Hi Folks, I would like to know of any good dealers in the UK who offer a good services at reasonable/competitive prices. Thanks in advance. Cheers

I

-- Sparkie (Sparkie@mailcity.com), August 30, 2001

Answers

A lot of people on the net seem to speak highly of Robert White www.robertwhite.co.uk I don't have personal experiences with him though.

-- Niels H. S. Nielsen (nhsn@ruc.dk), August 30, 2001.

I can endorse Robert White. Also strongly recommend Ffordes, Broallan, Beauly, Inverness-shire Tel: 01463 783850 - Website www.ffordes.com

They do both new and used equipment. Much of the latter seems to be sales on commission. Very accurate equipment descriptions. Fair prices. Lots of Leica gear. Have always had excellent service.

-- James Harper (drjh@btinternet.com), August 30, 2001.

I've bought some things from Robert White (www.robertwhite.co.uk) their service was excellent and their prices on Billingham and Gitzo are roughly half what they are in the US. According to their website, currently they sell the R8 (for example)at 1325BP *excluding VAT*, which is a little over US$1900. Currently the going price in the US is $1895 *less* a $200 rebate. I don't know how Leica prices are in the UK. I know that on a trip to London I had a "jolly good time" ogling the items in an enclave of camera stores in Pied Bull Road near the museum.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), August 30, 2001.

I have a 24mm lense and zoom viewfinder for sale if you are interested?

Richard

-- Richard Palmer (richard@designblue.co.uk), August 30, 2001.

Andrew Riley's Classic Camera is exclusively Leica (with Voigtlander and Konica) and is tucked away in Pied Bull Yard (opposite the British Museum). I love it.

Ffordes are fine, but dont bother changing your mind about an item. I thought better of a Canon 24 T/SE I had bought on impulse, returned the lens, only to have it sent straight back to me with a really curt, (illiterate) letter. That really stuck in my craw -- thinking as I do, that 2 weeks grace should be standard. Though I am sure in every other respect they're absolutely fine.

Robert White enjoy a fantastic reputation -- as much abroad as in Britain. But I like buying my Leica face to face...

-- Martin Davidson (martin@foxcombe1.demon. co.uk), August 30, 2001.

With the strong pound it may be cheaper for you to buy in Continental Europe. The Netherlands are cheaper than Germany, look at http://www.foto-konijnenberg.nl for attractive pricing. I am not affiliated with them, nor have I ever done any business with them.

-- Haim Toeg (haim_toeg@bmc.com), August 30, 2001.

Along with Martin Davidson, I'd recommend The Classic Camera in Bulls Yard, Holborn, London - they have a website so look in any recent issue of the Amateur Photographer for this and their regular advertisement page. They are specialists in the field - extremely helpful and competitively priced with no 'hard sell' tactics. They're the kind of firm that would rather sell at a discount to the connoiser (I know I havn't spelt that right!!) rather than to a total asshole with money bulging out of his pockets who doesn't know one end of a camera from the other. I wish I'd known about them when I bought my new M6TTL last October.

-- Chris Timotheou (nowayout@btinternet.com), August 30, 2001.

Oh - and I nearly forgot! Try also Aperture Photographic at 44 Museum St, near the British Museum - a beautiful little basement shop with an entrance through an espresso cafe - weird - and something like out of the Man from Uncle TV series of about a million years ago! Remember when they had to go through the humble laundry or tailor shop or something to get to their hi-tec HQ? - this is just the same!!! Anyway, speak to Patrick and you'll be surprised with the deal - they're great for Nikon and have a good selection of Leica stuff - they also sport a regular ad in Amateur Photographer.

-- Chris Timotheou (nowayout@btinternet.com), August 30, 2001.