I can’t travel without a camera. After all, a good photo is the best souvenir. But I have to admit, shopping for camera stuff is a real bear. The big box stores don’t have the best service (though I admit some individual salespeople are better than others). Ordering online is a crap shoot. And the more specialized camera stores can be snooty and intimidating. I’m pretty lucky to have Foto Forum and Tempe Camera near me. Both are great, though I’d have to give Foto Forum a slight edge for being closer and being even more friendly.
This led me to think that there’s probably a bunch of people like me out there who have a hard time finding a comfortable camera store. You know who you are: You know just enough to actually change settings around. But you might only have a few lenses. Your budget is limited. You rarely ever get paid for shooting. You still can’t remember what ISO stands for, but you know what it does.
In that case, let me present you with a few tips for picking a camera shop.
1. Find one that’s friendly. And I’m not talking oily, corporate suit-mandated courtesy, like Safeway grocery stores. I mean a sales staff that likes taking photos, and helping other people who like taking photos. Nobody likes to look dumb, and the staff should put you at enough ease to ask some of those questions that you’ve been nervous about asking.
2. Look for a selection of new and [...]
