has changed there since I worked there. They didn't even have digital cameras when I was there.

Their website is www.cameraworldnc.com

[DireWolf]

Camera World is ok... a small, old-school camera shop. I was the lab manager there in 98 when I moved to Charlotte. The people who work there have been working in camera sales since the camera was invented and they certainly know their stuff. I'm sure a lot has changed there since I worked there. They didn't even have digital cameras when I was there.

Their website is www.cameraworldnc.com

Thanks for the peace of mind.
I called all over the state when I decided to buy the K10D and they were the first to have it. They really were helpful.
I remember laughing to myself at how my stepson's eyes used to gloss over when he got into a store that sold sports cards or video games - the "kid in the candy store" look of wonder. I imagine that's about the way I look when I'm in a good camera store. I want all that stuff even if I don't know what half of it is.:13:

[LarryD]

i'm fine making all of my purchases online.

[DireWolf]

i'm fine making all of my purchases online.

You can definitely get things cheaper online but I've had some bad experiences. I bought my D70 online a couple of weeks before my wife and I went to Saint Augustine, thinking I'd have the camera in plenty of time for the trip. Even though the site said the camera was in stock when I paid for it, the camera didn't show up. When I called about it just before the trip, they told me it was back ordered. I'd been back from the trip for three weeks before I finally got the camera.
And a couple of weeks ago when I bought that adapter for my SDHC card, I bought it on a Saturday night and paid for next day air thinking I would get it by Tuesday. Somehow Tuesday became Friday.
Conversely, I drove a couple of hours to Charlotte to get my K10D, but when I got there, the camera was waiting for me along with someone who actually gave me a primer on the camera and was able to help me with the right flash and memory card. I appreciated that.

[Trace]

Camera World is ok... a small, old-school camera shop. I was the lab manager there in 98 when I moved to Charlotte. The people who work there have been working in camera sales since the camera was invented and they certainly know their stuff. I'm sure a lot has changed there since I worked there. They didn't even have digital cameras when I was there.

Their website is www.cameraworldnc.com (http://www.cameraworldnc.com)

Good deal. They do know their stuff and don't 'talk down' to you if you have a simple question. Nothing worse than a photo snob. I am glad it is not them.

BTW Larry, great idea on this forum.

[allrightnow]

I always liked having a brick and mortar place to go, especially for a body. Lenses don't bother me to buy on-line, but a body for some reason, I had some piece of mind in a camera shop. There's a place in Raleigh that used to be good if they're still in business . . . Southeastern Camera . . . I think is the name. There was a store across the tracks from downtown Raleigh that was fun to go to. Sm Bass in Raleigh was good until Ritz bought 'em.

[DireWolf]

I always liked having a brick and mortar place to go, especially for a body. Lenses don't bother me to buy on-line, but a body for some reason, I had some piece of mind in a camera shop. There's a place in Raleigh that used to be good if they're still in business . . . Southeastern Camera . . . I think is the name. There was a store across the tracks from downtown Raleigh that was fun to go to. Sm Bass in Raleigh was good until Ritz bought 'em.

Southeastern Camera's still there and you're right, it's a good store. I think they have another store in Wilmington. I know they used to.