California Camera Show Schedule [Archive]

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CameraQuest

04-01-2007, 19:14

Visit the California and get a camera bargain at the same time!

California Camera Show Schedule

Are you a Camera Nut visiting Los Angeles? Searching Los Angeles for collectible cameras? The only storefront where you will likely find fairly priced collectible cameras in Southern California are the camera shows. The few LA camera stores that stock collectible cameras cater to the high priced Hollywood and Beverly Hills crowd. Note the Pasadena and Carson Camera shows are usually on consecutive Sundays.

Want to sell excess photo gear? Camera show promoters welcome new or first time sellers. You can rent one or more tables as you need them, or as little as 1/2 of a 4x8 table.

Sunday November 23, 2008 Carson (former Buena Park show)
Sunday December 14, 2008 Carson (former Buena Park show)

Pasadena Show: The Pasadena show is held in the Pasadena Elks Lodge, 400 W. Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, across the street from the Norton Simon Art Museum on the world famous Rose Bowl Parade route. 10 - 3PM, admission $4. Call Anton at 310-578-7446 for table reservations or more info. For more info see http://BargainCameraShows.com

Carson Camera Show: The Carson Camera show is held at the Carson Center, 801 East Carson Street, Carson California, 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Call Tracy at 925-253-0466 for table reservations or more info. Directions at http://CameraExpo.com For decades this show was known by its former location, the "Buena Park Camera Show" Besides being the largest camera show in California, the Carson Camera Show is also the largest monthly camera show in the United States!

San Diego Show: The San Diego show is held at the Al Bahr Shrine Auditorium, 5440 Kearny Mesa Rd, at Clairemont Mesa Blvd behind the Hampton Inn. 10 - 3PM, admission $4. Call Anton at 310-578-7446 for table reservations or more info. For more info see BargainCameraShows.com

Photo Fair in San Jose, get details at http://www.photofair.com/

cjm

04-03-2007, 16:12

I live about 30 minutes from Carson and I've always thought about going. Do you know if you're allowed to carry in your own camera to take pictures while your there?

nikon_sam

04-03-2007, 16:56

I always have a camera with me while at these shows. Although I've never used it to shoot at the show, I have it for any testing...lens, motor drive, etc.
Most of the people there love cameras and if you have something cool they will ask about it...

cjm

04-03-2007, 20:40

Thanks Sam.

Rodinal Addict

04-03-2007, 21:30

These shows are really informative. The Carson show usually has speakers, working photographers to show and talk about their work. It's also a camera fondlers paradise. The vendors there love to talk about their specialties, will let you hold and touch, and ask questions about the cameras all you want to.

mllanos1111

09-06-2007, 19:35

When is the San Diego one?

nikon_sam

09-06-2007, 23:07

Oct. 21st 10am-3pm

www.BargainCameraShows.com

ijohnnyz

02-17-2008, 13:05

I have finally saved up enough for a Leica M6 fafter two long years and I really want to get one before my spring break vacation. Have anyone seen any good Leica M6 deals at the show?

Revolucion Artistico

02-17-2008, 13:20

I usually see 2-3 pretty good looking M6's at the show sometimes more but never a ton of them. There's a couple of sellers who are at every show who are definetly trustworthy. There's a seller from Las Vegas, I think her name is Faith, that usually has quite a bit of nice stuff, and I have bought several things from Roosbeh, whose store Camera West in Mission Viejo is excellent. Good luck.

ijohnnyz

02-17-2008, 21:19

Thanks R. Artistico, I'll look for their booths. I'm actually familiar with Camera West. Do they charge the same as they would in their store?

aizan

02-17-2008, 21:35

oooh, faith burned me with a 28/2.8 canon ltm several years ago. i should have seen it, but the coatings were polished off. :(

ijohnnyz

02-17-2008, 22:11

That's unfortunate aizan. I will make sure to throughly inspect anything before purchasing.

CameraQuest

11-10-2008, 19:26

Anton's http://bargaincamerashows.com/ site was updated into the most entertaining camera show web site I've seen.

His Pasadena show is a monthly camera show in Pasadena, a suburb of Los Angles (and about 45 minutes from LAX). Pasadena is world famous its Rose Bowl football games and New Year Rose Bowl Parades. The Pasadena show is held in the Elk's Club, right on the Rose Bowl Parade route.

