Leica store in the Boston Massachusetts area?

filmfan · 09-22-2010

I would like to go check out some Leica cameras and lenses this weekend in the Boston area. Can anyone recommend a good shop that carries a variety of Leica items?
Thanks.

-Sam

semordnilap · 09-22-2010

Ep Levine's. They've moved a bit out of town to Waltham, but if you're with car you can get there easily. I think they're open on Saturday now.

www.eplevine.com

I'm not sure who else has stuff around here... maybe Newtonville Camera? But definitely not as much as Levine's.

maclaine · 09-22-2010

Your best best is EP Levine. They moved recently to just outside of Boston proper, so you'll need a car of some sort.

http://www.eplevine.com/

Fair warning: if their new place is anything like their old place, it will probably be very messy because it's crammed with tons of gear, accessories, etc. Still, the staff is helpful (in my experience), and they have the most new and used Leica gear of any store in the area. I got a great deal trading in some nice lenses in exchange for a ZM Planar a little while back.

Other than that, there's also Newtonville Camera, which is a much tinier mom and pop operation (literally), but they have a somewhat decent collection of stuff. I once asked the owner if he had any Leica lenses lying around that weren't on display, and he ended up having a CV 90mm APO Lanthar that he owned personally but had used only once or twice. He sold it to me for a really great price and even waited for a month or so while I freed up the cash to get it, turning away other customers who had asked him the same question. Highly recommended.

http://www.nvcamera.com/index2.html

maclaine · 09-22-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by semordnilap

Ep Levine's. They've moved a bit out of town to Waltham, but if you're with car you can get there easily. I think they're open on Saturday now.

www.eplevine.com

I'm not sure who else has stuff around here... maybe Newtonville Camera? But definitely not as much as Levine's.

Looks like my inherent wordiness made me a little late to the party.

What he said.

semordnilap · 09-22-2010

Maybe I'm too terse? Only on the internet I think

filmfan · 09-22-2010

Thanks guys. I will cruise over to Waltham then.

peter_n · 09-22-2010

Worth it. I'll add that one of the owners of EP Levine, Mike Bard, used to be the manager at Newtonville Camera. Very nice guy who is into Leica. Have not yet been out to the new store but was a regular at the old one on the Drydock. Great place, nice people. I bought my MP3 from Cole there.

ederek · 09-23-2010

Filmfan - this weekend may be a special case. I know that in the past, EP Levine has attended the Photographica Show and Sale in Wakefield, MA, put on by the Photographic Historical Society of New England. This means some or most of their wares may be offsite during your visit.

See details at:
http://phsne.org/shows.html

You'd probably enjoy the show. I plan to stop by Saturday on the way back from Maine. Attended two years ago and purchased a very nice M4 and 90 tele-elmarit. There is a large amount of Leica gear at the show.

Hoping to find some 5x7 gear this year...

Best, ederek

filmfan · 09-23-2010

Wow great news ederek. Thanks for the heads up.

maclaine · 09-23-2010

I went to the PHSNE show last year looking for a couple of lenses. I ended up only getting a Jupiter-8 in really nice condition for $40. However, every dealer I talked to was really friendly and not aggressive about getting me to buy something. There is a lot of junk, lots of cool oddities, and tons of Leica stuff. I feel like it's always easier to bargain a bit of you're standing right there in front of somebody, and at this kind of show, dealers want to leave with less than they came with. I would definitely check it out if I were you.

Guaranteed · 09-23-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by ederek

Filmfan - this weekend may be a special case. I know that in the past, EP Levine has attended the Photographica Show and Sale in Wakefield, MA, put on by the Photographic Historical Society of New England. This means some or most of their wares may be offsite during your visit.

See details at:
http://phsne.org/shows.html

You'd probably enjoy the show. I plan to stop by Saturday on the way back from Maine. Attended two years ago and purchased a very nice M4 and 90 tele-elmarit. There is a large amount of Leica gear at the show.

Hoping to find some 5x7 gear this year...

Best, ederek

Thanks for the heads up, I may have to check that out on Sunday.

hlockwood · 09-26-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by maclaine

I went to the PHSNE show last year looking for a couple of lenses. I ended up only getting a Jupiter-8 in really nice condition for $40. However, every dealer I talked to was really friendly and not aggressive about getting me to buy something. There is a lot of junk, lots of cool oddities, and tons of Leica stuff. I feel like it's always easier to bargain a bit of you're standing right there in front of somebody, and at this kind of show, dealers want to leave with less than they came with. I would definitely check it out if I were you.

