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Camera / Photographic shops

silhouette53

silhouette53

master brummie
I became a grandfather back in March of last year and, naturally enough, have been taking rather more photographs on my little digital compact than I normally would since then !!

I was quite 'into' photography years ago and had quite a bit of 35mm gear languishing at the back of the wardrobe so I traded it all in for a new DSLR and lenses etc etc

I have become aware of how many camera shops have disappeared from Brum !! There is currently only ONE !! - Jessops - and that has only reopened because that 'dragons den' chap has bought the name and reopened a few of the stores ( they had gone into liquidation I think )

There used to be quite a few camera shops in town years ago - Sherwoods Photographic in the Gt Western Arcade, Camera House in Canon St, Dixons in Union Street, Techno cameras on Smallbrook ringway, Pelling & Cross down by the old ATV studios and quite a few more who's names and locations escape me now.

I think the demise of film and the low prices available via online shopping has sounded the death knell for them, as it has done with so many other retailers. How sad. Ah, I just remembered another - Peter Gaffney who's shop was up toward the jewellery quarter
 
They are still around just harder to find theses days. Frosts have shops in both Sutton Coldfield and Knowle. I seem to recall seeing an independent still in Shirley as well. Sherwoods were still trading a few years back but only from Morton Bagot, Studley B80 7EL. I think it was mainly non photographic though.
 
Going back further - was it Galloways who were near the steps that ran off New Street at the Town Hall End? Bought my first slide projector from them in the early 1960's

Regards

Sandy Sanbrook
 
In the late 1990's I bought my first digital camera from Jessops and a year later a more advanced one also from them. Neither of the cameras would slip easily into my pockets and since becoming a grandfather six years ago I've bought three 'point and shoot' cameras from supermarkets etc. I think cameras have just become gadgets for taking pictures and lately smartphones seem to be replacing cameras. Even this iPad I'm posting this on takes very acceptable photos and videos and automatically uploads them to a 'cloud' where I can access them from anywhere.
My old family photos only half fill a cardboard shoe box - my digital photos fill two 8Gb memory sticks.
Like so many things, photography these days has changed for better or worse and even if you are in an aircraft about to crash, you can video the scene and if you survive, instantly upload it to Youtube.
 
SandyBrook said:
Going back further - was it Galloways who were near the steps that ran off New Street at the Town Hall End? Bought my first slide projector from them in the early 1960's

Regards

Sandy Sanbrook
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How very odd - I've just looked at the thread on Old Street Pics and a link to https://www.flickr.com/photos/polyesterpowdercoated/sets/72157632029778041/ I found some photos of the steps I was talking about - it was Christ Church Passage, glad to see the steps themselves are still there.

Regards

Sandy
 
A couple of forum pics with Galloways just about in them ... there are probably more ...
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Thanks for those photos - I can see that I had confused myself slightly (not difficult!) and was thinking that Galloways was actually by the Christ Church passage steps when it was on the corner - I suppose there should have been a hint if I'd remembered the name "Galloways corner" - while the steps went up behind the buildings.

Regards

SandyBrook
 
Old Mohawk that is a great photo, I wonder why there is such a large crowd, no flags so don't think it was the end of the war, although it looks as though it was taken late 1940s or early 1950s.
 
My Dad used to go to Kalton's (not sure of the spelling) in Harborne to buy the chemicals for home film-developing.
rosie.
 
sylviasayers said:
Old Mohawk that is a great photo, I wonder why there is such a large crowd, no flags so don't think it was the end of the war, although it looks as though it was taken late 1940s or early 1950s.
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Hi Sylvia - The original caption says they are celebrating VE day - no one looking in Galloways camera shop that day !
oldmohawk
 
Thanks Mohawk for the information, I could see they were celebrating and a mixed age group, some dancing, it must have been marvellous to have been there. Wonder why there was no flags or bunting, perhaps they had just heard the good news.
 
Amazing photos - thanks so much for posting them. I remember the J Lyons cafeteria next to there - recall being taken in there as a little boy - waitresses in black with white aprons
 
Update on Sherwoods lat of Great Western Arcade.

Travelling through the Warwickshire countryside on a hunt for a birthday gist I walked into the wrong shop at Little Alne antiques centre (between Wooton Wawen and Alcester), I realised I had stumbled upon Sherwoods. Though no longer in cameras they have a superb range of telescopes, Astral Telescopes and also binoculars. They also stock those wonderful novelty items they became so well know for in later years. Worth a visit if out that way.

Shop I wanted was next door.


Bernard
 
Camera House - two branches in the City Centre. Started out in Lozells. Image from British Newspaper Archives. Viv.

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Anyone remember a camera shop on Dudley Road opposite the entrance to the hospital? This would be 1988 - 1989. I had been visiting mum who was in hospital when I notice that this shop sold reasonable priced second hand kit. I was taken through the merits of a few SLRs bynthe assistant / owner? He sold me a Yashica FX3 with lens for £89. He spent a good two hours instructing me on what shutter speeds and aperture to use and how to load film and deal with any problems. He was a very friendly Black guy, who gave me a sling strap with the kit and said that the merit of this camera was that it could be fitted with Zeiss lenses. I used the camera in Newcastle and Manchester getting some second-hand Zeiss lenses. I'm grateful to him for kick starting my interest in proper photography, graduating to darkrooms and printing.
 