Stephen

bob338

11-10-2008, 19:53

LADP

11-12-2008, 22:07

Oh man, I found this just in time! I moved to Pasadena a year and a half ago. I didn't know about this show. I'm going Sunday!

nikon_sam

11-13-2008, 12:33

Oh man, I found this just in time! I moved to Pasadena a year and a half ago. I didn't know about this show. I'm going Sunday!

Please give a short review of what you thought of this show...
I've been there many, many times but have not attended in about 8-10 months...

Thanks...:D

LADP

11-13-2008, 20:15

Please give a short review of what you thought of this show...
I've been there many, many times but have not attended in about 8-10 months...

Thanks...:D

I'd be happy to. I've only been to one camera show many years ago, so I won't have much to compare it to, but I'll try to give a review.

LADP

11-16-2008, 14:55

Well, I just got back from the show, and it was fairly small, but fun. There were two rooms of the Elk Lodge used with a number of vendors. I didn't think to count them, but I would guess around 25 - 35 tables/vendors between the two rooms. There was an abundance of film SLRs of all makes, Nikon, Canon, Pentax being the most prevalent, and there were quite a few DSLR's for sale too.

Not being into DSLR's, I didn't really look carefully, but I saw plenty of Canon and Nikon glass for sale at various tables.

There were a few tables with some Leica gear, the largest collection being at Faith Scudder's table. I saw an M4-P, an M6, and an M7 body for sale. I think she was asking $750 for the M4-P. Not being in the market for another M body since I ust received a 2nd M3 in the mail two days ago, I didn't look any of them over carefully, but they looked to be in good condition cosmetically. She had some accessories like Leicavits and power winders and handgrips for sale, and also had a couple of Voigtlander Bessas, lenses and accessory viewfinders for sale.

In Leica M glass, there were several 50's, 35's, a 90, a 28 IIRC, and a 21 Elmarit that I almost bought. It was clean, and she was asking $1100 for it. She didn't have any 21mm vewfinders at this show though, and I've spent enough money on cameras and glass in the last couple of months. There were also some collapsible 50's on hand. Over all, a nice selection.

Another thing I almopst bought was a pristine looking Pentax Digital Spot meter. I have one that that was modified by Zone VI many years ago that I use for work (I am a cinematographer) all the time, and I worry about breaking it and not being able to replace it since it is no longer made. This one was absolutely new looking (and they had an old Zone VI leather case for it), and it appeared to be working properly, but when I turned it over to look it over, I heard some rattling from inside. Something inside has broken somehow, which is strange, because the thing looks absolutely new. She was asking $250.00 for it, but when I pointed out the rattling, she thanked me and said she had to get it fixed before she could sell it. I think I would have bought it if it hadn't been for the internal issue.

Moving on, there was a stereo camera guy there, and he had some cool looking cameras of various types, including a Russian medium format stereo camera. The stereo slides were very cool, and in the medium format size, the 3D effect really sings.

I did buy an old, but pristine looking and functioning, Super 8MM camera made by Rollei. It is built like a tank, has a great looking zoom on it, and a crystal clear viewfinder. I have had a bunch of Nizos and Canons over the years, but they often break (especially when shooting high speed, like 54fps). This looks to be fairly robust, and was operating properly. I paid $75 for it. I use Super 8mm as an additional format on commercials, TV shows and movies on occasion, so it should come in handy since my last Nizo gave up the ghost at 54fps a couple of months back.

I will post some pics of the Super 8 Rollei later. I apologize for not taking any pics at the show. My wife was getting bored, so I decided it would be best to concentrate on seeing what there was to see instead of documenting the event.

All in all a good show to visit. I will check it out again in the future.

nikon_sam

11-16-2008, 15:49

Thanks LADP,

It sounds like it's still the same as when I would go...
Several years ago that back room was packed with vendors...
The last few times I've gone I was only able to find a few small items...
I might give it a go sometime next year if I happen to be looking for some darkroom parts or maybe take some of my gear I don't use much and do some trading...

Thanks for the review...(the wife and kids refuse to go to shows with me...deep down inside I like it that way...)

LADP

11-16-2008, 21:57

Here's the Rollei Super 8mm camera I bought at the show today:

http://ktmpilot.smugmug.com/photos/418800689_6NyfY-L.jpg