1st time to London, which ones to bring, where to shoot and shop?

[fred_o.]

Hi,

I'll visit London for a week later this month. It'll be my first time going to

London(I live in California).

I have a few questions and would like to hear your experience and suggestions

or any useful info is welcome.

 

1. what to bring: I'll bring a Sony T-30 for sure for its compactness, but

I'll never leave my Leicas at home for any trip to Europe :), I have a M6 and

a M2, with 3 Leica Lenses, 35mm, 50mm and 90mm and a Japanese Voitlander 21mm.

 

Initially I'm planning to bring a M6 + a 21mm lens only for the architecures

and indoor shots. And using only the consumre Kodak Gold 200 film.

I'm wondering if I want to bring 50mm lens as well as some Kodak CN400 films,

just don't know if the weather and occations are suitable for them.

 

2. where to shoot? only with 5 days there while London will be raining and cold

(although in No. Cal. it's freezing at 28F now). I live close to Covent Garden

(trying to get a sculptor for an Opera ticket), will be walking to main

tourist areas and museums and shopping.

 

3. where to shop? don't know if they're good places to shop Photo gears? If

I'm going to New York, B&H and Adorama are always on my visiting list...

 

 

Thanks and happy shooting!

[gib]

three museums I especially liked - Museum of the Moving Image, London Museum, and the Transport Museum (very close to Covent Garden)

 

it has been ten years since I visited

 

a 35mm lens would cover most of your needs - a 28 or wider would help as well

[peter]

If you like old cameras, go to Pied Bull Yard near the British Museum, off Bury lane in Bloomsbury. There are (from memory ) no less than 3 camera stores in this small mews all specialising in Leicas etc.

 

Here is a little blog link http://london.photobloggers.org/blog/_archives/2005/1/30/290059.html

 

Not far away in Oxford Street I think is Jessops or one of the other big camera stores which is a large store with modern cameras.

 

Have fun.

 

Pretty area too.

[clarence_l]

There isn't much light right now here in London, and it doesn't last long either. I recommend bringing ISO1600 films if you don't want to stop shooting at 4pm. If you're worried about fogging you can have them processed here. Snappy Snaps at 23 Garrick St (near Leicester Square tube station and Covent Garden) is cheap and good and caters to a professional and amateur clientele.

 

Pied Bull Yard has the classic camera shops and Tottenham Court Road nearby and to the west has more modern offerings, though Kinglsey Photographic and West End Cameras there do sell second hand film cameras. Prices tend to be ridiculously expensive if you're from overseas, so I wouldn't bother shopping for gear here.

 

If you fancy going to a less touristy but safe and interesting place, I can recommend Camden a few tube stops up north, which is where I live. It's crawling with tourists, but attracts a different crowd from the Trafalgar Square / West End type.

 

Clarence

[mervyn_yan]

Don't looking for camera stuff in London, they are on average more than twice as expensive. But as Peter said, near the British Museum, there are few used shops worth visiting, only if you have a lot of time, which you don't.

 

Travel light, M6, 35 and 90 should cover all you need. M2 optional. A lot and lot of films, don't be afraid of wasting them, don't think you go back there anytime soon. Personally I don't use c-41 films as they are expensive to develop and print. Fast B&W and slides will do.

 

Here is your tourist pix in Covent garden-:) have fun.

 

Cheers,

Mervyn

[paul hart]

"while London will be raining and cold"

 

Ahem, we can be sensitive about our weather over here, you know. We've had the odd gale,

but it's unseasonably warm in Blighty. I haven't had to scrape ice off the car once this

year...yet.

[peter_evans4]

<p><em>no less than 3 camera stores in this small mews all

specialising in Leicas etc</em></p><p>At least one is devoted to

Leica and I find it unintentionally funny. Now that Holgas are hip,

they won't hack it; try to take along a Petri or Canonet or

something as you ask where to put the battery in the M3 you're

looking at. There's at least one shop in that area that isn't snooty

and is fairly interesting. I think I prefer Andrews in Teddington,

though.</p>

[HarryBaker]

Pied Bull Yard just by the British Museum (15min walk from Covent garden)has Classic Cameras (Leica) but not a big stock of s/hand and top dollar. Aperture, which is just down the road in Museum St has a large collection. Jessops Classic Cameras, also in Pied Bull Yard, is about to close down (if it hasn't already since I was last there about 6 weeks ago) but if they are still functioning they have a good collection. Avoid Richard Caplan ('where the elite meet and greet')unless you want to pay premium.

 

Remember you can't photograph in art galleries but you can in most museums, including the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum, both easily reached from Covent Garden.

 

I second Camden Market - it's very colourful. I'm a Londoner, though now living in Cambridge, but I like nothing more than wandering around London with a small camera (M6 and 35mm lens) and just shooting things that catch my fancy. I'll do even more if the M8 I have on order ever arrives! Have a great trip.