I was there today. EP Levine did not show this year, so there were not tons of Leica stuff. However, there were tons of Nikon bodies; I think they were available by the pound.

Harry

russelljtdyer · 09-26-2010

There's also Calumet in Cambridge, by the Charles River and MIT: http://www.calumetphoto.com/locations That's closer than Waltham to Boston. They carry some Leica equipment.

nikon_sam · 09-26-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by russelljtdyer

There's also Calumet in Cambridge, by the Charles River and MIT: http://www.calumetphoto.com/locations That's closer than Waltham to Boston. They carry some Leica equipment.

I went to the Calumet store in Cambridge last year while visiting our son at MIT...I was somewhat disappointed with it (very small & not a lot of stuff)
The salesman I talked with was very friendly...
I've been to about 5 of their stores and by far this was the smallest...
Take the "T's" Red Line "MIT" exit...it's about a five minute walk...

Attachment 81555

hlockwood · 09-26-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by russelljtdyer

There's also Calumet in Cambridge, by the Charles River and MIT: http://www.calumetphoto.com/locations That's closer than Waltham to Boston. They carry some Leica equipment.

Sorry, but there's almost no Leica stuff at Calumet in Cambridge. I go there regularly for paper and such.

Harry

jow · 09-26-2010

There was a M9 in Newtonville camera when I was there on Sat. I don't think ANY of the shops in Boston carry the full range of Leica gear. Best bet is to drive south the NYC and check out the Leica store.

raydm6 · 09-26-2010

Try Ara Gechijian at New England Photo in Arlington (right in the heart of Arlington Center).

New England Photo

432 Massachusetts Ave
Arlington, MA 02474
781-643-1463

I think he still carries lot's of old Leica equipment (not sure about new) but call to make sure. I've purchased from him before. Nice man and small family business.

Check out this video of his shop.

peter_n · 09-27-2010

I've been to all of these stores and agree that there's virtually no Leica stuff at Calumet. Yes it's small but it does very good business with local colleges for developing/printing materials - places like Emerson and BU. Also I think Newtonville's Leica business tanked when Mike Bard left to take over EP Levine, I'm sure he took many customers with him. I also like Ara Gechijian in Arlington but everything there is old, he did repair an M6TTL for me and did a good job though. I still think the best Leica selection is at EP Levine but I must confess I haven't been out to their new store in Waltham, I hope it's as cluttered as the old one was!

ederek · 09-27-2010

Right, didn't think to mention Ara's shop in Arlington. He had a new 28 cron on the shelf the last time I was there, and a few used lenses and bodies as well.

Haven't been to the new EP Levine location in Waltham. Jay from EP Levine was at the PHSNE show on Saturday, perhaps they didn't attend at all on Sunday, the show appeared to be less well attended than previous years.

rHytHm · 09-27-2010

i have seen leica gear in the used section of huntsphoto store in harvard square before.

filmfan · 09-28-2010

I just got back from EP Levine in Waltham. It was a larger and much more organized experience than I expected. I played around with two different Leica M6 bodies with lenses to get the feel of what I will be buying in a few months.
Thanks for the recommendation.

ampguy · 09-28-2010

In additions to Texans, I wonder how native Bostonians from say "whoosta" would pronounce boke

peter_n · 09-28-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by filmfan

It was a larger and much more organized experience than I expected.

They were "organized"?

andrew · 09-28-2010

It might have been said here before or in an earlier post, but I know Joe Lippincott and Karen Krause (they're down in Quincy) specialize in Leica stuff. I teach high school photography and we have been buying our K1000s, Yashicamats, lenses, and whatnot from Joe and Karen for 10 years now - used gear but checked over and backed up by a solid reputation. They sell out of their house - pm me if you want the #. They were at Photographica so you might have already seen/met them, but they get my vote (I don't have a Leica but I've bought Hasselblad and other MF gear from them for my own use and always been happy with the quality and price).

Hope you're able to find what you're looking for, and I hope you have a good night.
Andrew