Cecil Jacobs was another shop, i understand that he started out with Jessops
when they were a warehouse type of operation way way back in Leicester.

You just went in asked for the product and they handed over a box and you paid up,
no window display or anything of that sort.

They were ,at that stage, probably the cheapest camera outlet in the country.
 
Cecil Jacobs, we’re major competitors to Jessops in Leicester. They had photo department within the chemists shop.
chemist shops were also major Photographic retailers. Doctors chemist on Nechells Green had a specialist photographic department, and we’re major Leica, Bolex,and Eumig stockists. Some Boots chemist shops also photographic counters. Don’t forget Scrivens Cameras had shops on Aston Cross and in the city centre.
Mail order, and subsequently the internet were the final nails in photographic retailers.
 
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Calumet used to trade in New Town, but now trade as Wex at 100 Hagley Road. Bricks and mortar shops are a great source of advice as well as selling second-hand gear. Not particularly cheap, but a source of pro gear. Open to all photographers. Wex are also a big on-line trader nationally, so have kept going.
 
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Ag Photographic sell traditional film products, chemicals and paper. They have a retail shop in Avenue Road, as well as on line sales. From memory they are about 20 years old started by enthusiasts for what some call analogue photography. Lots of students and artists still learn darkroom, so there is demand for a different look.
 
Chunky AC said:
Cecil Jacobs, we’re major competitors to Jessops in Leicester. They had photo department within the chemists shop.
chemist shops were also major Photographic retailers. Doctors chemist on Nechells Green had a specialist photographic department, and we’re major Leica, Bolex,and Eumig stockists. Some Boots chemist shops also photographic counters. Don’t forget Scrivens Cameras had shops on Aston Cross and in the city centre.
Mail order, and subsequently the internet were the final nails in photographic retailers.
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Chunky, my camera journey was Agfa, Pentax, Canon, Nikon all purchase though camera shops. And of course my smart phone. Recently after about a 15 year hiatus I decided to buy a digital mirrorless camera. I went on line and found that everything was not exactly as represented especially with Amazon. Reviews were like: it’s not a Sony case or the case almost fits etc etc. I spoke to my wife’s cousin who it a retired professional photographer ( and Nikon person) Who gave me great advise, if your going spend that kind of money on lenses etc, go hold the camera in your hands and make sure your like it and it feels good. I did that at a large electronics store who basically met Amazons and others bundled price, gave me a lesson before I took it home and offered free lessons that store which I have taken advantage of. So at least here online is not always better, unfortunately it must be very difficult for small camera stores as they are drying up everywhere!
 
IPhones and smart phones must have taken over a lot of camera business. Good to see professionals still using traditional products, but there’s so much competition nowadays. When I was in New York a couple of years ago, I ‘accidentally’ sat in on a free tutorial at the iPhone store at the Occulus. It went over lots of photography functions of the iPhone and was thoroughly interesting. The tutorial was well delivered, engaging and free ! All delivered by a trainer using enormous screens demonstrating the phone functions. It did make me wonder how long traditional photography can keep alive. Viv.
 
Richard Dye said:
Chunky, my camera journey was Agfa, Pentax, Canon, Nikon all purchase though camera shops. And of course my smart phone. Recently after about a 15 year hiatus I decided to buy a digital mirrorless camera. I went on line and found that everything was not exactly as represented especially with Amazon. Reviews were like: it’s not a Sony case or the case almost fits etc etc. I spoke to my wife’s cousin who it a retired professional photographer ( and Nikon person) Who gave me great advise, if your going spend that kind of money on lenses etc, go hold the camera in your hands and make sure your like it and it feels good. I did that at a large electronics store who basically met Amazons and others bundled price, gave me a lesson before I took it home and offered free lessons that store which I have taken advantage of. So at least here online is not always better, unfortunately it must be very difficult for small camera stores as they are drying up everywhere!
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I agree Richard, I am very fortunate living South Yorkshire we have fantastic independent family run camera shop, Harrison’s Sheffiel. Staff that live photograph. Excellent service and advice. Chunky. Ac
 
Vivienne14 said:
IPhones and smart phones must have taken over a lot of camera business. Good to see professionals still using traditional products, but there’s so much competition nowadays. When I was in New York a couple of years ago, I ‘accidentally’ sat in on a free tutorial at the iPhone store at the Occulus. It went over lots of photography functions of the iPhone and was thoroughly interesting. The tutorial was well delivered, engaging and free ! All delivered by a trainer using enormous screens demonstrating the phone functions. It did make me wonder how long traditional photography can keep alive. Viv.
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Taken with an iPhone!
 

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Chunky AC said:
I agree Richard, I am very fortunate living South Yorkshire we have fantastic independent family run camera shop, Harrison’s Sheffiel. Staff that live photograph. Excellent service and advice. Chunky. Ac
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The advice part is most important when I have something new. I tend to adopt “when all else fails read the instructions “. We were celebrating our 50th with a river cruise starting in Amsterdam, my wife’s cousin and the camara shop told me to use the fastest SD cards I could get. Also took a lesson at the camera shop in taking photos in low light. I was able to take wonderful non flash photos inside of cathedrals using an 18 to 300mm lens. I had no idea that was possible.
 
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