Czech Republic: used camera stores

This years summer holiday takes me to the Czech Republic, where I

will stay for about three weeks. It would be nice if anyone can point

out some stores that sell used camera equipment, preferably in the

Prague and Hradec Králové area. Not that I'm looking for something

specific, but perhaps I'll dig up a nice lens for my Speed Graphic

somewhere....

There was a small used camera shop on one of the streets that comes off the main square in the Stare Mesta (sp?)at least it was there a few years ago.

Foto-Skoda on Vodickova ulice just off Vaclavske namesti has a large used camera selection, including lenses for your Speed Graphic. Jan Pazdera Foto is just down Vodickova on the left walking away from Vaclavske namesti and has a lot of lenses, medium format and folders in two shops, one on the street and one just behind it down the passage. B&S Foto is just off of Betlemske namesti and has a fair assortment of Soviet cameras (they all do really) as well as some large format (including three of the Czech versions of the Linhof Technika, called the Meopta Magnola.) And just off the main Staromestke namesti on Celetna is AZ Foto which has quite a few Agfa and similar folders. Finally, if you go to Hradec Kralove, you might see if you can tour the Foma film factory, which is headquartered there in HK (they also have a shop in Prague where you can pick up their film and paper.) www.foma.com

<<And just off the main Staromestke namesti on Celetna is AZ Foto which has quite a few Agfa and similar folders.>>

 

That must be the place I visited. They had a mint Minolta CLE outfit when I was there, it's a small shop but very nice stuff. Definitely stop by and czech it out.

Is it permissable to cache a czech at the above shops?

I was recently in Prague myself and went into the shop mention in the Staromestke namesti. It is in the South-East corner of the square. I talked to the owner for a bit - very nice guy. They have a nice selection of used stuff in the front window (mint condition folding Voigtlanders, Leica SM lenses, and other items) as well as film and other tourist necessities.

How were the prices there? I bought a mint A-12 back in Bratislava for $120 (equiv.) when I worked for Slovnaft in 1998, and got an MRI for two bottles of wine. My landlords are neurosurgeons. They preferred the "old" ways. My oncologist laughs everytime I mention it.

Prices (on cameras) range from reasonable to overly optimistic. The shops are very knowledgeable, so whatever is in their shop is assuredly researched and identified as to its value. I have found that C condition cameras in Vienna are B condition cameras in Prague and are therefore usually overpriced. Very much a buyer beware environment, but if you spot something wrong with the camera, the shops above are all very quick and agreeable to making it right (most have a 7-10 day return policy on used purchases, plus Skoda will actually give you a 12 exp. roll of film to test the camera and 30% off processing it with 35mm purchases, though a tourist may have to ask for this.) MRIs are now up to four bottles of wine, must be French wine, and can only be from very good years.

I wish I could be a bit more specific on the directions here, but there is a great place to buy/process film also in Prague.

 

If you walk down the hill from the HUGE Musuem, a few blocks down, turn right. A half a block in on the left, enter the shopping area and you'll see on the right side large photography window displays. I can't remember the name, or address, but it's where the local press has film processed, you can get decent turn around times on chromes, great quality and pro films are available. It is well known, you'll be able to ask a the photo shops for directions.

 

Grab a nice tourist shot from the "Eiffel Tower" of the Prague Castle, and definitly have goose and dumplings...And Urquell, damn I wish I was going back.

Two good shops are in Vodickova street. They are Foto Skoda, which sells also new, and Foto Pazdera, which specializes on used equipment. Both are within 500 metres from Wenceslas square (Vaclavske namesti). There is also some used equipment in almost every camera shop. The prices are not very good on recent products because prices of new cameras and lenses are usually about 100 per cent higher here than in USA, so used ones are still more expensive.

 

The good lab mentioned above is in Opletalova street, the path description is correct. The lab belongs to CTK (Czech press agency). Another good lab is Ultralab (www.ultralab.cz).