[frederick_muller]

Check out Covent Garden, Leicester Square, and the Theatre District at night. Wonderful for color work. My favorite museums are the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Science Museum. If you are lucky enought to get a sunny day, check out the parliament buildings and views of the Thames from Westminster bridge. Don't miss Harrod's in Knightsbridge ... the food hall is another great feast for color film. Another good walk runs from the Tower of London over Tower Bridge to the Belfast on the South Side of the river. Have fun!

[pc_b]

Hi Fred,

I would take all the gear to GB but leave the 50 and M2 in the hotel safe.

If you miss your 50 and didn't use the 90 on the first day then swap. If the M6 fails, you

still got the M2. I would take Gold400 ASA film along (4.0/21mm indoors...). Days are

often dim and very short around this time in London (Londoners, please don't feel

offended, we are talking to a Californian coming to the North!)

Carry your camera in your right hand; that way you won't miss many shots, hopefully. You

might also consider carrying a really small monopod (for interiors and architecture). I carry

it on a string underneath the coat and unclip it from the carabiner as soon as an

opportunity arises.

 

Cheers, Peter

[rab_l]

Don't miss Tate Modern on the river, http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/ a great day out with

fantastic views across the city. As for lenses, I would go for wides to a 50 rather than the 90,

your fastest lenses would be a good idea, Richard Caplin, http://www.richardcaplan.co.uk/

just off Picadilly has quite a few commission sales which can be reasonable to very good. Get

along to Soho, much more interesting than Covent Garden. Enjoy.....Robert.

[johnny massey]

Brick Lane in the east end is also interesting but not so colourful at this time of year.

[John Crowe]

I'm afraid I don't own a Leica, so it makes me cringe to see you with all that incredible equipment and using only high ISO films in London. I know you are limited to high ISO for your indoor shots so I would take the M2 as well and set it up for the possibility of some bright outdoor shots. Load it with Velvia 100, or better yet, some 50 if you can find it, or Kodak E100VS. Even if it is dull outside ISO 100 and an aperture of f4 is likely going to give you something worthwhile.

 

 

I know how I see the world and I would not hesitate to take only the 21 and the 90, but for peace of mind I would take at least one of the 35 or 50.

[frederick_muller]

Fred, you may do better spending your time seeing the sights and doing stuff rather than camera shopping. It sounds like you have a great outfit anyway. London will be a great place to give it a workout!

[John Crowe]

Just wanted to add that even a 100 ISO print film is so much better in colour rendition, contrast, and resolution than the same brand of 200 ISO film.

[roger_michel]

the shops in pied bull yard are just OK. classic camera has all new leica and voigt, with a

smattering of overpriced used. jessops classic across the courtyard used to be the best in

the yard, but it appears that jessops is preparing to close the shop. they are just letting

the stock dwindle. the 3rd shop is nothing special.

 

my favorite shop, for leica and classics generally, is two blocks over in either museum or

copyic street. it is called the camera cafe and has a great stock with decent prices.

 

there is also a russian who runs a shop right in that area with lots of russian classics (a

block from both pied bull yard and camera cafe, but i can't recall the the street name).

 

as for what to bring, travel light!! you don't want to leave your cameras in your hotel room

and you don't want to be lugging a heaby bag. bring the M6 with 21/50 and 90. bring

the digital and the smallest lightest plastic table pod you can find. even a tiny tripod is

INCREDIBLY useful. just trust me on that.

 

in terms of where to shoot, go to train stations like kings cross and victoria; go to brick

lane and spitalfields (eat a lunch of steak pie and mush peas in spitalfields, but save room

for salt beef and a bagel at the end of brick lane); go to the tate modern and southside; go

to the britis museum and environs; go to portobello mkt on saturday morning for sure; go

to the area around parliament and winchester; go to camden town; go to the serpentine

gallery; take a day trip to oxford on the oxford tube bus service. a day trip really adds to

the xperience and oxford is great. have lunch at heroes near the turl or at the pie monger

in the covered market. walk along the canals in oxford. great great photo ops there.

 

in terms of practical advice, make sure you get an A-Z(ed) street guide (available anywhere

and everywhere); buy a 7 day travelcard for the overpriced subway; eat at borscht and

tears in beauchamp st; stroll through kensington gardens; have lunch at fortnum and

mason -- great chips; go to the troubador cafe on old brompton..

 

make sure you buy the lonely planet guide book!

 

have a good trip!

[steve_leblanc]

I'd like to 2nd the Tate Modern visit and you can then take a ferry they run up to the Tate Britain on the other side a short ferry ride up the river Thames.

 

Soho and Camden yard are great photo shoots as is Portobello Road flea market which is actually more accessible via the rail system. Do learn how to use the tube, it is excellent. Also take the tube from the airport into Paddington Station for about $12. It's the only way to travel!

 

PS F8 and Be There!!

[steven_moseley1]

Hi,

 

I live in the UK and buy and sell gear as a hobby..so I regularly visit London photo shops, there is a bit of duff info IMO in prior posts about the shops, so here is my two penneth..

 

If you want to find used Leica, all London shops are expensive, but even the most expensive sometimes have the odd bargain or two..

