ytwong: whatever happened to Asia Photo Supply? They used to have a nice store down the street from where I lived on Humphries Ave. Their window display was first class and artistic, but there were very few stores like that back in the 50s. Most of the stores were back-room operations or located in alleys in Central.
I'll be in Hong Kong tomorrow if anyone has any ideas where I can go find a GF670. I know the usual places to buy digital gear but I have never seen any film cameras like the GF670. Help!
Shops (including "All Good Friend"), in Champagne court (Tsim Sha Tsui)
Tin Cheung Camera (probably better go to Tsim Sha Tsui shop)
Shops among Stanley Street, Central (HK Island). "Photo Science" seems to be more well-known among foreigners.
Good luck finding one.
Rent in Hong Kong is crazy high so don't expect low-demand items in most popular or newly developed area.
dalite: Asia Photo Supply seems still there, but I have never purchased there... It seems to be more tourist oriented (not saying that the shop is bad).
One fewer mentioned shop is "New Sankyo Camera", in Holiday Inn, Tsim Sha Tsui. Price seems ok , but I have only purchased grey market products that are less likely need warranty (flash/filter) there.
I have been to most of those store except for Champagne court and Tin Chung. Never saw any film cameras so that is why I feel it is hopeless to find a GF670 in Hong Kong. Here in China, a used GF670 costs about $1900 USD, which is $200 more than a brand NEW GF670 in the US. I was hoping that Hong Kong could at least be cheaper than China, not the US. But first you have to find one!!
rattymouse wrote:
I'll be in Hong Kong tomorrow if anyone has any ideas where I can go find a GF670. I know the usual places to buy digital gear but I have never seen any film cameras like the GF670. Help!
They list it on eBay for a lower price, so there's probably some room for bargaining. They also list another one, a bit more expensive, on eBay. Might be an idea to contact them by email and ask them to hold it for you.
I live in HK and IMO there are no bargains here for someone traveling from the US. eBay has much better bargains by a long way. Prices are way higher here for used gear than the US. It is fun to check these shops out but most are a complete rip-off ... especially if in mint condition. Many places ask for above retail price for a used lens in mint condition than you can get it for new if still available new.
Stay away from Nathan rd. if looking for new gear... complete sharks and totally annoying.
HK is an awesome place to visit, photograph and live in, but a non-event if you are from the US looking for used photo gear. Seriously, don't even waste your time looking for gear just spend your time checking out the sights and taking photos. HK is an awesome city.
deang001 wrote:
I live in HK and IMO there are no bargains here for someone traveling from the US. eBay has much better bargains by a long way. Prices are way higher here for used gear than the US. It is fun to check these shops out but most are a complete rip-off ... especially if in mint condition. Many places ask for above retail price for a used lens in mint condition than you can get it for new if still available new.
Stay away from Nathan rd. if looking for new gear... complete sharks and totally annoying.
HK is an awesome place to visit, photograph and live in, but a non-event if you are from the US looking for used photo gear. Seriously, don't even waste your time looking for gear just spend your time checking out the sights and taking photos. HK is an awesome city. ...Show more →
+100
agree there are no bargains if you are from the USA
Nathan road is an absolute joke. Who buys all those "copy watches" that the Indian touts hawk all the time? What a life those touts live.
I never did find a GF670 here but I did see a guy walking around with one!! I thought that was amazing. I still don't know if that is the camera for me. Manual focus is a big change compared to my auto focus GA645. I might not like it.
Jorgen Udvang wrote:
1. Some of us are not living in the USA.
2. Shipment and customs clearance when having cameras or lenses shipped from the USA tend to make it an expensive exercise.
3. Many American sellers won't consider shipping outside the USA and some not even outside the "lower 48".
4. There is second hand gear available in HK that can be very difficult to find elsewhere at reasonable prices.
5. While I mostly agree about Nathan Road, there are shops in other parts of the city that offer good prices and first rate service.
Pardon my convoluted rant but here goes !!!
I was careful to word my comments for HK pricing V's US pricing for a US person ... as the OP was from the US. Maybe the pricing over here is fair for non-US visitors ... no idea. Granted, the rent is expensive here compared to the US. 99% of the time if patient, US eBay will trump HK any time for anyone living anywhere for any type of camera gear.
HK does seem to have some rare gear but that is mostly always way more expensive than than anywhere else. Rare and super expensive stuff looks to be mainly aimed toward wealthy mainland Chinese for whom pricing is of no concern ... and good on them ... great for HK. David Chan being an example of this. Breguet Camera even worse .. I have no idea how they even sell anything ... 9 Days camera the same ... and it goes on.
We have to agree to disagree regarding service ... the service in most places here is absolutely terrible except high end places ... IF they can see you are wearing a Patek Philippe !!
All Good Friend Camera out on Carnarvon Rd being an exception ... nice people and the pricing isn't that bad but still over priced compared to eBay. The place downstairs on street level is 90% of the time closed and looks to be a sub-let to the larger shop which it's in ... the guy who works in it winces at even having to open the cabinet to get a lens out for you. Totally hopeless and thinks he's doing you a favour. Pricing is ridiculous as well.
The used lens/camera stores in Sim City, Mong Kok are equally poor in service and also way over priced. Once in Sim City, the guy in the store wouldn't even let my friend from Australia take a test shot with the M8 he had for sale which he was seriously interested in.
Don't get me wrong ... I LOVE HK ... I just hate the used camera shops here
Interestingly, All Good Friend is the shop I usually end up in, but I have positive experiences from the shop downstairs as well
Talking about overpricing: For some reason, the quoted shipping costs from USA to Asia are mostly much higher than from Europe, like twice as much or more.