 

1. The Classic Camera..Leica only, with quite a lot of used gear, more of a boutique type shop, often with snobby offish staff, mostly very high prices, but still worth a visit..in Pied Bull yard, 5 mins from the British museum.

 

http://www.theclassiccamera.com/

 

2. Aperture..Nikon & Leica specialist shop, owned and run by far eastern enthusiasts, nice feeling, not too bad prices, lots of used gear, especially M items, also has internet cafe and good choice of home cooked noodles etc...worth staying for lunch. just 100 yards round the corner from Classic camera.

 

http://www.apertureuk.com/index.htm

 

3. R G lewis..old style shop, Leica main dealer, fair choice of used Leica, some cheaper prices than other London shops, 10 mins walk from the others above in Southampton Row.

 

4. Richard Caplan..near Piccadilly, Leica dealer, old style again, VERY helpful staff, especially Richard himself, ignore the bad comment in other post, they have wide choice of used gear and very wide price span..the most helpful shop in london for Leica IMO.

 

http://www.richardcaplan.co.uk/

 

AVOID Jessops..the largest UK chain, full of 16 year old assistants who could not tell a Leica from a Zorki. Do not bother with Tottenham court road shops either, unless you want Nikon or Canon AF gear.

 

cheers Steve. (bring a fold up rain mac of some type)

 

Do visit the Tate modern..though almost a whole day is really needed.

[johnny massey]

Roger's response is on the money, but also buy a copy of Time Out for entertainment listings - if you have time for such things!

[michaelging]

All the information above is great,I would add not to worry about bringing your film though airport and train x-ray machines. I have been developing 60 rolls of mostly B&W film, for the past 2 nights, including TMX 3200 ,push to 1600 tri-x , and 800 Color neg , with no signs of any fogging in any of the film. I was in London , Paris and Amsterdam and went though security 11 times. A agree that Camden Market on a weekend is great for photos of people who look like they might be a half a bubble off plum, but Portabello rd on a Saturday is also a great place for people photos.Also think of Speakers Corner in Hyde Park on a Sunday. If you are looking for nature shots, you might try Yew Gardens (great glass terrariums) and James Park, Deer everywhere, the Heath (like central park) and Highgate Cemetery. The Camera shops around the British museum are good to look at when you are tired of seeing the 1,000 mummy in the British Museum,but the dollar is very weak right now, and you will pay,even at a ATM, almost $2.00 for a pound. Have a great time, LOOK LEFT, MIND THE GAP, and KEEP RIGHT IF YOU ARE STANDING. If you are looking for more photo Ideas , I have several Folders in my Gallery and in the Single photos from London and will be adding more in the next few weeks.

[pje]

I'm writing this from my hotel room in Covent Garden. I was out shooting today and

wondered down the river and across to the Tate Modern. I brought my M7 and M3 with

28mm generally mounted on the M7 (Provia 400) and a 35mm on my M3 (HP5+). I also

brought a 90 and 50 with me. It all fits in a rather compact Domke bag. As for the weather

it has been very odd; rainy in dark in the morning then often nice later in the day. Today the

sun was out and my 400 speed film was nearly too fast (1/500 f/16); lovely day.

[michaelging]

One last thing, check out www.timeout.com for events that will be happening, Photographic shows in Galleries,Shows and concerts,and buy a copy of Timeout Magazine on Tuesday when you get to London, for even a better list.

[blakley]

I went at New Years and brought only the M2 and a 35mm Summilux. I shot both XP2 Super and Portra 400 NC and had no trouble with light levels, though as everyone says the hours of daylight are short - about 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the outside.

<p>

The Tate Modern has a wonderful installation by Carsten Holler (should be an umlaut over the "o"); the Thames Embankment is also a source of some good vistas. There are a lot of good street shooting opportunities too.

<p>

You can see some of my pictures in <a href="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00JRHI&tag=">this recent thread</a>.

[HarryBaker]

I agree with what everyone else has said about places to visit in London. Steven buys and sells gear as a hobby and has perhaps had more experience of the shops he mentions than have I. I agree with his comments about Classic Cameras but my experience at Caplan's has not been so good. Having to ring a bell to gain admittance is, I think, unique amongst camera shops (even Leica shops!) and 'where the elite meet and greet' is Richard Caplan's quotation and sets the scene. However, I'll give him another try when I need something.

 

So, Fred, don't waste too much time in shops. Take pictures instead.

[steve-walton]

You might also want to visit The Photographers Gallery in Gt. Newport Street, which is close to where you are staying in Covent Garden. There is also currently a good exhibition at the Barbican Centre, displaying work by 22 top European photographers of the past 120 years or so. I've seen the exhibition, it's worth a visit. Another place to visit is the Magnum Print rooms. The Natural History Museum is running The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhbition. Go into a good newsagent (WH Smith) and buy something like Black & White Photography magazine. All the current exhibitions are listed. Given the current weakness of the US$ against our GB Pound, I doubt you will find any bargains. Spend your money on beer. Enjoy your visit.